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Plants around a wildlife pond? Help please!
lottiephillips
Posts: 7
Hi,
We have built a wildlife pond (4m x3.5m) and while we have got the plants to put in the pond, we don't know what to plant around the pond! It is in full sun and we would like it to look very natural and green with some interest all year round and attracting all wildlife. Can have some bigger plants/shrubs/small trees as we have space. Thank you.
We have built a wildlife pond (4m x3.5m) and while we have got the plants to put in the pond, we don't know what to plant around the pond! It is in full sun and we would like it to look very natural and green with some interest all year round and attracting all wildlife. Can have some bigger plants/shrubs/small trees as we have space. Thank you.
0
Posts
..but on a similar theme if we have some pond experts, I have also a full sun pond and looking to find plants that would grow around the pond but trail down the liner and into pond. I don't mind wholesale amending the soil but right now it's sandy.
The reason...as after some decades the level isn't very good but rather than fix id rather just hide the problem!!
If you have a liner, it's probably wise to avoid bigger shrubs/trees being too close, because of roots, and you will have to think about positioning deciduous planting, as the leaves will tend to end up in the pond if you don't net it. Some will get in , but if you can keep most of the deciduous stuff downwind, that will help.
We had a very large pond at the last house, and it had established planting of all kinds, but mainly Berberis and Juniper, and heathers lower down. The shrubs were on a bank [whole thing was on a slope] so they were fine. We had a variety of trees to the other side, and most were birch and larch, and a cherry tree. All were well back from the pond though.
Things like Hostas and Caltha are good for damper spots nearby, and many grasses will be happy. Carexes are very good - most are evergreen and enjoy a damper spot. Beware the pendula one though , as it can be a real thug. Hackenochloa is also great, and provides a real splash of colour. You can add taller grasses too, further back. Miscanthus etc.
A variety of heights is always good - Irises are good as a marginal for damp spaces as well as in the water. There are many different types though, so make sure you pick the right ones. Just be wary of the big yellow flag one, as it can be a thug too.
I have heucheras, hellebores, ferns, ajuga, geraniums and all sorts of low growing ground cover which is good for edges, and I use some easy shrubs like potentilla, spirea, weigela, hydrangea etc for the shady areas, although potentillas & spireas are happy anywhere. I have all of those nearby. It's important to create a little bit of shade anyway, so once you have some shrubs in place, you'll get a better habitat.
The idea is to have a succession of planting, so use perennials to bridge gaps. All the daisy plants like Rudbeckia will work with grasses, and provide hiding places for wildlife. Ligularia is an excellent plant for ponds - likes sun, but needs a bit of moisture at it's feet.
To be honest - there's so much choice if you have room, it's impossible to list them.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...