Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
#175 Dtp: 229 Page: 255

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

#175 Dtp: 229 Page: 254

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 255 5/24/17 12:29 PM

HOW TO MAKE A PATIO WATER GARDEN WITH BAMBOO

STEP 1 Begin by placing the empty container wherever

you’d like your water garden to be, as it will be too

heavy to move once filled with water. Select a location

that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

If your container has a drainage hole in the bottom,

seal the drainage hole with silicone caulk. Let the

caulk dry for at least 24 hours. Make sure the caulk is

fully dry before proceeding to the next step.

STEP 2 Cut two pieces of bamboo to form the base for

the fountain, using a sharp pruning saw. Each piece

should be long enough to overhang the edge of the pot

on either side by 1 to 2 in. Cut a third piece of bamboo

to form the waterspout. The back end of this piece

should be long enough to extend over the back edge of

the pot, while the front end should sit about 3 to 4 in.

inside the front lip of the pot. If you want, you can cut

the front edge of this piece of bamboo on an angle.

STEP 3 Fasten the two base pieces together, one above

the waterspout and the other below it, using two plastic

zip ties. Make sure the zip ties are about halfway

between the waterspout and the pot’s edge. Tighten

the zip ties securely.

STEP 4 Wrap a long piece of jute twine over both of

the zip ties multiple times to hide them. Wrap another

length of twine in a figure 8 around both of the base

pieces where the waterspout comes out. This holds the

waterspout in place.

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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STEP 5 Slide one end of the clear poly tubing over the

exit valve on the pump (making sure you have the^1 ⁄ 2 -in.

adaptor in place). Depending on the size pump you

have, you may have to adjust the water flow in a later

step. Place the pump in the bottom of the pot with the

cord running up and out of the back of the pot.

STEP 6 Insert the other end of the clear poly tubing

into the back end of the piece of bamboo that will be

the waterspout. Pull the tubing through the bamboo

waterspout. Cut any excess tubing off so the end of the

tubing sits just inside the end of the bamboo spout.

STEP 7 Place rocks, blocks, or bricks in the bottom of

the pot and begin arranging the containerized plants

on them so the rims of the containers sit 1 to 3 in.

below the rim of the large pot. Position the plants

so they hide the electric cord and plastic tubing. Add

water to the pot until filled almost to the top. If any of

the potted plants begin to float, weigh them down by

putting a few rocks into the pot around the plant. Once

the pot is full of water, add any floating plants, such as

water hyacinth or water lettuce.

STEP 8 If desired, to soften the edge of the pot and help

hold the fountain in place, put a few decorative rocks on

the edge of the pot. Plug in the pump. If the flow rate is

too heavy or too light, unplug the pump, lift it out of the

water, and adjust the flow rate valve until the correct

flow rate is achieved. Never run the pump when it’s

out of the water and never adjust the pump while it’s

plugged in. If you’d like to add fish to your water garden,

wait 3 to 5 days before adding them.

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 255 5/24/17 1:07 PM