i'm thinking about making a small half barrel water garden, what would be some easy to keep alive water plants?

Answer #1 · Gardenality.com's Answer · Hi Sara - Small container water gardens are fun to do and easier to care for. You don;t want to overload a smaller water garden with plants but here's a list of some you might consider using. They'll need to be placed in smaller containers that you then set into the larger whiskey barrel.

SUBMERGED PLANTS - These are planted deeper, are oxygenators, and help keep water clean

Anacharis - must be submerged at least 12 inches deep
Wild Celery - grows in sun or shade at 6 to 24 inch depth
Fanwort - grows in sun or shade in water 6 to 12 inch depth
Dwarf/ Miniature Water Lilies - flowers best in more sun...place container at bottom
Water Clover -


EMERGENT PLANTS - These are potted and placed from 3 to 6 inches below the surface of the water

Blue Flag Iris - grows in full sun or part shade
Dwarf Papyrus - grows in full sun or part shade
Rush - grows in sun or shade just at below water surface
Arrowheads - grow in full sun or part shade


FLOATERS - These are plants that float on the surface of the water

Fairy Moss
Water Hyacinth - will have to be thinned out regularly
Water Lettuce - will have to be thinned out regularly
Water Clover


I have most of these plants growing in my own garden pond.

Hope this list helped. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Brent)

Answer #2 · Maple Tree's Answer · Hi Sara-Like brent said, water gardens are a lot of fun to make and watch during the year. Throughout the years I have made several and really enjoyed them on my patios and around the gardens.

Locate the garden so it receives a minimum of six hours of sun a day. Most aquatic plants need full sun. Some of the bog plants can survive in less. Less than six hours will decrease the blooming potential of aquatic plants. Choose containers with interiors that are dark in color. Your wiskey barrel should work great if it seals well when wet. If not you can line it with 4mm thick black plastic found at stores like Lowes and Home depot. Dark green, charcoal or black colors are suggested because they give the container an impression of greater depth, discourage algae growth, and make algae less obvious when it is present. Stones and slate can be added for interest, but keep in mind that choosing dark colored rock will help discourage algae.

Don't worry if you see your water garden get murkey or cloudy in its first week or two from the new algae growth. It will slowly clear up and stay that way. The aquatic plants keep the algae under control by reducing the sunlight entering the water and competing with the algae for nutrients in the water. The oxygenating plants are very useful in keeping the water clear. Most aquatic plants grow and bloom quickly so every day they seem to change with something interesting. I set a small water pump for a small fountain in the middle of a few of my gardens which gave a nice sound of water splashing when sitting outdoors in the evenings.

You may even enjoy adding a few fish to your water garden. I never used many fish as some will require feeding and can add to the maintenance of the garden. I like to use mosquito fish as they only grow to an inch or so in length and feed off the algae and plant life. They are also great at keeping the mosquito larve in you garden eaten so none escape to mature into adults. If you are interested in these great little fish and can't find them see if your county has a Vector Control Program. They will always be happy to give you some mosquito fish if they have any available. Mine multiply fast enough that I am able to return the favor of free ones to start with by giving many back to the program.

There is much you can find on the internet regarding building your garden and planting the plants in the list Brent has given you.

Hope you have as much fun and enjoyment as I have had with my water gardens.

John)

Answer #3 · Sara's Answer · Thank you so much for answering me. I also would like to know is there any specific time of year to start a water garden?)