How do I build a water garden for wildlife (not a pond) just a damp area with ferns etc to attract dragonflies
April 22, 2010 by
Filed under garden water fountains
I would like the area to be attractive and peaceful to myself other people and also to wildlife in general. The area I have in mind already has ferns, arum lillies and iris. I have a vision of pebbles and just a little water but not with fountains or waterfalls. Something that is cost conscious would be great! The area is about 2m x 3m with the plants mentioned already positioned around the edge. Any ideas anyone how to tackle this?
Thanks for any help offered.
I don’t know how a “water garden” differs from a “pond”.
A shallow area with pebbles may not be enough to support dragonfly larvae, which are totally aquatic creatures until they emerge as adults. “Just a little water” will not have enough food for them, will likely be too warm, and will frequently evaporate (all three of which will be life-threatening to them).
You can have a pond without waterfalls or fountains, or even pumps.
I have had a still-water pond for the past 16 years (even moved it with me to my new house).
I dug a hole roughly 2-3 feet deep, and 6-7 feet long and 4 feet wide. Laid in pond liner (that is the only expensive part. will cost about $100…but will last a long time – mine is 16 years old and counting. Never leaked, and survived being moved)
If you plan ahead, design a little “shelf, that slants toward the edge, not toward the middle, for setting a pot or two of aquatic plants. You’ll want some “floaters” (lily pads, water hyacynth or water lettuce), and some oxygenators – purchase from a garden store – or order online. You can spend as little as $10 for the right plants. Lilies can cost that alone – but if you select a hardy one, you’ll never have to buy one again)
Add some bait minnows. They’re usually around $1.20 a dozen. if there’s not bait store nearby, see if you can catch some? They will take care of eating any mosquito larvae, and add to the overal balance of the pond. I’ve learned that adding the bait minnows needs to be done in spring while the water is still cold – as bait stores keep their minnows in 58 degree water – and adding them in June makes them die from the temperature change, no matter how slowly you try to acclimate them.
But in short – add plants, and fish life, and maybe plants something nearby that will partly shade the pond (which will help keep algae blooms down). There are fish and plant-safe products to help with the algae and to clear the water (Algaefix, Pondzyme), but in a few months, your pond should be balanced and take care of itself.
And the dragonflies will find it in short order. Guaranteed.
What you are thinking of is a bog garden. I’ve built a few of them and they are easy and inexpensive to do. They are usually built using flexible pond liner to keep the area flooded.
Rather than go into detail here, I’d suggest going to this forum….
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/bog/
Very helpful people here, willing to share experience.
PS – they also attract mosquitoes, keep that in mind.