How to make a DIY water garden

July 20, 2018 at 8:18PM
Plants in the Danielsons' container water garden: 1. Water canna (tall center) 2. King Tut Egyptian papyrus (left, upright grass) 3. Pink Chi Chi water petunia (left and right clumps) 4. Parrot's feather (left, spiller) 5. Blue flag iris (right spiky foliage) 6. Red Giant Golden Club (in front of bubbler) 7. Water lettuce (floats on surface).
Pauline and Steve Danielson ponds, waterfalls, containers and gardens in Maplewood open for the Minnesota Water Garden Tour July 28-29. (Lynn Underwood/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

So you don't have the space, know-how or budget to build a pond? Plant a water garden with a bubbler in a container, and place it on a patio, deck or by the front door.

Use a watertight container that doesn't have any holes in it, and pile stones in the bottom to prop up plants and bubbler. Place water plants still in their pots so they will sit just below the surface of the water. Steve Danielson crafted his own bubbler but you can find them at garden centers or online. You'll need an outlet nearby to plug in the bubbler, which recirculates the water. Fill the container with water from a garden hose.

1. Water canna

2. King Tut Egyptian papyrus

3. Pink Chi Chi water petunia

4. Parrot's feather

5. Blue flag iris

6. Red Giant Golden Club

7. Water lettuce (floats on surface)

8. Bubbler

about the writer

about the writer

Lynn Underwood

Reporter

Lynn Underwood is a reporter for the Star Tribune's Home & Garden section covering remodeling, design, trends, new housing, architecture and gardening. She also writes for the Variety section.  

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