Bog gardens are characterized by areas of permanently wet, saturated soil, and are almost always informal gardens, often with large, giant plants. They typically look much “wilder” in nature, especially when placed alongside more traditional gardens. 

While you usually can’t let bog gardens truly grow wild, as some pruning and landscaping is necessary, they do provide a chance to let some plants stretch their legs, and can be used to give an impression of greater size and space in your garden area.

No matter how small the pool, if you provide a area of clear water for a week or two in the lush summer months, it’s next to impossible to not be on your way to a thriving wildlife pool, as algae and bugs take root, followed by larger and larger invertebrates, dragonflies, birds, and even hedgehogs, foxes, and possums.

A rich layer of soil over the bottom of your liner will greatly speed the process, as well as providing an island or edging that creates basking spots for frogs and toads. Allowing easy access and exit to the pond can also help it flourish, especially for amphibians that don’t spend the entire time in the water.

Planting marginals and other grasses and sedges can also give your wildlife pond a shot in the arm, as water and a steady food source will go a long way towards attracting all sorts of life that is the backbone of your pond.

That said, the goal is to create a natural feel and look, so don’t endlessly obsess over the positioning and arrangement of every single stone or element. When nature creates rock pools and ponds, the process is necessarily haphazard and random, so don’t feel too constrained when selecting and placing materials.

Take special care with your choice of edging, as good planning can eliminate a lot of unsightly problems later on. If your pool or pond is small and in a sunny area, be prepared for the water level to drop rapidly in warm sumemr months, which may cause the liner to be exposed if you haven’t prepared for this. The same holds true for water features that supply solely on natural rainfall and water, as the water level can fluctuate dramatically thoughout the seasons.

As far as materials for constructing a rock pool or pond, the sky is the limit, as limestone, slate, granite, sandstone, and washed boulders and cobbles all are great choices,  and can be incorporated into a variety of designs in many different ways.

Probably the most important element of any Japanese water garden is a very simple one: silence. The quieter, the better, as much of the tranquility of the Japanese water garden comes from the reflective nature of sitting in a quiet, hushed environment.

While most of us are blessed (or you know, cursed) with neighbors, you can use natural elements such as plants, trees, fences, and boulders to create an intimate space that blocks out much of the surrounding noise. Find the quietest area of your yard and keep an eye out for ways to landscape it so that as little noise as possible filters through.

Another key element in Japanese water gardens are distinctive decorative elements. Most pond supply stores  stock common items such as bamboo, dwarf pines, stone lanterns, boulders, stepping stones, and gravel, all of which evoke a Japanese feel.

High stone walls, bamboo screens, and weathered wood are other distinctive features which can be incorporated into your garden with great success. If you need design and decorative ideas, simply browse the Internet or any number of books devoted to water gardens in general, as nearly all of them feature more than a few Japanese water gardens.

Once you’ve narrowed down what you want in your Japanese water garden, it’s time to sketch out the general layout of your design. if you plan on including fish and water plants, be sure that the design accomodates it, as not all gardens are equally suited for fish or plant life.

Pay attention, too, to the plants and trees that you incorporate, with an eye towards not just how they’ll look immediately, when you plant them, but whether or not they have room to grow and spread over the years. While some of your design elements will be fairly static (decks, wood, stones, etc.), other elements will be much more fluid and organic, so be sure to allow for the natural evolution of your Japanese water garden over time.

The size of your pond: For filtration purposes, it’s recommended that your pump should be rated to circulate the volume of water in your pond once every hour. If your pond is 2,000 gallons, then you need to buy a pump with a minimum 2,000 gallon per hour (gph) rating. You should also make sure that your filter is compatible with your pump and that the pump isn’t circulating more water through the filter than is recommended.

Water features: If you have waterfalls or other water features, you’ll need a pump to supply them with the proper amount of water. If these features require the water to be pushed to a considerable height, you should lean towards a direct drive pump instead of a magnetic drive or submersible pump.

Fish and other plants: If you have fish or plants in your pond, there are certain types of pumps you should avoid, primarily direct drive pumps, as they require oil lubrication and this could contaminate the water.

Ease of installation and maintenance: If you’re installing a simple, small water pond yourself, consider a submersible pump, as installation is as simple as plugging it in and dropping it into the deepest part of the pond.

If you have nearby trees, cover your pond with netting before the leaves begin to drop in the fall. The easiest way to fish leaves out of your pond is to never let them get into it in the first place.

Prune and cut back any dead material on plants. Lower the pots of your hardy water plants into the deepest part of the pond.

Once the temperature is consistently in the mid 40s, stop feeding your fish. They’ll be fine. They basically hibernate during the winter and won’t eat any food you add to the pond anyway once the temperature stops dropping and their metabolism slows.

If you’re going to turn your pump off for the winter, shut it down and disconnect and drain all pipes. If you’re going to run your pump throughout the winter, it’s business as usual, except you can reduce the water flow. Many pond owners choose to keep their pumps flowing at a reduced rate, as this keeps alive the necessary bacteria in the biological filter.

Be Realistic: Probably the single most common reason that projects go over budget is because the homeowners weren’t realistic as to how much it would cost. Pretending that you can afford a new pool during the planning project doesn’t make it any cheaper. Before you start planning a new project or renovation, do some basic research into what you should expect to pay. If it’s more than you can afford, consider scaling down your plans to something that’s realistic and affordable. If that doesn’t work, continue to save money until your realistic budget is feasible.

Talk, Talk, Talk: Make sure your spouse or family are all on board with the project before you ever start. Is it worth it to everone to have that new deck, even if it means no vacation trip that year? Will you really use that hot tub enough to justify the expense?

When you’re getting bids from contractors, get as many as possible. Yes, it’s not fun and can be quite painful but the more people you talk to, the better, as you’ll be reassured that you hired the best contractor and the finished product will probably be better. Don’t stop talking to the contractor once work starts. If you hav any concerns let them know immediately, when you have them. Don’t wait, assuming they’ll read your mind and adjust or change things the way you really want them, because if you do you may blow your budget later having the changes made.

Big Projects Shouldn’t Happen Overnight: You probably don’t want to hear this, but if you’re considering a major project such as adding a pool, you should spend at least six months during the planning stage. We all want things done, immediately, or at the very least by tomorrow, but you should give yourself a period of at least six months to not only properly plan the project but to get comfortable with the idea and be sure it’s what you want to do. The longer the planning period, the more likely you’ll stay on budget.

You Hired a Good Contractor for a Reason: Don’t bristle if your contractor suggests changes or alterations to your plan. They’re the professional and if they’re suggesting a change that might disturb you, believe me, they’re aware of the danger so give extra weight to what they suggest.

You don’t necessarily have to cave in but don’t assume they’re changing your plan simply to make life easier on themselves. If an element of your plan is very important to you, be firm, but try to be flexible on other areas, especially if it will save you headaches later on. Adjusting your project plans as it develops can often be crucial in staying on budget.

Stay on Task: It’s easy to let yourself go wild, especially in the middle of a major project, adding this, throwing in that, thinking what the heck, you’ve already spent a ton of money, why not go for the gusto? That’s a perfect recipe for a blown budget, and usually ends up with lots of expensive additions that aren’t really that useful or enjoyable. Stay focused on your plan. When it’s done and you’ve spent time enjoying your new pool, patio, or deck, then that’s the time to consider what additions might truly be nice and enhance the effect you’ve created, not when you’re in the process of creating the effect.