DIY Network

The Rahns: Their Plan, Costs and Products From "Garden Sense" episode DGAR-108

Meet the Rahns family. Gary and Connie Rahn have two children, a son Matthew, 15, and daughter, Emily, 18. They moved into an 1885 Queen Anne Victorian home and have worked to renovate the interior.

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During their renovation, they discovered under the main staircase some early landscaping plans from the 1930s era for the garden in the back. While they have concentrated their efforts on the interior with the idea of complementing the home's historic character, now they would like to restore a portion of the backyard to its original design.

Gardening Challenge

Before

After

Here are some of the challenges posed by this project.

• The family would like to re-establish the iris border. This was part of the original garden plans in the rock garden area.
  
• The family would like to refurbish the old concrete fish pond that was put in decades ago. They plan to get it working again, but need help with water plants and recreating the pond as it once was.
  
• There is too much hosta in the backyard. The family would like to take some of it out and replace it with other plants.

Required Project Time
The Pond project took Walter and the Rahn's about eight hours.

Sensible Pond Installation Tips

• The kind of pond you create depends upon the look you want to achieve. The project is not difficult, but it does require some effort.
  
• First- Consider the location. A level area is essential. Don't plan your pond under a tree.
  
• Ponds need 4-5 hours of sunlight a day to flourish.
  
• Decide whether you want to use a liner or a pre-formed plastic form.
  
• Also, while you can create a pond without a filter, if you want to have a waterfall or fountain, you'll need a pump and a filter. In that case, you'll need an electrical outlet nearby.

Project Details

• Walter selected plants for this project that thrive around ponds. These are plants that can have their feet wet including ferns and ligularia.
  
• Making the pond into a focal point to helped eliminate the sea of green.
  
• We replaced many of the hostas with some different varieties of hostas and other plants to add interest and eliminate the boring sea of green.

Gardening by Zip Code If you're looking to start a gardening projectbut don't know your gardening zone—visit the National Gardening Associations's USDA Hardiness Zone Finder. Enter your Zip Code to identify the proper zone.

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