Design a Whiskey-Barrel Water Garden BY RUTH ROGERS CLAUSEN Roll out the barrel ... and design your own soothing mini water garden. This small water feature is suitable for a residential garden in the city or suburbs, where it could be placed on a deck, terrace, or patio. Purchase a sturdy wine or whiskey barrel that has been cut neatly in half. Select one that sits steadily on its base and has tight metal hoops. Scrub inside and out thoroughly, and wire-brush and repaint the wire hoops; if you paint the barrel, use a marine-grade paint. Seal the inside of the barrel or line it with a plastic or rubber liner attached to the outside of the rim. Drill a half-inch hole about one inch below the rim, to act as an overflow in rainy weather. Place clean concrete blocks, bricks, or wire shelves at varying heights to support plants that prefer the margins of a pond rather than being submerged or floating. Remember to put the barrel in its final position before you fill it with water; if the barrel is on a wooden surface, place it on bricks to prevent rotting underneath. Alternatively you can use any large watertight container. If desired, add a pump (available in garden centers) to add sound and movement. After frost in cold-weather regions, lift the pots, trim off the foliage, and store in plastic bags in boxes in a cool, frost-free place.

© Copyright - The Man's Garden 2008