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New very small pond

susan.shaw1susan.shaw1 Posts: 2
in Wildlife gardening
I am in the process of making a small wildlife pond in a half barrel sunk into the ground. As this is new territory for me I need advice about planting. I don’t want to plant anything that is rampant. I would be grateful for any advice/ideas please.

Posts

  • The_herpetologistThe_herpetologist Posts: 481
    A dwarf nymphaea is a must, then I'd add some height. maybe from equisetum hyemale or glyceria maxima, and some oxygenators.
  • susan.shaw1susan.shaw1 Posts: 2
    Thanks for the advice, I’ll have to look them up as pond plants are new to me. 
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Can I recommend a little solar fountain? I use them in any small barrel pond and they add a lot, the ones advertised as being for a bird bath are good. Not expensive and if you want the sound of water on a sunny day they are lovely. 
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    Water lilies don’t like moving water, so perhaps avoid the fountain if you buy one.  Phalaris arundinacea feesey is one of our favourite aquatic plants.  It’s growth is vertical so it doesn’t take up much space.  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    How wide is the surface? That will determine what you have.
    If you take a look at the online specialists [there are quite a few] you'll see which plants will suit the area of water you have. Puddleplants and Waterside nursery are just two.
    Be wary of anything which will just take over, and keep them contained. 

    If you want it for wildlife, you'll need some access, so stack up some rocks or branches in the water, so that anything going in , can also get back out  :)
    Once you have a couple of plants in it, that will also help. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • cowslip2cowslip2 Posts: 137
    Thinking of using a container for a wildlife pond, as is often recommended, I often wonder what would be the minimum size that would be sensible to use.
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