Any garden improves with water. When planning your garden, leave 10 to 15 per cent of the area for water culture and gardens. Water is essential in attracting predators such as birds, frogs and beneficial insects to the garden.

The choice of a water detail will depend on the available space in the garden. You can place water details in the garden, balcony, or patio by adding ponds or a simple water pot.

Water in small spaces

Natural balance is an art, and containers and pots can do the job for smaller, more complex water gardens. 

Water pot

• Choose a container or ceramic pot that suits the appearance of your project.
• • Close any holes or cracks with waterproof glue (silicone). Cover the hole with a piece of tile. Allow drying for 24 hours.
  • Place a layer of a small pebble. 
  • Fill slowly with water.
  • Add aquatic plants.
  • Decorate your water feature with plants, stones and logs, creating places for the frogs to hide.

La Sirène is the spirit of the Haitian mermaid. She attracts those in the sea to the ancestral house on the ocean floor. Like Oceana, she is forceful if offended but also quiet, soothing and healing when she is peaceful. The deep water possesses her. La Sirène is close to the heart of the sea. Position your pot on a bench or table so the moon can reflect in the water.

Aquatic plants

Healthy aquatic plants are essential in the water garden and are beautiful. However, a water feature is only complete with these plants. One of its most important functions is to keep the water clean and prevent the formation of algae by absorbing the nutrients that are dissolved in the water.

Aquatic plants

Light is essential for the growth of all aquatic plants. Aquatic plants need a minimum of 5 hours of sun per day. There are wide varieties of aquatic plants. Floating, marginalised or submerged plants. Aquatic plants, if abandoned, will occupy the entire surface of the water feature. Remove the excess aquatic plants and throw them in your compost bin or feed them to your ducks, as they are extremely rich in nutrients.

And Mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are not a problem in container water gardens as the living plants keep the water from becoming stagnant. However, if they develop, remove them by overfilling your container and letting the mosquito larvae run out with the water flowing over the top.

Water element

For more prominent water features, place native fish in your pond as they eat mosquitoes and their eggs. Place flat rocks near the pond to attract frogs, butterflies and dragonflies. A small solar water pump can be used to aerate the water.