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How to make a water garden in a bowl

Your very own miniature pond in your garden! - by Melissa King
  • 27 Aug 2021

There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that connecting with nature is beneficial for both mind and body.  Tonight, Melissa visits her old friend and garden designer Steven Wells, to explore a therapy garden he’s created at the Austin Health’s Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. Previously a barren space, specially designed paths take you on a journey through this bold and beautiful garden. It offers a full sensory experience that fosters respite, relaxation and recovery for patients, their family and friends, staff and visitors to the site. Not content with just looking at gardens, Melissa shows you how to make a peaceful addition to your own garden with a simple water garden in a bowl.

WATCH: How to a make a water garden in a bowl

Filling a water bowl with water-loving plants can create a calming atmosphere in your garden. Choose plants that grow to different heights so you get layers of visual interest.

Gather your supplies

  • Water bowl, at least 51 x 22cm
  • Pond sealer
  • Aquatic epoxy putty
  • Range of water plants
  • Pea-sized pebbles

You'll also need

  • Sponge or cloth
  • Paintbrush
  • Disposable gloves
  • Spirit level
  • Trowel
  • Sandy loam soil

For you to note

If you want to add fish to your pond, let the water stand for at least 24 hours so chlorine can evaporate.

Here's how

Step 1

How to make a pond

Step 1

Clean your water bowl inside and out, then apply pond sealer with a paintbrush. Wearing gloves, fill any drainage holes with aquatic epoxy putty, then leave to cure.

Step 2

How to make water garden in a bowl with Melissa King

Step 2

Put bowl in desired location and use a spirit level to check for level. Use a trowel to fill bowl with a layer of sandy loam soil, to a depth of about 15-20cm.

Step 3

How to make water garden step 3

Step 3

Fill your bowl with water-loving plants such as rush, Vietnamese mint and syngonium, and also oxygenating plants appropriate for your area to reduce algae.

Step 4

How to make water garden step 4

Step 4

Add a layer of small pea-sized pebbles to the bowl to stop the soil muddying the water.

Step 5

How to make water garden in a bowl step 5

Step 5

Add water very slowly so you don't displace pebbles and subsequently the soil.

The final result

How to make water garden in bowl

Your own miniature pond feature

You might also like:

How to build a pond in your backyard

How to turn your pond into a vegetable patch

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Melissa King
Melissa King
Melissa King is one of Australia’s most popular and respected garden experts and television presenters. Melissa joins the Better Homes and Gardens team as its respected garden expert. “For a gardening presenter, this is the pinnacle and I’m beyond excited to be working alongside people I have admired for years,” says Melissa.

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