Building a floating garden

by Kristal
(State College, Pa)

I have an acre pond and would like to build a floating garden. I need help in figuring out how to do this. :)

Doug says that if you're talking about having plants floating in the middle of the pond - there are some really interesting things you can do.

The easiest is to purchase dock floats - the kind of foam that's not only tough but also sun-resistant. You can also construct any kind of low raft out of floating materials.

Lay out the pot arrangement you want - the kinds of flowers - you're going to grow them all in pots (1-2 gallon works fine for just about everything)

Set the pots on the foam in your garden layout - and scribe around the bottom of each pot into the foam so you can see the line.

Do leave at least 6 inches of space between pots - the more space you leave the better.

Then cut the holes out - being very careful to only cut enough to fit the pot into the hole but not so big that it falls all the way through.

The pot then sits in the hole, the bottom of the pot is "just" touching the water so the pot doesn't dry out but doesn't get water logged either.

Use an artificial soil (Pro-mix type) in the pots. Add a long term fertilizer. Plant. Put pots in holes. Shove out onto water.

Let me suggest you also set up an anchoring system or the foam will always be stuck somewhere on the foam - as it floats and blows around quite easily.

The plants will grow out - cover the foam and you'll have a floating garden.

Hint: lay the foam onto the water before you put the heavy pots into the foam. Nothing like cracking the foam when you try to lift it with all those soil-filled pots.

When you get it working - upload some pics.