Learn how to build your own beautiful wetland environment with a backyard bog garden. Bog Gardens are landscaped with with carnivorous plants, cattails, waterlilies, and pond fish.
Building a backyard bog garden can be a very rewarding project if you follow a few simple guidelines. The most important step is to plan, plan, and then plan some more. Start by asking yourself these questions:
How much space is available for the garden?
Do I want the garden in sun, shade, or a combination of both?
What type of bog plants do I want - are they available at local nurseries or will they be wildcrafted, and what are the regulations regarding the taking of native plants? (There is a good possibility that it's illegal in your state)
What type of liner will the bog have pre-formed, flexible plastic, or vinyl?
Once you have determined the size its time to select the location for your bog. A site that is sunny in the morning might be shaded by trees or buildings in the afternoon and be unsuitable for the type of plants you desire, so choose your favorite site and then note the amount of sunlight it receives over the course of a day. Compare this site data to the requirements of the plants you intend to use and adjust the site location accordingly.
These days the sky is the limit when choosing your plants. Native vegetation is always a good choice, but it's fun to experiment with something from a far away exotic land. Be sure to include all aspects of the garden including groundcovers, borders, fragrant plants, tall background vegetation (maybe bamboo), water lilies for the deep section of the pool, and even carnivorous plants.
Once the perfect site has been chosen, outline the perimeter with a length of garden hose. Garden hose is flexible and easy to manipulate into the exact contour you desire. Use this as a pattern to excavate in the right areas. Keep in mind that gentle curves are more natural and appealing than straight lines and can be interwoven among existing vegetation (taking care not to damage root systems).
The damp nature of a bog garden tends to attract mosquitoes and aquatic insects but that problem is easily corrected by the addition of a few small fish to the bog - the fish will consume insect larvae and will add a delightful touch to your project. Small goldfish from your local pet shop are a good choice and can also tolerate freezing temperatures. To accommodate these fish the garden should have three distinct levels, the first level will support the vegetation, the second and third are for temperature control for the fish habitat during weather extremes.
Excavate the bog area to depths of approximately 12, 18, and 24 inches, remembering to use gentle slopes and curves. An area two feet deep and about the size of a bathtub is usually suitable protection for the goldfish. This depth will protect them from the summer heat and also from winter freezes; but they will also feed in the more shallow 18 inch deep water. The finished surface should be smooth and free of rocks or pebbles before the liner is installed (most good garden centers carry a variety of pond liners and will provide installation instructions). In rocky terrain the addition of a layer of sand to the surface is advised before laying the liner. The sand should be free of twigs or sharp objects and raked or swept to a perfectly smooth surface.
You may want to recruit several friends to help you center the flexible liner over the excavated area of your bog. Excess liner should be layered and folded over so that it lays flat against the ground and the edges held firmly to the ground with decorative stones or river rock. This border is also a good place to naturalize with native groundcovers that will hide the liner and decrease erosion into the bog. During this stage of installation try to avoid walking on the liner as much as possible to reduce the possibility of puncture.
If your bog plants were purchased at a nursery the next step will be a snap. Just place the pots around the shallow portion of the bog area changing their positions until you achieve perfect harmony. Keep in mind that these plants may not remain as small as they are now some bog plants will grow quite large and others are invasive and will need to be kept in containers.
Fill in the areas between your plants with a good quality potting soil or clean fill, making sure the plants remain at the proper depth. Covering the shallow areas of the bog with small pebbles will hide the liner and make the fish more visible.
Now fill the deep areas of the garden with water. DON'T introduce the fish for at least 24 hours if the fill water was chemically treated (with chlorine or any other chemical).
Congratulations - - now sit back and enjoy!
