Today anyone can afford and have a beautiful water garden. With a little reading and some willingness for work, most people will find they can install their own. Often, however, a problem occurs because people forget to think about long term maintenance of the garden when making the location selection.

Choose a location you will see daily because water gardens are like all gardens, they require some attention. Attention needs to be given to water quality, water level, plant selection, possible fish and just plain esthetics.

The best thing about a water garden is the soothing sounds of moving water. That sound will help anyone relax and unwind from a stressful day. The calming affect of water will refresh your soul.

To get a smile, one thing I always tell people with a water garden is, "You can't over water your plants." In a small water garden a single water lily can provide color and beauty all summer long.

With a medium size pond one can use taller plants such as tall-statured yellow flag Iris. They grow best with water over their crown throughout the year.

Fish are not required but they do eat mosquito larva and watching them provides some entertainment. If you decide you want fish in your water garden, investing in a water testing kit to monitor nitrates and ammonia levels will be important for fish survival.

Placement of the water garden can reduce maintenance. Keep the garden away from trees which shed leaves into the water or other plants which may drop debris. You want to keep the leaves and debris out of the water which can stop up a filter and foul the water.

You should make sure the pond is located where runoff that may include pesticides or fertilizers can not enter the pond. These can be toxic to the fish and promote excess algae growth.

So remember, water gardens can provide endless joy but they do require some attention. Enjoy.