Request for feedback on my wildlife plant ideas (a bit different than the usual)

Posts

• philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742

  5 January

  If you can supply info on the rough location, aspect, size of pond and marginal area and soil type, it may help people to offer suggestions. A photo would help too if you can get one 

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• Prunus_Ignoramus Posts: 7

  5 January

  Thanks for the reply.
  
  Here's a photo of the work in progress! I'm in North London with a west facing garden. We've got clay soil. The pond will be 4m x 3m and the area is 7m x 6m. I'll be pulling up the paving slabs on the left and planting there as well. The proper wildlife area is the other side of the slabs.
  
  

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• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  5 January

  I'm not sure all your plants in the "front" section like the same conditions.  Hostas like a fair bit of moisture, heathers generally prefer things a bit drier, and festuca glauca goes very limp and tends to rot in the centre if too wet.   Also, sun levels - hostas for shade, heathers for sun.  It may be the area is quite large and encompasses different conditions, of course. 🙂

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• Obelixx Posts: 30,090

  6 January

  You have a very long plant list for quite a small space so the first thing to do is to check the evntual size of your choices as well as the kind of soil they like to grow in.  Azaleas need humus rich acidic soil which is moist but not sodden whereas hebes need free draining soil.
  
  Check flowering times too and try for a spread to provide pollen and nectar all year.  Hellebores and spring bulbs will help with the early months and winter, rather than summer, flowering heathers.   Mahonias can get huge so be careful selecting your variety.  They are great for pollinators tho and provide early year flowers and perfume.
  
  I would add a couple of pyracantha to grow up that fence - evergreen with spring blossom followed by autumn berries so food and shelter for a wide variety of insects and birds.  Then you need to think about some flowering ground cover such as hardy geraniums for summer and to fill the gaps between shrubs whle they mature.
  
  Single flowers are best for pollinators as doubles have low or inaccessible levels of pollen and nectar.  https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/plants-for-pollinators 
  
  Think about ground invertebrates too.  This article from the RHS will help - https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/native-non-native-plants-for-ground-invertebrates
  
  
  

  Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
  

  "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."

  Plato
  

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• Redwing Posts: 1,511

  6 January

  Prunus_Ignoramus said:

  Hey everyone. I'm making a wildlife pond that's nearby a very wildlife friendly section of the garden which has "the usual suspects" for recommended wildlife plants. Thing is, it isn't very pretty.
  
  
  

  That's often the way with wildlife ponds; you will need to think of the best things for wildlife are also pretty, maybe not so showy but if the plants are attracting wildlife then that becomes part of the attraction.  I would suggest using less hybridized plants or in other words, close  hybrids to native species. Avoid double flowers. I have a wildlife pond using mostly native water plants.  For edging one that works really well for me is dwarf comfrey.  It is a magnet for bees, has attractive flowers and flops into the pond hiding the lining, also evergreen.  
  
  You haven't asked about the water plants so I guess you know what you'll be using but here are a few that work well for me and all are native: for oxygenators hornwort or either of the two native milfoils are good.  Pontideria can be a bit of a thug but is a favourite for emerging dragonflies and has big blue flowers. You could choose an iris for good looks; the yellow flag may not be suitable for your pond. Marsh marigold is very pretty and good for pollinators. Water-forget-me-not is long flowering and newts favourite for egg laying. Also water mint, brooklime and bog bean are attractive.

  Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.

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• Fire Posts: 19,096

  7 January

  Redwing said:

    For edging one that works really well for me is dwarf comfrey.
  

  
  Does dwarf comfrey do ok with wet feet? New to me and interesting. Thanks
  

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• WonkyWomble Posts: 4,541

  7 January

  My Hostas are very happy in front of my pond.... The frogs keep them free from slugs and snails!

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• Redwing Posts: 1,511

  7 January

  Fire said:

  Redwing said:

    For edging one that works really well for me is dwarf comfrey.
  

  
  Does dwarf comfrey do ok with wet feet? New to me and interesting. Thanks
  

  It grows well  and expands in my heavy clay but it's not in standing water. 

  Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.

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• Mozigual Posts: 12

  8 January

  A plant I've been really pleased with in my wildlife pond is Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria. It gives height but isn't dense, it stands without support, flowers for a long time and the pollinators love it. It grows in my pond margin so likes it boggy. It does self seed a bit but that's been a good thing not a problem. Here's a pic of my pond taken last July. Marsh marigolds also a good marginal. The surrounding area outside my pond is really poor and dry soil so completely different plants surround it. Marjoram and thyme do well on the dry edges and are great for wildlife.

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• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  8 January

  I love the height the loosestrife gives, @Mozigual.  It grows well away from wet areas too.  I find it pops up unexpectedly here and there, as it pleases.  I do sometimes deadhead to prevent too many self-seedlings.  As you say, the bees love it. 

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