Water Garden Plants
By: CERTIFIED AQUASCAPE CONTRACTORS
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Planting Your Water GardenWater LiliesA water garden really isn't a "garden" without a plethora of plants; and in most water gardens, there better be ...aquatic plants. The very appearance of the words "water garden" should conjure up a colorful picture of a lushly planted aquatic landscape that's home to fish, frogs and an abundance of other aquatic life. It's probably safe to say that one of the main reasons people enjoy water gardens is the beauty and unique characteristics of the aquatic plants that are a part of them. Now we could start in a variety of places, but the crown jewel of water garden plants across the country is the lily, so that's where we'll start. Lilies are the most popular of all water garden plants. Their ability to spread a multitude of leaves across the surface of the water and flower throughout the season, make them a sought after addition to the pond. Lily pads also provide a great deal of shade from the heat of the summer sun, allowing fish to retreat underneath the shelter of their leaves. And they come in a variety of forms. Hardy Lilies Each floating leaf is cut into two lobes. Lily leaves provide a great deal of shade from the heat of the summer sun, making algae control easier, as well as allowing fish to retreat underneath the shelter of their leaves. The white, pink, red, or yellow flowers are often fragrant and known as the jewels of the water garden as they float on the surface. Hardy lilies typically bloom from May through September. Water lily flowers usually open in the early morning, and close by mid to late afternoon. When cold weather comes, the foliage dies and sinks to the bottom. New leaves will begin to arise from the submerged rhizomes the following spring. Tropical Lilies Tropical lilies come in two categories, day bloomers and night bloomers. Day blooming tropical lilies bloom in the early morning and close in the afternoon. Night bloomers, however, begin to open in the late afternoon and continue to stay open until early the next morning. Night bloomers are very appealing to pond owners who work by day and enjoy their pond by night. LotusLotus have circular leaves that are held high above the water and flowers that rise above the leaves with fragrant, beautiful blooms of yellow, pink, rose, red, or white. Even their seedpods are interesting, and are commonly used in dried flower arrangements. This is one plant you'll want to keep in a pot, as it is highly aggressive. Nelumbo 'Mrs. Perry Slocum' Hardy Marginal PlantsMarginal plants are typically found around the perimeter of the ponds, lakes, wetlands and streams. These plants are used to soften the boulder edges and help create a smooth transition from the water in the pond to the terrestrial planting area surrounding the pond. Most marginal plants like 1" - 8" of water, making the first shelf in the pond, as well as edges of streams and upper pools ideal planting areas. Any reputable water garden plant dealer will have many varieties of marginal plants to choose from. Some hardy marginal plants are:
Tropical Marginal PlantsThe tropical marginal water garden plants are those that originally grew in subtropical to tropical regions, and therefore, are not perennial in cooler climates where frost and freezing are common during winter months. Stacking small cobblestones around the outside helps disguise the black pot. Some examples are:
Floating PlantsThe floating aquatic plants are just that, they float on the water's surface while their roots hang down into the water below trapping sediment and utilizing many excess nutrients. Floating plants can be placed in the pond, but need to be situated out of reach of the skimmer. Tucking floaters into the edges of the pond or in and around lily pads can also help prevent the skimmer from drawing them in. These plants also provide shade for the pond water, making summer algae control easier. Most are tropical, but a few are hardy perennials in climates with hard winter freezes. In more northern climates. the tropical floating aquatic plants should be treated as annuals, replanting them each year, or taking them into a warmer place for the winter. Some examples are:
Hardy Oxygenating PlantsOxygenators are often the most overlooked plants in the water garden. They are typically submersed, and don't grab the onlooker's attention like the lilies and marginal plants do. These submerged plants are an important ally in creating a well-balanced water garden. Oxygenators help reduce algae by directly competing for the same food source. Think of them as nutrient sponges. They also provide protection and coverage for small fish and fry. They can be planted by simply pushing a bundle right into the gravel or simply sticking them around the edges of a lily pocket. Some examples are:
Designing the Pond for Effective PlantingMost water garden plants are fairly easy to grow, so be aware. It doesn't take more than a year or two before even a few plants can crowd a small pond. These are good design points to bring up to potential customers who think they want a small pond. the first stage of planting, or "Aquascaping," a pond should be taken into consideration well before water is added. A little planning during the excavation will help provide plenty of planting areas for water garden plants. Too SmallThe ability to vary the widths of the shelves will ultimately depend on the overall size of the water garden. Keep in mind that your creativity will be limited by the width of the shelves, and your ability to provide planting areas, when building a small 4' x 6' pond. So What is a Good Size?The size of our most popular pond, the 11' x 16', doesn't allow you to get too crazy with the width of the shelves. However, it does provide enough space for some interesting designs. Large Scale PondsIn contrast to smaller ponds, large scale or commercial size water gardens provide extremely large areas along the first few shelves for aquatic plants. For example, a half acre pond provides enough square footage to create wide shelves and large plant pockets. Shelves for marginal plants may be as wide as 15' or more, giving the plants plenty of room to stretch out. Lily pockets may be as big or bigger than an 11' x 16' pond and contain a hundred lilies. Shelf Design on an 11' x 16' Pond Lily Pockets Lily Pockets in Other Areas Proper Excavation for PlantsHeight of the Shelves The key to excavating the pond for future planting, as well as adding a little personality to the pond, lies in the widths of the shelves. Let us explain. Most literature written about pond construction demonstrates the kidney bean or figure eight pond with a series of shelves. Each shelf is excavated approximately 18" wide throughout the pond. In our eyes, kind of dull, sort of boring. These uniform shelves not only look too formal, but do not allow for
The content of the Pond & Water Garden Resources Website comes from the book Pond Builders Bible everything Aquascape Designs Does Revealed. Published by Aquascape Designs, Inc. / The Pond Guy Publications. | Batavia, IL |
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