Aquariums and raised ponds are obviously likely to freeze more than a 'normal' pond in the ground. Are you seriously claiming that you've seen a 50cm deep pond (not raised) freeze right down to the bottom? Even for a raised pond I'd have a hard time believing it.
The original poster asked about a 'wildlife pond', not a 'lily pond' - lilies are justifiably popular for their flowers, but are certainly not required - there are a great many good native species which will thrive in water 15" and less deep.
From a wildlife pond, deeper is definitely not better if it comes at the expense of shallower areas - obviously a larger pond can accommodate a greater range of water depths but it still isn't necessary. Just because pond animals (and plants) live in ponds, it doesn't mean they all require a lot of water - there are a lot that live right at the extreme edge, in a few mm deep, and in a few cm to inches deep, but very few that prefer to live in water over 12" deep.
Lysimachia nummularia is another good at the edge of a pond plant. Ragged robin as well. It's nice to have a few uprights like irises but the native Iris pseudocorus is too much for a small pond and I'd go for something not native but better behaved.
There are no strict rules, different creatures inhabit different types of pond. Sun shade, shallow, deep, wherever you find a pond, something will be using it.
I've never seen a chamomile lawn that look great but maybe yours would be the first. But think about wildlife pond, is a chamomile lawn something that sits easily beside that?
Perhaps i wasn't clear in my previous post nutcutlet. I'm not attempting a massive lawn instead my intention is to situate some flagstones in front of the pond with pockets of aromatic "lawn" type plants such as camomile and creeping thyme to add to the viewing experience - as i know me and my family will probably spend a good chunk of "thyme" lying next to the pond peering into its depths.
Jo - I had a pond in a previous garden - there was a very established sycamore tree about 30 feet away from it and a lime tree even closer, but, because the pond was west facing, it got plenty of light and I never had any issues. You just have to make a judgement on it. If you can make it big enough and have a good variety of planting it'll be fine.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We have a wildlife pond very close to a large ash tree - it's shallow because we encountered large tree roots, and we have to net it in the autumn to try to avoid too many leaves getting in the pond. It's in its second year now, but in it's first summer we had dragonflies, frogs, newts damselflies, water beetles, diving beetles and a grass snake.
We treat it with Blagdon's Barley Straw extract to keep blanket weed under control, and just recently flowers from the ash tree have fallen in so if it gets too sludgey we''ll treat it with a little of their Sludge Control just to stop it getting anaerobic at the bottom.
Go for it - it's the best thing we've done in this garden and many hours have been spent laying on our tums peering into the water.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The photos are from last summer (2014) - the pond was created in March 2014. The pond's a little more overgrown this year, with more plants out in the middle - water soldier has been good and is shading the water, and native hornwort is doing well at oxygenating. The pond is about 2.5m x 1.5m and about 20" deep at the centre.
We turfed the edges but a part of this hasn't worked well long term as magpies and blackbirds have trashed some of it in the shadiest corner to get mud to line their nests. We're probably going to plant ferns and other perennials that will cover the edge of the liner in those parts.
Hope that helps
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Aquariums and raised ponds are obviously likely to freeze more than a 'normal' pond in the ground. Are you seriously claiming that you've seen a 50cm deep pond (not raised) freeze right down to the bottom? Even for a raised pond I'd have a hard time believing it.
The original poster asked about a 'wildlife pond', not a 'lily pond' - lilies are justifiably popular for their flowers, but are certainly not required - there are a great many good native species which will thrive in water 15" and less deep.
From a wildlife pond, deeper is definitely not better if it comes at the expense of shallower areas - obviously a larger pond can accommodate a greater range of water depths but it still isn't necessary. Just because pond animals (and plants) live in ponds, it doesn't mean they all require a lot of water - there are a lot that live right at the extreme edge, in a few mm deep, and in a few cm to inches deep, but very few that prefer to live in water over 12" deep.
Lysimachia nummularia is another good at the edge of a pond plant. Ragged robin as well. It's nice to have a few uprights like irises but the native Iris pseudocorus is too much for a small pond and I'd go for something not native but better behaved.
There are no strict rules, different creatures inhabit different types of pond. Sun shade, shallow, deep, wherever you find a pond, something will be using it.
I've never seen a chamomile lawn that look great but maybe yours would be the first. But think about wildlife pond, is a chamomile lawn something that sits easily beside that?
In the sticks near Peterborough
Perhaps i wasn't clear in my previous post nutcutlet. I'm not attempting a massive lawn instead my intention is to situate some flagstones in front of the pond with pockets of aromatic "lawn" type plants such as camomile and creeping thyme to add to the viewing experience - as i know me and my family will probably spend a good chunk of "thyme" lying next to the pond peering into its depths.
Jo - I had a pond in a previous garden - there was a very established sycamore tree about 30 feet away from it and a lime tree even closer, but, because the pond was west facing, it got plenty of light and I never had any issues. You just have to make a judgement on it. If you can make it big enough and have a good variety of planting it'll be fine.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I just netted it in the autumn - although usually it was so windy the leaves just got blown straight off the trees and along the road!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We have a wildlife pond very close to a large ash tree - it's shallow because we encountered large tree roots, and we have to net it in the autumn to try to avoid too many leaves getting in the pond. It's in its second year now, but in it's first summer we had dragonflies, frogs, newts damselflies, water beetles, diving beetles and a grass snake.
We treat it with Blagdon's Barley Straw extract to keep blanket weed under control, and just recently flowers from the ash tree have fallen in so if it gets too sludgey we''ll treat it with a little of their Sludge Control just to stop it getting anaerobic at the bottom.
Go for it - it's the best thing we've done in this garden and many hours have been spent laying on our tums peering into the water.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
right ecokid, I was seeing a sort of lawn. plants between paving sounds good, especially the thymes.
In the sticks near Peterborough
As is cotoneaster procumbens
Mind your own business
Corsican mint
The photos are from last summer (2014) - the pond was created in March 2014. The pond's a little more overgrown this year, with more plants out in the middle - water soldier has been good and is shading the water, and native hornwort is doing well at oxygenating. The pond is about 2.5m x 1.5m and about 20" deep at the centre.
We turfed the edges but a part of this hasn't worked well long term as magpies and blackbirds have trashed some of it in the shadiest corner to get mud to line their nests. We're probably going to plant ferns and other perennials that will cover the edge of the liner in those parts.
Hope that helps
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.