If you've always wanted a pond, but didn't want to (or couldn't) dig a big hole in your yard, a half whiskey barrel pond may be just the thing and provide hours of relaxing entertainment.

Half whiskey barrel ponds can be anywhere -- patio, deck, balcony or anywhere that gets the required amount of sunlight and is close to an electrical outlet should you decide to add a pump/aerator at a later date. Small and easy to maintain, you can have plants, fish and a certain Zen beauty on our back deck for next to nothing.

All you need is a barrel, liner, water, water plants (they clean and oxygenate the water) and fish (they control insects and look nice).

Barrel and Liner

You can get a barrel and liner at about any garden center. Look for 26-inch diameter opening, 15 inches deep and 20 gallon capacity. The liner converts your barrel planter into a watertight container.

Water

Clean water is essential to a healthy pond. Tap water contains chemicals, which keep the water clean, but needs to be removed before plants and fish are added. If chlorine is present in your water, simply letting the water sit out for a few days will let it dissolve out of the water. Plan on adding water occasionally to replace what's evaporated. It's possible that your water will cloud up in a hurry because of an algae bloom. Don't panic -- things usually level out in a few weeks. Having the right mix of plants can help keep algae at a minimum without the need for chemicals or mechanical filtration.

Plants

Plants are vital to the pond ecosystem. They aid in water filtration, oxygenate the water, provide shelter and food for aquatic life, and look nice. Most water plants require full sun for at least five hours

Submerged plants are just that -- nearly all of the entire plant is underwater, rooted in some planting medium such as aquatic planting soil or pea gravel. Submerged plants oxygenate the water and help control algae.

Floating plants filter water and provide shade for your fish. One of the most common floating plants is the water hyacinth. It looks nice, and cleans the water

Most water plants will not last over winter in an aboveground container in our climate. Grow them in pots so they can be easily removed and stored for winter in a cool place where they won't freeze. Rather than over wintering plants, you may wish to treat them as annuals. Your local nursery can help you choose the right water plants for this area.

Fish

While plants make a pond pleasing to view, fish add an element of fun. Even if no fish are desired, one type of fish is almost mandatory, and that is the mosquito fish (gambusia). A few small mosquito fish will prevent your pond from becoming an insect breeding ground, and will not require feeding or mechanicals. One or two small goldfish can also serve this purpose.

It is rumored that a pond will support one inch of fish for every five gallons of water without requiring oxygenation or filtration. If you see your fish "gasping" at the top of the water (low oxygenation), or you intend to put a lot of fish in a small space, then your pond will require mechanical filtration and aeration. But regardless, it is inappropriate to put large fish in a small space like a half barrel pond. And even goldfish can eventually outgrow a half barrel pond. Do not put Koi in a half barrel pond. They will soon outgrow the pond, and they tend to devour plants.

Maintenance

Plants need fertilizer. Fish need food when you overstock. Filters require periodic cleaning. To minimize maintenance, keep the plant load high and the fish load low.

Mechanicals

Mechanicals are not necessary in a half barrel pond unless you overstock. If you want to support a lot of water creatures, you will need an aerator and biological filter to keep them alive. By adding a small submersible pond pump you can make your half whiskey barrel planter into a fountain that will not only add a beautiful visual accent to an outdoor space, but also create a soothing sound that blocks out noise from the street or the neighbors. With a fountain as its centerpiece, your garden will become a wonderful secluded retreat from the hectic outside world.

This is enough information to get you started, and you will find garden centers and the Internet good sources of information on this subject. You will find water gardens very relaxing and the fish will provide a fantastic educational opportunity for kids.

Butch Carico is a Cabell County Master Gardener.