How to Install a Water Garden

A water garden is a beautiful addition to the landscaping around your home. You can save money by learning how to install a water garden yourself, instead of hiring a professional. After your water garden is installed, use the money you saved to buy aquatic plants such as water lilies, lotus and cattails to add to your water garden.

Supplies

• Water hose or rope


• Shovel


• Straight board


• Level


• Sand


• Landscape fabric (optional)


• Flexible liner


• Rocks


• Water


• Scissors


• Edging such as rocks, bricks or loose stones (optional)


• Water dechlorinator


• Aquatic plants

Instructions

1. Select the area where you want to install your water garden.


2. Outline the chosen shape of your water garden with a water hose or a rope.


3. Use the shovel to dig out the shape of the water garden and extend the perimeter around the edge of the garden by adding a shelf about 1-foot deep and 1-foot wide. Dig the edges at a 20 degree angle so that they do not collapse.


4. Use the straight board and the level to ensure that the edges are level. If you are going to add an edging such as stones around your garden, remove an extra layer of dirt from around the edge to place the stones.


5. Remove any sticks, rocks or debris from inside and around the edges of the water garden.


6. Line the bottom and edges of the dug out area with moist sand, 2-inches deep. You may also want to add landscape fabric over the sand to protect the liner from any sharp objects that may come into contact with the liner.


7. Spread the liner over the garden and fold it at the corners or curves.


8. Mold the liner to the hole and use rocks to hold the liner in place on the outside.


9. Add water and smooth out any wrinkles as the water garden fills.


10. Cut off the excess edge of the liner, leaving 6-inches of overlap. Cover the overlap with edging such as rocks. If you are not using any edging material, cover the overlap with soil.


11. Add dechlorinator to the water garden to remove the chlorine from the water.


12. Add your choice of aquatic plants to the water garden.