Building An Attached Bog Garden
 
In recent years, may gardeners have begun working with nature to preserve it rather than against nature to change it.  Nothing shows this better than bog gardens.  These plantings make use of damp areas as places to grow unusual varities of flowers, grasses, ferns, and shrubs.

If you would like to attach a bog garden to your koi pond, make the area between your pond and the garden area a little lower than your expected water level.  Once this is done, on top of the solid berm or mound area, create a barrier that is semipermeable in nature and will allow some water to pass through it.  This barrier should extend a little above the eventual water level.  You can go about creating this barrier in several different ways.  This will allow for an automatic-watering device for your bog garden.  As there are several options available, you may find one is better and more eye-catching for your particular bog design than the others.


  • Stones are one popular option for your new bog.   You may be able to get enough control of the water by stacking stones on the mound and letting water seep between and under them.
  • Mortar some of the stones together.  If too much water flows through, you can reduce the gaps for seepage by mortaring some of the stones together.  You can also combine stones with the sod option, which is very easy to put in place.
  • Use sod, stacked in layers for your bog.  This is another popular material to use as a semipermeable barrier in your garden.  Just top the mound with sod pieces that are turned upside down, then hold them securely in place and hide them with large stones or other edging. 
  • Another option is to use stones with two or three pieces of perforated pipe.  This is a more iconinvolved option for your bog garden.  The stones with two or three pieces of pipe are run between them and the soil in the bog garden area.  You can then iconmortar the balance of the stones together so that water flows only through the pipe.   This versatile floating planter is great for showcasing houseplants or toher plants that cannot go directly into the pond.  It will also keep your pond plants away from nibbling koi.
                                                                                                                                               


With this complete, you are now ready to add your planting material to your new bog garden.  If your bog area is attached, add the soil mix gradually.  You will need to  saturate it as you go and test the amount of water that is running between  your pond and the bog garden.  Wait before planting until you are satisfied  with the right amount of water seepage.  The yellow lilies show at left are a perfect addition to your bog garden.