MIDDLETOWN - I have always advocated choosing plants per your environment, but there are plants I would enjoy trying that I don’t necessarily have the environment for. Some of these are the moist bog-type plants.

       Last year my husband created a larger pond to accommodate our growing fish population. We were trying to create a natural-looking environment. In nature, where there is water there usually is a very wet area called a bog.

       Bogs are areas where the roots of the plants like to stay moist but the crowns need to stay dry. To accomplish this, I dug an area 4’ x 4’ x 2’ deep. I made sure there were no sharp rocks and lined the bottom of the hole with sand. I then lined the entire hole, walls included, with the rubber that was left over from the pond. The liner needs to be above ground level to ensure the hole is lined properly. Pond liner doesn’t necessarily need to be used--any thick UV stable plastic or rubber will work--but just remember it will be outside and needs to be able to withstand the elements. Also, make sure it’s a solid sheet, that way there is no worry about a seam splitting.

       Holes should be placed about a foot down from the top. This will ensure the crown does not get too soggy. Fill the hole with a mixture of standard soil and added compost and peat. Make sure the soil is stamped down and all the pockets are filled completely. It should look as natural as possible, so the soil levels should be even. After the soil is in place, the extra liner can then be cut. The soil should be left for at least a week, if not longer, to settle out before planting.

       Keeping the bog wet is one of the challenges. There are a couple of schools of thought on this. One is to bury perforated pipe in the corners, about an inch from the bottom and two inches above ground level. One problem with this method is the pipe fills too quickly and runs over. To improve this method, put a smaller perforated pipe inside a larger pipe with gravel in between. This will ensure that the water slowly seeps in. Another method is to bury a soaker hose a couple of inches down for the top of the soil.

       I have chosen to do neither--My bog is at the bottom of a slope next to my pond and I get a fairly good runoff.

       Some plants that do well in this type of environment are: Cardinal Flower, Astilbe, Toad Lily, Anemone, Joe Pye weed, Trillium, Jack –In- The Pulpit, Japanese Iris, Bergenia, Corydalis and Milkweed.

       If this seems like too much of a challenge, try something smaller and different, such as a large pot or maybe a bath tub. The possibilities are endless, as long as it is solid and will hold water. The key is to have fun and be adventurous.