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

"FrankS" wrote in
:

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




If you don't get any wildlife you might as well make a little wooden sign
saying "MOTEL - mosquitoes stay free"

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 be wary of the cattails and horsetail, both can be very
invasive. If I were doing it I would include iris, but not
pseudoacorous, it gets out of hand as well.

If you fill it enough to have standing water all the time I would add
some mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

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.

Charles wrote:
=

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 an=
d
refilling with about 6 inches of topsoil. I have a natural slope to m=
y yard
so keeping it wet shouldn't be a major problem for me. I would like t=
o
create as much a natural environment as possible with cattail, bulrush=
es,
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 no=
rth 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 gar=
ter
snakes may show up.

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

thanks frank

=

I would be wary of the cattails and horsetail, both can be very
invasive. If I were doing it I would include iris, but not
pseudoacorous, it gets out of hand as well.

Amen on all points.

=

If you fill it enough to have standing water all the time I would add
some mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis.

I know some pond folks who have tried native minnows in ditches along
with a small number of aquarium fish. Green fan-tailed molly with
minnows makes an interesting breed. So does shads and shiners. The price
certainly is right. Did you know there is only one place in the U that
raises Gambusia? In the Midwest, somewhere.
=

--
=

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

C wrote:
=

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 a=
nd
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 hav=
e
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 summ=
ers
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 imagin=
e
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 reaso=
n,
straight topsoil doesn't seem too bog-like. You may wish to incorporat=
e
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.
It's not that bad.

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

The Montreal Botanical Garden has an excellent bog section. You
might want to contact the Garden. The English version of its Web
site is http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/menu.htm.

I have two photographs of the bog section at
http://www.rossde.com/Canada_trip/ph...l_garden1.html.

--

David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

I use Mozilla as my Web browser because I want a browser that
complies with Web standards. See http://www.mozilla.org/.

Charles wrote:
=

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 an=
d
refilling with about 6 inches of topsoil. I have a natural slope to m=
y yard
so keeping it wet shouldn't be a major problem for me. I would like t=
o
create as much a natural environment as possible with cattail, bulrush=
es,
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 no=
rth 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 gar=
ter
snakes may show up.

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

thanks frank

=

I would be wary of the cattails and horsetail, both can be very
invasive. If I were doing it I would include iris, but not
pseudoacorous, it gets out of hand as well.

Amen on all points.

=

If you fill it enough to have standing water all the time I would add
some mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis.

I know some pond folks who have tried native minnows in ditches along
with a small number of aquarium fish. Green fan-tailed molly with
minnows makes an interesting breed. So does shads and shiners. The price
certainly is right. Did you know there is only one place in the U that
raises Gambusia? In the Midwest, somewhere.
=

--
=

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

C wrote:
=

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 a=
nd
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 hav=
e
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 summ=
ers
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 imagin=
e
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 reaso=
n,
straight topsoil doesn't seem too bog-like. You may wish to incorporat=
e
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.
It's not that bad.

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

The Montreal Botanical Garden has an excellent bog section. You
might want to contact the Garden. The English version of its Web
site is http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/menu.htm.

I have two photographs of the bog section at
http://www.rossde.com/Canada_trip/ph...l_garden1.html.

--

David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

I use Mozilla as my Web browser because I want a browser that
complies with Web standards. See http://www.mozilla.org/.

I've built 2 and volunteered on a third. I have some .pdf's I can send
you and a 6 page "how to" via fax.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/bogs.html
http://www.plantideas.com/bog/index.html
http://www.pitcherplant.com/bog_making.html
http://www.nelsonwatergardens.com/iwant.html#28 - my local source among
many others like Harris County Flood Control

J. Kolenovsky
http://www.celestialhabitats.com - got pics on the one I built in my
yard here and at
http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden

FrankS wrote:
=

I'm thinking of creating a bog garden this year but haven't been able t=
o
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, bulrushe=
s,
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 nor=
th of
zone 4 so winters are long and brutal while the summers can be hot as h=
ell.
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 gart=
er
snakes may show up.
=

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

thanks frank

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

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 have a pond, about 7,000 gallons or so. It took me 3 weeks to dig
it out. Frogs were watching me dig it out and immediately took it
over. The pond is fed by an underground natural spring. I installed
a standpipe that takes the overflow to a nearby stream. Later, I
surrounded the pond with flagstone. The water was muddy for about a
month, then cleared up. I planted a few aquatic plants. The elodea,
parrot feather, cattail, miniature horsetail, and lilies grew quickly.
Currently I have azola invasive problems and use it to feed the
compost. One year I had to evict a muskrat. Water snakes and herons
can be a problem at times for the larger fish. There's a pond
newsgroup you should check out. I'm in zone 7 with very little pond
freezing.

Xref: kermit rec.gardens:262495

Wow, that's a nice pond! Yeah, rec.ponds. I forgot about them. Thanks.


Phisherman wrote:
=

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 an=
d
refilling with about 6 inches of topsoil. I have a natural slope to m=
y yard
so keeping it wet shouldn't be a major problem for me. I would like t=
o
create as much a natural environment as possible with cattail, bulrush=
es,
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 no=
rth 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 gar=
ter
snakes may show up.

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

thanks frank

=

I have a pond, about 7,000 gallons or so. It took me 3 weeks to dig
it out. Frogs were watching me dig it out and immediately took it
over. The pond is fed by an underground natural spring. I installed
a standpipe that takes the overflow to a nearby stream. Later, I
surrounded the pond with flagstone. The water was muddy for about a
month, then cleared up. I planted a few aquatic plants. The elodea,
parrot feather, cattail, miniature horsetail, and lilies grew quickly.
Currently I have azola invasive problems and use it to feed the
compost. One year I had to evict a muskrat. Water snakes and herons
can be a problem at times for the larger fish. There's a pond
newsgroup you should check out. I'm in zone 7 with very little pond
freezing.

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

I was thinking of doing the same thing this year, but my bog is reserved for
lotus. I have successfully germinated ten seeds of 'Baby Doll' and I have many
of them outside in the pond waiting to be divided up. I think they will do much
better directly in soil in a bog. There will be standing water in mine, so I
will make sure mosquito dunks will always be present.

I do have a pond now which has to be made larger. The one inch comets are now
about 12 inches long and beefy! I am going to build them a larger pond than
they have now. Around that pond I will plant nothing but horsetail in the soil,
but that's only because it will be raised and in no way in touch with any other
part of my gardens. I also have miniature cat tails and star grass, which
smells divine. Sagittaria is also beautiful.


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

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 was thinking of doing the same thing this year, but my bog is reserved for
lotus. I have successfully germinated ten seeds of 'Baby Doll' and I have many
of them outside in the pond waiting to be divided up. I think they will do much
better directly in soil in a bog. There will be standing water in mine, so I
will make sure mosquito dunks will always be present.

I do have a pond now which has to be made larger. The one inch comets are now
about 12 inches long and beefy! I am going to build them a larger pond than
they have now. Around that pond I will plant nothing but horsetail in the soil,
but that's only because it will be raised and in no way in touch with any other
part of my gardens. I also have miniature cat tails and star grass, which
smells divine. Sagittaria is also beautiful.


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

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