Whiskey barrel water gardens are a fun project. These barrels are usually available at garden centers, farm supply stores or even discount stores during the summer garden season. They require a plastic liner for water gardening or indoor gardening. The total cost for a half whiskey barrel and a plastic liner is about $50 or less. They take up little space on the patio or deck.

HOW TO CREATE WHISKEY BARREL WATER GARDENS

First, place the whiskey barrel where you want the water garden. It will be impossible to move after it is filled with water! Think about the types of water plants you want to grow. Do they require shade or sun? If you want a mixture, will tall plants provide enough shade for the floating plants or shorter plants?

Second, line the barrel with heavy duty plastic or rubber-like pond liners which are stapled up and over the top edge. Be sure not to make any holes that will cause leaking. An alternative is to buy one of the rigid plastic liners available. Be sure not to choose a lightweight plastic - the garden will cost more in the long run if you make this mistake because it will have to be replaced more often. Whiskey barrels frequently retain the odor of the whiskey brewed in them indicating that some alcohol must be left in the wood - this is another reason for using a liner.

Third, decide if you want fish. If so, follow the directions here for creating an inexpensive, simple underwater filter system. Some choose not to use filters even when using fish but this limits the kinds and numbers of fish you may have in your garden. Many choose not to use fish in these gardens. I had three container water gardens last summer - none had fish or other creatures and the plants thrived!
Fourth, fill the barrel with water up to about two to three inches below the top edge. Let the water stand for a few days to allow any chlorine in the water to disperse. An alternative is to purchase some chlorine-out used for tropical fish tanks. Follow the directions on the package.

PLANTING YOUR WATER GARDEN

Decide what plants you want. Visiting a local garden center that sells water plants will help you select plants suitable for your region of the world. My first container water garden was simply a small plastic container covered with hypertufa. It was planted with water lettuce, duckweed, fairy moss and water hyacinth. These plants grew so well that I was giving them away by the end of the summer.

My second garden was planted in a large plastic pot (15-inch diameter, 18 inches tall, and no drainholes) with the aforementioned plants. I added an unidentified reed dug from the side of a pond and a water lily start which, unfortunately, did not do well. The reed was planted in a gallon size plastic container and sat on some bricks on the bottom of the water garden so it was just level with the water surface. The water lily was planted in some heavy clay soil in the bottom of the garden. Because child safety is a vital concern where I live, I floated some of the expanded clay pellets used in hydroponic gardening on the water surface so it wasn't so obvious that this was a water garden. That kept the children out but still allowed the squirrels, birds, butterflies and other insects to use it as a water source.

The third water garden was simply a rectangular "busboy tray." I created a fake water fountain in it by buying a brass water sprinkler for $3. I made a hole just big enough for my garden hose to fit through in the side and hooked it to the water sprinkler which was held down with bricks sitting on the hose. This created a nice fountain effect that the birds seemed to enjoy and was also used for watering my shade garden. Water lettuce, water hyacinth, duckweed and fairy moss floated in the pond.

I only wish my townehouses hadn't banned future water gardens due to liability issues. I'd have one every summer.