Edge cover for ponds

Whippet · March 2023

Please can you recommend a fairly fast growing and preferably pretty plant that can be planted beside the edge of a plastic pond to cover it? The pond is not set level and I cannot describe how much I hate the sight of black plastic! I cant move the pond so need something to hide the visible part of the shell. The worst part is about 3 or 4 inches.
Thankyou

bédé · March 2023

Grass turf.

Soleirolia (but mind, it is rather invasive).

Any number of so-called ground cover plants.

Hostafan1 · March 2023

HOSTAS

philippasmith2 · March 2023

Lysimachia nummularia "Aurea" aka Creeping Jenny. As it's common name implies, it does creep but easy enough to control. It will root when it reaches the water but you can avoid that by keeping it trimmed. A bright yellow which remains all year round
I know @Hostafan1 will throw up his hands in horror

but it could be worth considering.

bédé · March 2023

Corsican mint.

Anything fast growing and ground covering may tend to get out of control.

Is the black plastic pond a rigid plastic, ot flexible sheet? It is always best if the top edge of the pond is at or above ground level. If lower, when it rains the water will oveflow and syphon. More of a problem with the folds in a sheet, but your plantimg won't help.

Fairygirl · March 2023

Do you have a photo @Whippet? When you say that, at most -there's about 3 or 4 inches showing, is that in a small length of the pond? Along one side or similar?
Also - what's the pond next to, in terms of ground. Is it grass, or set within other planting etc? If so, how wet or dry is that area, and is it sunny or shady?
Sorry for all the questions, but it makes it easier to suggest ideas.

There are plants which will trail over and into the pond, depending on that nearby soil if you have it, but you can also create a shelf within the pond itself, and have some marginals there.
The marsh marigolds - Caltha palustris can cross both those situations, as they'll sit in water fairly happily, but are also excellent pond edge plants, as long as the soil doesn't get too dry. Mostly evergreen, especially the common yellow one. Some of the Carexes would also do that job, and many are evergreen, but avoid the horrible Carex pendula which can be highly invasive. There's plenty of green/gold varieties

Whippet · March 2023

Hostafan1 said:

HOSTAS

Already have a Slug problem

Whippet · March 2023

bédé said:

Corsican mint.

Anything fast growing and ground covering may tend to get out of control.

Is the black plastic pond a rigid plastic, ot flexible sheet? It is always best if the top edge of the pond is at or above ground level. If lower, when it rains the water will oveflow and syphon. More of a problem with the folds in a sheet, but your plantimg won't help.

philippasmith2 said:

Lysimachia nummularia "Aurea" aka Creeping Jenny. As it's common name implies, it does creep but easy enough to control. It will root when it reaches the water but you can avoid that by keeping it trimmed. A bright yellow which remains all year round
I know @Hostafan1 will throw up his hands in horror but it could be worth considering.

That sounds pretty. Thankyou

Whippet · March 2023

bédé said:

Corsican mint.

Anything fast growing and ground covering may tend to get out of control.

Is the black plastic pond a rigid plastic, ot flexible sheet? It is always best if the top edge of the pond is at or above ground level. If lower, when it rains the water will oveflow and syphon. More of a problem with the folds in a sheet, but your plantimg won't help.

It is a rigid preformed plastic and most of the edge is slightly above ground level

Fairygirl said:

Do you have a photo @Whippet? When you say that, at most -there's about 3 or 4 inches showing, is that in a small length of the pond? Along one side or similar?
Also - what's the pond next to, in terms of ground. Is it grass, or set within other planting etc? If so, how wet or dry is that area, and is it sunny or shady?
Sorry for all the questions, but it makes it easier to suggest ideas.

There are plants which will trail over and into the pond, depending on that nearby soil if you have it, but you can also create a shelf within the pond itself, and have some marginals there.
The marsh marigolds - Caltha palustris can cross both those situations, as they'll sit in water fairly happily, but are also excellent pond edge plants, as long as the soil doesn't get too dry. Mostly evergreen, especially the common yellow one. Some of the Carexes would also do that job, and many are evergreen, but avoid the horrible Carex pendula which can be highly invasive. There's plenty of green/gold varieties

Ill try and get photos but am not good at such things

The pond is in the centre of a lawn with narrow slabs as a border then soil then the pond. There are some plants in the soil part but none that hide the plastic. Most of the edges are visible to some extent. The whole thing needs taking out and redoing but Im unable to persuade the person who put it in to do that.
Its mostly sunny but there are some very tall Angels Fishing Rods at one end which give shade and also Iris type things.
Some of the pond has a shelf and there are baskets on that with weedy things in

Also Water Lillies in main pond.

Thankyou all for your help with this.

CrankyYankee · March 2023

I used a product on my pond edges called Rock on a Roll (https://rock-on-a-roll.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9J2Pm-qB_gIVpIFbCh1gBwvaEAAYASAAEgJyj_D_BwE) and I love it. It's a little like sandpaper meets textured wallpaper, really, but it blends nicely and gives the little creatures a bit of grip on the sides of the pond without scorching them. It's expensive, but I am very happy with it.

Hostafan1 · March 2023

I'd avoid creeping jenny at all costs.
We moved here 11 years ago, and I'm still getting rid of it

Edge cover for ponds

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