Is There Room In A Courtyard For A Water Garden?
A courtyard water garden can be build just about anywhere - it does not matter whether the courtyard is large or small, the garden will surely work. You can do so much with just a little bit of space, especially if you get to incorporate some water loving plants in the raised bed or containers.
By just inspecting your courtyard, you can quickly notice favorable features that will support constructing a courtyard water garden. Look out for
- well-constructed boundary walls
- the presence of an outside water tap
- the presence of an outside water supply
- ground made of brick, slabs, stone or concrete
Is the courtyard water garden right for me?
You should consider how the water garden will affect your family, neighbors and pets. The water garden can be built vritually anywhere. Questions you should ask yourself should include whether you will be able to dig the hole, where you will put the excavated soil.
If you are really cramped for space then maybe you should resort to a raised pond. You must select the best material for the raised pond. You can use brick, stone or wood...
How to create a courtyard water garden...
A wall-mask water feature makes a beautiful courtyard centerpiece. The steps that I have outlined below assumes that you have an already existing courtyard. The feature is constructed to be free-standing but can be easily modified by hanging the mask from an existing wall and using a found trough.
Outline:
- Repair the courtyard walls and if they are irreparable then consider building new ones
- Construct the trough
- Position the ducting and build the backing wall
- Render the inside of the trough with mortar
- Fit the mask, pump and electrical wires
- Cover the courtyard with container plants such as lilies, grasses, ferns and irises. Climbing plants would be perfect here.
Care and maintenance
Spring cleaning - Install the pumps in the pond and ensure they are in good working order. All tender plants need to be replaced
Summer chores - The filters should be cleaned fortnightly. Remove algae and debris. The pond should be filled with water at all times and run the fountains to oxygenate the water.
Autumn care - All dead leaves need to be removed and frost sensitive plants need to be over wintered in the house
Winter work - All pumps need to carefully removed and cleaned. Place a ball in the water to create a breathing hole in the ice
Read the article on looking after your water garden here