Cheap Portable Water Garden for Renters

If you live in a small place, especially a rental, where a big, fancy water garden is not practical or even possible, there is an alternative.

Set up your own small portable water garden, one you can take from one home to another, as needed.

Pool

You need a basin. Wooden casks cut in half seem to be popular, assuming you can find one. The fact is it can be as simple as a trash can lid turned upside down and placed inside a shallow basin you've dug out. Line it with a dark rubber liner.

You will need to top off your container with fresh water every once in awhile, due to evaporation, but it shouldn't be a big problem.

Later, you can replace what you have with a better basin if you find one and a water pump can eventually be added.

Plan

With your selection as to what will serve as a pool basin, you need to plan around it. How do you want the finished project to look with plants and rocks. Do you visualize the pool in the center of a whirlpool-raked Zen gravel garden ? Do you want a thick planting of flowers around the pool? Do you want one side open towards your back window? Do you want a cactus garden?

Where

Consider a location which should provide six to eight hours of sunlight a day.

Keep in mind that any kids in your neighborhood will be drawn by the water. They can get into trouble, even with shallow water. Your own situation as far as fencing and visibility from the street will dictate how relaxed you can feel about your pool.

Rock, Plants

You can line up rocks or gravel or bricks around the perimeter of your pool. There are inexpensive decorative stones and bricks available at the hardware store you might choose from.

There is also the greenery you want to plant around your pool.

For the water environment, you can use cheap water plants available from pet shops. Ask about temperature requirements because shallow water will get pretty warm in the direct sun.

You may also be able to introduce goldfish and snails although they'll need to go indoors during the winter months.

Then there are the plants to go around the pool. Your overall plan will dictate that. Do you want to hit the ground running with minimal cash outlay? A stop at the nursery and a little mooching from greenery-advantaged friends can get you started. Or if can supplement what you find with seeds or, if you are you bless with patience and the season is not too advanced, you can plant from seed.