Gives hands-on advice on designing and creating formal and informal water gardens with still or moving water, stones, bridges, lighting, decking, or fish. Includes a catalog of over 150 plants suitable for water gardens and over 700 photographs and illustrations.

"Created in close cooperation with one of the premier gardening authorities, the American Horticultural Society Gardening Manual is packed with information on all aspects of planning, making, and maintaining a garden. It presents expert advice in a quick-reference format that meets the requirements of today's busy gardeners." "For the beginner and the enthusiast, this comprehensive reference work also includes garden design and planning, the choice and care of plants, and the construction of hard features. The emphasis throughout is on practicality and achievability, with high-maintenance elements such as herbaceous borders reinterpreted for the modern garden."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Backyard Water Gardens is a complete overview of everything you need to know in order to create a backyard water feature, from ideas, to installation, to maintaining, to stocking with plants and fish.

With 700 beautiful color photos, this is the definitive photographic reference to the full range of plants available to the water gardener.

Want information about aquatic plants that the experts treasure? Here are solid scientific facts on every plant that's commonly available, with all the growing details, and each is accompanied by lavish, dazzling color photographs.

Explains how to design and install all types of water gardens, from naturalistic to formal, as well as fountains, waterfalls, streams, and bog gardens. Over 400 color photos.

Whether it is a small container of water on a deck or patio serving as home to a few plants and water creatures or a more elaborate mix of waterfalls, fountains, rockwork, and lighting, the water garden can be a lovely, spirit-soothing addition to one's property—a place to unwind, relax, and escape the cares of the world. But while water has been a prominent feature in garden designs for thousands of years, it is only recently—with the availability of preformed kits at the local home improvement center—that installing a beautiful water garden has become a feasible undertaking for the average homeowner. And now, with the extremely clear and complete instructions in this practical, hands-on guide, a backyard water garden is easier than ever to build and maintain. Water Gardener's Bible by Ben Helm and Kelly Billing is a true bible on the subject—with comprehensive information on everything from choosing the right site and selecting aquatic plants and fish to pond management and problem solving. The pages are crammed with specifics about pond biology and chemistry, beneficial bacteria, fish health, nuisance algae, and electrical and child safety—all that is necessary to duplicate the sights, sounds, and sanctuary of a babbling brook, splashing fountain, or cascading waterfall right in the backyard.