Add a splash with a mini-pond
IF YOU want to make a big splash in a small garden, consider adding a container pond. Ideal for patios, terraces and balconies, they take up a fraction of the space of traditional in- the- ground ponds, rills and fountains, but allow anyone to enjoy some of the benefits that those larger water features provide to gardens.
The still, compact body of water will bring your garden to life as light bounces of its surface and its presence will have a cooling effect in warm weather – you could even dip your toes in the water if it’s really hot. Of course, they also provide the opportunity to grow a range of plants that can’t be grown in the ground.
Plastic containers, glazed bowls, galvanised buckets and half wooden barrels are all popular options for containers, but in theory you can use anything that holds water, and the larger the container, the more plants you can grow.
First, seal any drainage holes with pond l i ner attached with waterproof adhesive. Then fill your chosen container with water, leaving a 1in gap between the surface and the rim.
Rainwater from a butt is best as it doesn’t contain chlorine or any other additives to make it safe for drinking, but tap water is fine at a push – just leave it to stand for a few days to allow chemicals in the water to evaporate.
As a rule, it’s best to cover at least a third of the surface with plant life to keep the water cool, preventing algae from flourishing.
Use a combination of water lilies and underwater oxygenators, along with perennials that are happy with their crowns being submerged under a few inches of water. Among the best water-loving perennials, often sold as marginal plants, are Lobelia cardinalis, Potentilla palustris and blue flag (Iris versicolor), whose purple and white blooms are carried on 2ft-tall stems between May and June.
Typha minima is a miniature bullrush with 2ft stems topped by rounded seed heads.
Water lilies are the glamour girls of traditional ponds and there are many pint-sized versions that will thrive in a much smaller body of water. Nymphaea ‘ Perry’s Baby Red’ is a dwarf water lily with 2in-wide red flowers, and Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Helvola’ has tiny yellow flowers and 5in pads that are mottled red.
Pond plants are supplied in mesh-sided pots filled with aquatic compost. Spread a thick layer of washed grit over the surface to prevent compost being stirred up by moving water and then lower into the container.
Stand them on pebbles, if necessary, to ensure they are placed in the correct depth of water.
Apart from all the pretty stuff, it’s worth adding a submerged oxygenating plant to keep water clear and healthy. Stems of spiked milfoil and water crowfoot are sold in bunches and weighted to help them sink. Hornwort is usually supplied loose to allow it float freely just beneath the surface.
Container water features are easy to look after. Remove dead and dying leaves, and deadhead flowers as they start to fade. Over time, some plants will outgrow their aquatic pots – lift, divide and replant a portion in spring.
If you grow any tender species, move the container to a light, frostfree place over winter.