How to Make a Bog Garden

Creating a Flowerbed for Marginal and Aquatic Plants

Oct 8, 2009 Jocelyn Wyatt

This is an easy to follow tutorial on putting in a bog garden for water plants and other aquatic life.

Creating a gorgeous oasis in a mud puddle is an easy task if planned out accordingly. Bog gardens can be as simple as a small mud filled pit to as extravagant as a creation with waterfalls and koi ponds attached. Bog gardens can be useful in addition to being beautiful; they can turn a smelly wet area into a beautiful blooming garden.

Finding and Preparing a Site for a Bog Garden

If an area that stays consistently wet can be located, this would be a good place to add a bog garden. The amount of sun the garden needs depends on the types of plants one chooses to incorporate. Generally blooming plants like more sun than foliage plants; make sure to check the plants' growing conditions before locating a spot for the bog garden.

Clear away all debris while digging out several inches of mud. To save on waste the excess mud can be placed around the bog bed and later planted with low growing perennials; this will add an attractive flair to the garden. Use a liner if the area dries out for extended periods, to prevent flooding poke several holes in various places of the liner. Replace the mud with good compost mixed with a time released fertilizer and gravel. The gravel will help the plants stay upright until they are well established.

Place plants at varying levels to add depth within the bog garden. Steps for plants can now be added by shoring up different soil levels with rocks. When arranging the plants try to keep the tallest towards the back while showcasing the shorter plants towards the middle and front. Plants can either be placed in the ground or left in their pots; if left in pots they will not be as apt to spread and take over each other’s space.

Upkeep and Yearly Maintenance of a Bog Garden

Just as in a regular flowerbed, a bog garden will need general maintenance in order to flourish. When weeds start to grow is when they need to be pulled and killed as waiting can lead to more and bigger weeds in a short while. Over time the soil can become depleted and need topping off; this is straightforward work: simply remove the plants and some old soil and top off with fresh compost and fertilizer. If the plants are growing actively and seem healthy then the soil is fine. When plants become crowded simply separate each clump and pot up some place else; this gives more plants for a larger bog garden or plenty to give friends and family.

Types of Bog Garden Plants List

Blue flagiris Iris virginica

Seashore mallow Kosteletskya virginica

Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnate

Bee balm Monarda didyma

Papyrus Cyperus haspans

Variegated Water Chestnut Baumea rubiginosa 'Variegata'

Dwarf Horsetail Equisetum scripioides

Additional Gardening Articles:

Fall Gardening

How to Grow Waterlilies

The copyright of the article How to Make a Bog Garden in Water Gardens is owned by Jocelyn Wyatt. Permission to republish How to Make a Bog Garden in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.