Kelly Billing owns Water Becomes a Garden. She is a grower and consultant with a focus on creative, site appropriate use of aquatic plants for effective display. Attention is given to seasonal interest, nutrient uptake and ecological balance to meet project goals. Steeped in water quality research, she promotes the use of natural processes. Her clients across the country allow her to make a difference on projects through proper planning and planting.

Light Guide for Plants in the Winter

By Kelly Billing / August 31, 2015 / 0 Comments

Plants that will perform fine in a very low-light situations or Northern exposure would include: Elettaria cardamomum – Cardamom Echinodorus cordifolius – Sword Cyperus alternifolius – Umbrella Palms East, Southeast, South, Southwest or Western exposure: Bacopa Baumea rubiginosa “Variegata” – Variegated Striped Rush Canna Colocasia – Taro Crinum – Bog Lily Hymenocallis – Spider Lily Philydrum langinosum – Frog’s Mouth Pontederia – (Tropical) lanceolata, “Singapore […]

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Bundle Up | Overwintering Aquatic Plants

By Kelly Billing / August 31, 2015 / 0 Comments

Northern gardeners often add tropical plants to the water garden for intense color and bold, distinct foliage. But Northern winters are notoriously harsh, so the two most commonly asked questions asked about these colorful plants are: “Will they die if I leave them outside?” and: “Can I overwinter them indoors?” Of course, the answer to […]

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Carpeting the Pond

By Kelly Billing / November 1, 2013 / 0 Comments

While our backyard ponds are typically attractive, healthy and well- managed, a neglected stormwater pond offends the eyes and nose in equal measure. But with a little soil improvement and the proper shoreline plantings, Kelly Billings will show you how these ugly drainage areas can be transformed into beautiful natural areas that delight visitors and raise property values.

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Pond Plant Profitability

By Kelly Billing / November 1, 2012 / 0 Comments

There are hundreds of existing ponds in this country that need your help. Plants are what transform a water feature into a water garden. Learn how to create unity, balance, color, and the all-important benefit, improve water quality. Plants are an integral part of the pond industry. Plants can be key in new construction or refreshing existing neglected ponds. Be sure you are taking full advantage of what plants can do to enhance your pond projects’ beauty, function and profitability.

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Aquatic Plants Need Your Help to get Ready for Winter

By Kelly Billing / September 1, 2011 / 0 Comments

Fall is the best time of year for plant care and maintenance. Stop the number one reason plants die over winter, and learn how to over winter tropical marginals and lilies. Take care of the aquatic plants in your care now to give them the best chance for resurgence in the spring. Here’s how.

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Pest Controls and Pest Descriptions

By Kelly Billing / March 1, 2011 / 0 Comments

For every plant there is a pest. Plant expert Kelly Billing has complied a list of the most common pest diseases, their controls and the descriptions of the little pest into an easy table you can read and use as a reference in the future. The tables cover 14 common pests, from Aphids to white fly.

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My Favorite Aquatic Plants

By Kelly Billing / May 1, 2010 / 0 Comments

Four leading aquatic plant experts each share their three favorite plants. This turned out to be much harder then any of them anticipated, with so many plants to choose from. See their final choices and hear why they selected each one. Included is a great chart to see at a glance how the plants compare. Maybe you will find a new favorite yourself.

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Water Garden Pond Plants and Their Personalities

By Kelly Billing / May 17, 2009 / 0 Comments

Some plants require behavior modification! All plants, like people, have distinct personalities and they are equally as varied. What some plants need is just a little behavior modification or boundaries – who knew you had to learn the psychology of plants. Read the case study of nine plants and learn about the best and worst of them. Then finish with some preventative medicine.

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