Plants for ponds

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Plants add interest and help hold the pond into the overall garden design. They also provide fish and wildlife with shelter, shade and food. Five types of plants need to be considered. Oxygenating plants, Marginal plants, Water Lilies, Floating plants and those plants used in association with water features and planted in borders beyond the edges of the pond.

Plant types

Left to right: D. Floating B. Marginal C. Water lilies A. Oxygenating C. Water lilies B. Marginal D. Floating

A. Oxygenating plants

These are essential to the well-being of wildlife and fish, and they go some way in keeping the water healthy. They should be planted in a perforated planting basket and placed at the lowest point in the pond.

	Ranunoulus aquatilis (Water crowfoot)
	Hottonia Palustris (Water violet)
	Left to right: Vallisneria, Myriophyllum, Elodea (Water crowfoot)

B. Marginal plants

In the main these are decorative and are grown in planting baskets. Care should be taken to plant them at the correct depth, usually 15cm (6in) to 45cm (18in). Planting depths are usually shown on the plant label, if in any doubt ask your garden retailer. Marginals can be positioned on the bottom of the pond or on a ledge, and raised to the correct depth by placing bricks under the basket.

C. Water lilies

These come in a wide range of forms, colours and sizes. Take care to select the size of plant suitable for your pond. Planting depth is important and should appear on the label. They should be grown in planting baskets in suitable water lily soil.

D. Floating plants

These simply float on the surface adding interest and shade for fish and wildlife.

Associated plantings

Whereas other water plants are planted in the water, these are planted in borders in close proximity to the edge of the pond to extend the 'water' feeling of the pond feature.

Planting

The easiest and most convenient method is to use aquatic planting baskets. They come in various sizes and are made from plastic which does not rot.

Planting your baskets

Line the basket with hessian to prevent the soil washing into the water, then fill it with soil. Heavy clay-type soil is best but not essential. Do not use potting compost, peat, sand or fertilizer. Bed the plants firmly into the soil. Make sure crowns of Lilies are just above the soil surface. Marginals can have the base of the stem buried. Cover the surface of the soil in the basket with pebbles or pea gravel and place in the pool at the correct depth.

Feeding

To help with the feeding of the plants there are specific fertilizers and your garden retailer will advise the most suitable for you.