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Water is a precious commodity for all forms of life, especially in our hot, dry climate. A water garden oasis of any size will bring dragonflies, fish, birds and other wildlife to your yard. You will undoubtedly want to give up the TV in order to spend your hours watching animal antics, and a pond brings new opportunities for a diversity of aquatic plants.
Photos by Andrea Delong-Anaya unless noted.
Finding an ideal location for your pond should be your first consideration. It is possible to have a water garden in considerable shade but leaves falling from nearby trees can be a nuisance. Your largest selections of colorful plants are those that grow in a half-day or more of sun.
A pond is any contained area of water that supports a community of plants and animals. It can be constructed with a full scale permanent concrete shell reinforced with rebar and wire mesh, or it could be made with a more temporary plastic liner that may last for several years. Use a galvanized metal stock tank (set directly on the ground or partially buried) for a simpler alternative, although in some conditions overly acidic water may react with the metal and become toxic. A washtub or sealed clay pot will also do the trick and can be less intimidating.
After your reservoir is in place and level, the next thing to do is add water. If you are using city water, allow the water to sit for a minimum of 24-36 hours before adding plants or fish to give the chlorine time to evaporate. You can add fish immediately if you are using rainwater. Note that well water may be low in oxygen, an element that is necessary for most organisms to survive. Let the well water sit for a few days or oxygenate it by spraying it into the pond as it is added. A sprinkler works well for this.
Now you are ready to add plants. For aesthetic and functional reasons, include a variety of plants that stand upright, trail or float. Include a few that remain submerged under the surface, plants that help oxygenate the water. Tall vegetation such as horsetail makes excellent perches for resplendent dragonflies. These insects provide captivating lessons on courtship and territorial behavior. Mat forming or floating plants, like water lilies or coastal water hyssop, make good platforms where frogs, small turtles, butterflies and other insects can rest, sun and drink from the edge. A diversity of plant forms with flowering periods that range throughout the season will make the most interesting and ecologically balanced combinations. Vegetation should cover about 70% of the water’s surface during the summer months.
Unfortunately most aquatic plants currently available commercially are not native locally. While the majority of non-natives are harmless, some have the potential to escape or already have escaped cultivation to become noxious and aggressively invasive. Some of these are even illegal to possess such as water hyacinth (albeit beautiful) and water lettuce. The scarcity of moisture that limits terrestrial plants does not affect aquatic plants growing in constant bodies of water. Thus, non-native wetland plants have a greater chance of becoming invasive in our otherwise xeric climate. Moreover, they are able to spread easily and quickly through connecting water channels. Only through consumer interest will garden centers be compelled to offer natives more consistently. Remember to ask for your favorites!
Fish are key to a successful pond. If you have a healthy fish population, you will not have mosquito problems. Consider stocking with mosquitofish small enough to eat larvae hiding amid plant roots and crevices or other hardy natives. Once you are ready to add them to your pond, slowly add small amounts of pond water to the container (usually a bag) to acclimate the fish to the new water chemistry. Setting the bag into the water allows water temperatures to assimilate. This process should take at least 15 minutes or more depending on size of the bag of fish. When the water temperatures are the same in the container and in the pond, let the fish swim free.
It is not necessary to feed mosquitofish and other small native species at all and doing so may lead to water quality problems. Fish eat mosquito larvae and other small aquatic insects as well as some algae to survive. They multiply until available resources become scarce; at this point a few might eat their neighbors and breeding may suspend until sustainable numbers are again reached.
Maintaining your pond involves only a few chores. Keep the water level constant to account for evaporation, especially in the summer. Visits from thirsty animals may also prompt you to regularly replenish the supply. If you fill with chlorinated water, add only a few inches at a time. Wait a day between fillings or use rain or purified water.
Fertilizing is generally not necessary and may promote algal growth. If you choose to add nutrients, be sure to use products that are specifically intended for water plants and are safe for fish. Winter often requires vigilance when foliage is sparse and more sunlight encourages excess algal growth. Remove string algae and leaves by hand, with a leaf rake or with a net as necessary. Non-toxic pond dyes can also reduce algae.
Cut back unsightly dead and frozen foliage; putrefying vegetation can create anaerobic conditions and should also be removed. As plants grow, keep them in check by trimming.
Surprisingly, fountains are not necessary for aeration if you have established plants and a balanced fish population. However, moving water is attractive to people, birds and other animals. Use a calm trickle, stream or water bell fountain. Too much splashing can be detrimental to plants and will repel many insects such as butterflies.
A flat rock sloping gently into the water serves as a birdbath, provides water access for turtles, frogs and insects, and should be protected from heavy splashing so as not to disturb these visitors. The dry end of the rock offers an ideal resting place for sunning or drying. Toads, lizards, and other creatures cannot swim well and such a rescue platform allows them to gain their footing before jumping out to a safe, dry place. Be mindful to not put these animals in danger if you have pets that hunt.
A pond is one of the most dynamic and entertaining elements of a garden for a minimal amount of labor. Here are some natives to help you along in your watery journey.
Below is a partial list of native plants you might add to your water feature:
[table “” not found /]*Be sure not to include the non-native, invasive yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus.)
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