Water gardens are a wonderful landscaping feature that add peace and serenity to many backyards during the summer. However, tending a water garden requires many important considerations, including which species to put in the garden, and what to do with them when they grow too large or are no longer desired. Many popular aquatic plants and animals sold are not native, and it’s important to handle and surrender them responsibly. Non-native species threaten the rich diversity of native species in our lakes and streams, and can disrupt the ecosystem, causing long-term and irreversible environmental harm.
Follow these tips to reduce the risk of invasion:
- Inspect and rinse any new plants to rid them of seeds, plant fragments, snails and fish.
- Build water gardens well away from other waters.
- Seal aquatic plants for disposal in a plastic bag in the trash.
- Give or trade unwanted fish or plants with another hobbyist, environmental learning center, aquarium or zoo.
- Contact a veterinarian or pet retailer for guidance on humane disposal of animals.
Learn to safely add water features to your yard without adding risks to the environment with this new video. Developed by Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the video features pond maintenance and plant selection recommendations, as well as interviews with MSU Extension educators.
Safe water garden techniques include trading or giving away unwanted plants and animals, or returning them to a retailer. Releasing them into lakes, streams, detention ponds or storm drains is not an acceptable practice, and is punishable by law, not to mention it can harm the environment. When deciding where to place your water garden, build it away from other waterbodies. As MSU Extension Master Gardener educator Linda Whitlock points out, “Be cautious in the design of your water garden so species don’t have the opportunity to escape if we have heavy rains that cause flooding.”
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