Do you have a low-lying area in your landscape that is a nuisance because it holds water? Consider creating a bog garden. This garden style contains interesting plants that thrive in a very moist environment. These plants include grasses, perennials, and water plants. It can be an area full of blooms. Building a bog garden provides a habitat for frogs, butterflies, hummingbirds, dragonflies, and many other animals.
In addition to providing interest in the landscape, a bog garden plays a role in rainwater management. The bog slows the movement of the rainwater and filters the water. This can help with storm water management by reducing flooding and pollution caused by storm water run off.
To create a bog garden begin by selecting an area that naturally holds some water and excavate about two feet of soil. In this area add a layer of stone or rubble and then a layer of course soil. The bog will begin to fill with decaying plant matter over time and create a natural bog. The bog should not hold more than one foot of water. Use flat rocks as planting shelves. Place the most moisture loving plants in the lower lying areas of the bog and more drought tolerant plants toward the edges. Provide visual interest by contrasting color, texture, and plant height. Be careful not to overcrowd the garden. It is essential that a bog garden stay moist. For more information on building a bog garden go to http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/garden/boggarden.htm
Some Bog Garden Plant Choices
Iris
Lily
Umbrella Sedge
Bog sage
Zebra Grass
Pickerel
Lizard’s Tail
Ribbon Grass
Elephant Ear
So true! I try to do this with my container water gardens. My neighbor gets tons of frogs in his in-ground water gardens, and of course, we have them in our little stream, Hawk Run, but I keep hoping, hoping that a few will visit the container gardens. (I'm not as brave as you, though--I haven't been able to bring myself to actually buy tadpoles!) How's your container water garden doing, by the way?
ReplyDeleteHi OFB, Don't buy tadpoles. The little canibals are not worth it. The water garden is doing great thanks for asking. Our goldfish are beggars.
ReplyDeleteDeb.
I have a pond and we let it go natural so it's not one of those sparkling clean showpieces. But the frogs, toads and snakes (yes) love it. I have a wet area after a rain but it drains and dries up real fast.
ReplyDeleteThank you for adding me to your blogroll on the sidebar :)
Jane marie, the wet area that does not hold water for very long is called a rain garden. I will post about that soon. Thanks for stopping by. Glad to add you to the side bar. Fun times.
ReplyDeleteDebbi
A bog garden. Now that is interesting. I learn something new every day! Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteAiyana
That sounds like a neat option for my rain water run off pit. I've been thinking it would be nice to have a pond, but I'm too lazy to keep the water sparkling clean. I think this might be a wonderful solution for me. I wonder what Cheesehead would think of this idea....
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ReplyDeleteHi cinj, I was able to visit a couple of homes with bog gardens on a garden tour last week. They were really pretty and hardly any work after they were installed.
ReplyDeleteDebbi.
Now that I have a pond, I too am working on a bog garden to go next to it. I live on a slope, so I've always used terracing to try to slow the run-off. Being a Texan, I just can't stand to see that precious water go to waste.
ReplyDeleteMSS, the pond bog combo seems to be all the rage around these parts N TX. It is completely understandable considering how dry we are going to get pretty soon.
ReplyDeleteDeb.