Here are some tips to consider when planting your water garden:

• Group plants at the garden center before you buy them to make sure you like how they look together.
• To pot water plants, layer the bottom of the pot with plastic mulch. Mix in a spoonful of a slow-release fertilizer with topsoil and fill the pot to 1 inch below the rim. Dig a hole for the root ball, place it in the soil, and fan out the roots. Cover with about 1 inch of soil. Top-dress with pea gravel.
• Most waterlilies need 3–8 feet of space for spread; however, miniature waterlilies are now available that require only 1-1/2 feet.
• Submerged plants grow beneath the pond surface; they do not need soil to thrive. They are called oxygenators because they add oxygen to the water—a must if you want fish in your water garden.

Make a portable tub fountain for your garden.

Next: Make a Water Garden: Maintenance Tips