At the recent Health, Home and Garden exhibition in Kingston, Outlook came across several water gardens which featured unique arrangements using local, tropical themes. The interesting thing was, we were told that these were gardens we could create ourselves, using basic elements bought from your local garden store.

According to Evergrow Horticultural Supplies, the St Andrew-based exhibitor of the water gardens/water features we saw at the Health, Home and Garden exhibition, you can go into your local garden store and select the water feature that will bring the sound of cascading water into your home. You can then install it yourself with very, easy-to-follow guidelines.

But, you will first need to choose a location in your home which is accessible to both water and electricity, especially if you plan to introduce fish and plant life into your water garden.

After the location, you may then choose the shape which must allow gravity to move water from one level to another, depending on the overall design. You may also need a pond liner. Your water pump should also be hidden, so factor this into your design.

The pump is the heart of water garden, circulating through a filter system and working to add oxygen to the entire system, and providing the sweet sounds of water moving.

The water feature

If your water garden includes the fountain feature, then a separate pump might be needed for this. The pump you choose must be compatible with the pond filter.

When the construction of your water garden is finished, then consider adding a fountain spray nozzle, which is available in different patterns, such as daisy, tulip, bubbler and water bell.

Frogs, turtles and other pond ornaments can also be added. Accent lighting can also be used to create an interesting evening effect.

Your local store will recommend which plants are best for your water garden. They will improve the appearance of your garden and will also provide oxygen and cover for aquatic life.

Use plant baskets to keep dirt contained below the water. Place gravel on top to prevent your fish from eating the plant roots.

adding life

If you choose to add fish to your water garden they will add more life and colour to your new installation. Common fish types include goldfish and koi. It is advised that you should start with just a few to see how they adapt to their new environment. It is also advisable to wait at least three weeks before adding fish to the pond, in order to give the garden time to create its biological cycle.

The water garden is one way of bringing nature's beauty into your living environs.- Photos by Norman Grindley/Acting Photography Editor

Your local garden store will provide you with strips to test your water for harmful properties, pH value and nitrate levels. Improving water quality will protect both plants and fish.

Your garden store will also provide substances to maintain pH value and biological balance, providing you, your plants and your fish with safe, clean water.

Material you will need include:

Pond liner

Filter

Water pump

Dirt baskets

Soil and gravel

Water testing strips

Rocks or baskets

Fountain spray nozzles

Pond ornaments

Plants

Fish

- Outlook Team

For added information, email Evergrow at evergrow@cwjamaica.com