On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 17:11:44 -0600, FrankS wrote:

I'm thinking of creating a bog garden this year but haven't been able to
find much info on how to do it. Basically, I'm thinking of digging a
shallow depression about 10 ft in diameter and 10 to 12 inches deep and
refilling with about 6 inches of topsoil. I have a natural slope to my
yard so keeping it wet shouldn't be a major problem for me. I would like
to create as much a natural environment as possible with cattail,
bulrushes, horsetails and any other bog type plant I can find. I have
about 4 to 6 inches of topsoil over a thick bed of clay. I live in the
extreme north of zone 4 so winters are long and brutal while the summers
can be hot as hell. I want this to be a low maintenance area and I'm not
interested in attracting any wildlife although, if it works, I imagine
frogs and garter snakes may show up.

Does anyone have any experience or info to share with me?

thanks frank

I would recommend finding a good book on bog gardening. For some reason,
straight topsoil doesn't seem too bog-like. You may wish to incorporate
some peat. Peat comes from bogs.

I would stay away from horsetail (equisetum) since it is very invasive and
may take over the entire area. A 10' diameter "bog" is not that much
space.