Water gardening is a sustainable pastime

By Paula Biles

Garden Center, October 2008

Educate customers on the environmental pluses of ponds

In today's technology-laden world, it's getting harder to connect people with nature, especially as available time, discretionary budgets and the size of home lots decline. Wouldn't it be wonderful for your nursery to have a people magnet that's nature friendly and shows how everything is connected to everything else?

A pond or water garden can be that magnet, while also serving as an excellent example of sustainable gardening. Aquatic displays make people put away their cell phones, relax and envision such an oasis in their own yard.

Every culture finds ways to include water features into its distinctive landscape style. The allure of water is as powerful today as it was 2,000 years ago. Even if you don't sell or install ponds, having a water feature at your garden center makes an important statement. It helps visitors unwind. It shows your connectedness to nature and changes your nursery from a store to a destination.

Conservation, sustainability on display

Water gardens conserve natural resources in numerous, but often hidden, ways. Ponds are closed systems that retain and recirculate water, so they use much less water than other types of gardens. The only loss is from evaporation. Aquatic plants would appear to use lots of water but, since they're sitting in a wet ecosystem, they actually use far less than terrestrial plants.

Another way ponds are sustainable is they use little or no pesticides. Aquatic plants are susceptible to few pests, which can be controlled by a squirt of water or biological methods. Even mosquito larvae can be eliminated with a few fish or natural bacteria.

Low fertilizer needs are another environmental advantage of water gardens. Compact fertilizer tablets are placed into the containers where plants are rooted. This prevents runoff into waterways.

Water features attract people as well as birds, insects and wildlife. All wildlife sanctuaries need a source of water. So one of the best ways to encourage biodiversity and support local fauna is to have a pond. This is especially important in urban areas that are home to an increasingly endangered form of animal life - kids who play outdoors and experience nature firsthand.

Pond liner material has the largest negative impact on the Earth's resources. The next highest impact is when chemicals are used to control algae. Luckily there are several highly effective biological control methods, including biofilters and heavy plantings. This is the area where customers need the most education on reducing the environmental impact of ponds.

Pond owners want to do their part for the environment. Become a leader and explain how ponds are sustainable. Use signage, handouts, seminars, Web sites and blogs. Teach about the individual components, the overall ecosystem and how both affect the environment. Explain the choices pond owners have, and help customers take actions that make a measurable difference in how we use our Earth's resources. Paula Biles is a writer/photographer specializing in aquatic plants. She's a regular contributor to both trade and hobbyist publications. Biles is also co-author of "The Lotus" and former executive director of the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society. She can be reached at (947) 758-2926.