Program offers tips for designing water gardens

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The use of water is the fastest growing trend in the landscaping industry, according to Ron Murphy, co-owner of Murphy Water Gardens. |ret||ret||tab|

"People want to hear the sound of moving water," he said. "A waterfall is very relaxing." |ret||ret||tab|

The retail water-garden outlet carries the materials to build anything from a simple concrete fountain to a large pond, he said. Murphy Water Gardens' co-owner, Cindy Murphy, will be conducting demonstrations at the HBA Remodeling Show Sept. 22-24.|ret||ret||tab|

The presentations will cover the basics of planning and designing a pond, Ron Murphy said, including construction materials, design, filtration, plants and fish, and maintenance. |ret||ret||tab|

"A person ought to be able to leave with enough knowledge to get started on a water pond," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

The first step is designing the pond. Different depths are needed for fish and various plants. After excavating, a rubber liner is selected. "You can create any size or shape you want," Murphy said. |ret||ret||tab|

Next the edging, usually some type of rock, is chosen. At the demonstration, participants will learn how to creatively stack stones so that the liner won't show, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Other materials needed for a water garden include a pump, a filtration system, plants and fish.|ret||ret||tab|

"We recommend you use koi fish, although a lot of people use goldfish," Murphy said. "Koi are just bigger and more colorful." They are also trainable, he said. "You can train them to eat out of your hand. They become pets."|ret||ret||tab|

With proper aeration, fish can live outside year round, he added. "As long as the water is moving, it won't freeze."|ret||ret||tab|

The lily is the most common plant used in water gardens, he said, but many other water plants are available. "There's lots of variety." Hyacinth, a floating plant, is a popular choice because "it gives the pond a lot of coverage and helps control algae," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

The cost of a water garden varies depending on the size and the materials used. |ret||ret||tab|

"You could put in a small pond for a couple hundred dollars," Murphy said, "but something that is filtered properly would probably cost a minimum of $700."|ret||ret||tab|

Once a water garden is complete, some maintenance is needed to keep it in good condition. Filters should be cleaned once a week from April to mid-October, Murphy said, and a pond should be drained and cleaned once a year, usually in the spring. |ret||ret||tab|

"You might spend $10 to $15 a month on various chemicals and fertilizers for the plants," he said. Some people also buy fish food, but fish do not need to be fed during the winter season. |ret||ret||tab|

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