Plants in Garden Ponds
Ponds add life and interest to any outdoor setting. Fish find places to hide, rest and play among aquatic plants sprinkled throughout a garden pond. Aquatic plants may grow in the pond itself or along its banks. Each of the numerous varieties of plants serves a purpose in a garden pond, whether it's filtering the water or providing a beautiful focal point. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types
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Pond plants are as varied as their function in the pond. Water lilies add color and beauty. Oxygenators, such as hortwort or iris, add oxygen to the water. Water hyacinth and water soldier are examples of floating pond plants that add oxygen to and clarify pond water. Partly emerging plants include pennywort and zebra rush, which provide a place for pond animals to hide. Marginal plants, such as reed mace and bog primula, grow along the banks of ponds, helping prevent erosion and adding oxygen to the water. Bog plants, such as day lily or yellow star flowers, grow well in only mud.
General Care
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When adding any plants to the pond, ensure they are planted firmly in the soil (or mud) of the area in which they grow best. Plant lilies in deep soil, and put partially emerging plants in deep soil or along the banks. Marginal plants should only be planted along the pond's banks. Ensure pond plants have access to at least partial sunlight, such as four to six hours of morning sun and afternoon shade. Fertilize pond plants regularly to keep them healthy.
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Problems
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Occasionally, pond plants may produce yellow leaves. This could be the result of a need for fertilizer, insects or too much sun. Once you determine the cause, treat by fertilizing, applying insecticide or providing shade by planting larger plants nearby. Failure of plants to grow and thrive could be caused by dirty pond water, pots that are too small or poor maintenance. Keep water filtered and clean, replant plants in larger pots or directly in the pond, and maintain plants by cleaning them and removing any dead or decaying leaves.
Winterizing
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Determine your region's hardiness zone and which of the pond plants are hardy to that region. Clean dead or decaying material from hardy bog and marginal plants, and prune them to two inches above the soil. Slightly sink hardy lilies or lotus plants in deeper ponds or bring them indoors for the winter with shallow ponds. Bring nonhardy bog and marginal plants indoors as houseplants for the winter. Also take nonhardly lilies and lotus inside, moving them to storage tubs or other containers filled with water.
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References
- Photo Credit a water-lily grwoing in the pond image by alri from Fotolia.com
