Imagine listening to the sound of a bubbling fountain or watching water lilies spin lazily in a pool. What could be more soothing? From backyard ponds to barrels, find out what you need to start your own water garden.

1. Take the plunge: Choosing a site for a pond
   First, make sure the ground is level. Avoid low-lying spots, especially areas that might get runoff from fertilizer and herbicides. A place that isn't too shady or too sunny will be your best bet. Aquatic plants have different light needs, but most like at least five hours of sunlight per day. On the other hand, too much sun may cause algae problems.

   Note: If you want to have a waterfall or fountain, make sure there's an electrical outlet with a ground fault circuit interrupter nearby. Local codes vary on how close the outlet can be, so be sure to check.

2. Deciding on the right size and depth
   A healthy pond should have about 50 square feet of surface area. That's really not as big as it sounds. A 5-by-10-foot rectangular pond, say, or an 8-foot circular pond would work fine. The depth of the pond should be 18 to 24 inches.
3. Digging in
   Where will all of the soil go once you've cleared a spot for your water garden? You can arrange for its removal. But if you're the do-it-yourself type, you can put it to use: Plan a raised bed.

   Before you begin digging the spot for your water garden, make sure you have the right tools for the job. You'll need a pick to break up hard-packed soil and get things started. A round-point, long handled shovel will be handy for digging up the bulk of the soil. A square-point, long-handled shovel is great for cutting the slopes of the pool walls.