Converting a Water Feature

Creating an Environment

• A presentation to the Shenandoah Valley Master Gardener Course

• Quick Introduction to Water Features

• Maintenance Issues

• Things master gardeners should know . . .

• If a landscape garden is an approximation of the natural world . . .o Element of most gardening traditions

• Water is a key (along with stone)

• Special characteristics of watero Reflectiono Calmnesso Liquid of Life

• A Whole New Realm of Plants Available

• Sound of Running Water, Animals

• Reflection of Light, Shapes, Color

• Fauna

• “Messing about in” . . . water

• Plastic ponds available – standard shapes• Rubber sheeting – allows free form• Illusion of Water – á la Japanese Garden• Waterfall/stream – added feature of sound• Fountain – sound and vertical form• Bird bath – water source

• Swim Pools

• Security (Securable Fence)• Leaves in Fall (Netting)• Debris (Skimmer or Net)• Mosquitoes (Minnows, “dunks”)• Algae (Net, Barley Straw)• Biological Balance (Flora-Fauna, Volume)• Predators (Accept)

• A whole new set of requirements/conceptso water depth o hardinesso sources of nutrients o balance of life formso sun requirements

• Moving water is not required• Straightforward solutions without

chemicals• Many kinds of beauty in water