Thanks for your post Gillian53 and that's what I'd heard can happen with paving slabs. I think we'll definitely be avoiding have any kind of pavings slabs near the pond.
I'm at almost the same stage, having just dug out space at the north side of a stone-flagged area to sink an old container for a pond, and planning to use pebbles and odd-shaped bits of stone for an escape ramp. Won't having adjacent space for planting to overrun the hard edges not only soften the appearance of an artificial pond but provide shade and damp footing for tiny amphibians?
New to this, so would welcome ideas for plants to surround the edges. And there seems to be a debate over whether one should put a little soil in the bottom of a pond....
Having revived this thread it would be interesting to know the OP s outcome throughout such a hot summer.I don't have a beach as its a preformed jobbie,but have rocks and branch bits on which to climb out.Rocks all around the pond forming little cave holes in which to hide from cats and big birds.No pebbles though,just a log pile,and rock plants.
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Hi Diana - do you have any space at all round the edge of your pond, or is it all paving?
You can add some planting in the pond instead if that's the case. Even in a tiny pond, it's possible to create a bit of height with a marginal or two, and you can use things like Caltha [marsh marigold] as a marginal. That will grow in any situation, and will seed around too. It can be a bit of a nuisance if it likes the conditions, but it's also evergreen - so very useful. A brick, or similar, for them to sit on will be high enough, assuming your conatiner isn't too deep. I have a bit of Ajuga at the side of my pond, and it grows into the water too. It was a tiny little scrap from elsewhere in the garden, and it grows quickly. Good if there's a bit of shade, as is the Caltha. You can also put some plants in containers at the edges, if you don't have ground to plant into. Many plants like Hostas, Carexes, and ferns will be more than happy, and can hang over the edges, providing a nice little habitat for all sorts of creatures
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That's interesting about the ajuga@Fairygirl, I have several bits of that I could use round the pond,also I've noticed the start of an odd tiny fern or two,whilst weeding.Every little helps to make it look natural!
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
I had the same concern and also wanted to soften the look of the rocks and hide the edge of my pond. I had some creeping thyme 'Jekka' in a pot that was spreading nicely. I pulled a few bits off and planted them at the front of my pond (behind the fibre optic grass - the dwarf artemisia wasn't working..) - in just a few weeks it's scrambled all over. The photo was a couple of weeks back and it's spread further and growing across the surface of the pond. It's evergreen, smothered in flowers and bees in the summer, so I'm looking forward to seeing it next year -
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I've got a fern beside mine which seeds all over the place VG. It was one of the few things in the garden, and it's been very useful for nooks and crannies. I think there was a load of tiny little seedlings next to the pond when I looked the other day I have a couple of large rocks forming a little planting area, and there's an old tree stump rotting down. The Ajuga's planted in there. You can see it in the pic below - spreading into the water too
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That's lovely @Fairygirl what a nice contrast of colours too.Can't wait to get out there tomorrow and have a bit of a fern search! @Pete8 that's done an amazing creeping job,had to zoom in for a good look!
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Having revived this thread it would be interesting to know the OP s outcome throughout such a hot summer.I don't have a beach as its a preformed jobbie,but have rocks and branch bits on which to climb out.Rocks all around the pond forming little cave holes in which to hide from cats and big birds.No pebbles though,just a log pile,and rock plants.
Hi @Valley Gardener. I'm so sorry for my delayed reply. I've just been clearing through some old emails and spotted that I had a couple of unread ones from this forum to notify me about threads being posted in, including this one.
Last Summer we didn't have any issues with amphibians baking on the rocks and pebbles. The rocks around our pond are always quite cool to touch. The pond's water level did drop extremely quickly though.
We're currently doing a major overhaul on our garden and are changing what's planted around the outside of the pond as I've never got it quite right. Hopefully I can update with photos in a few months.
Posts
Thanks for your post Gillian53 and that's what I'd heard can happen with paving slabs. I think we'll definitely be avoiding have any kind of pavings slabs near the pond.
Lucid
New to this, so would welcome ideas for plants to surround the edges. And there seems to be a debate over whether one should put a little soil in the bottom of a pond....
You can add some planting in the pond instead if that's the case. Even in a tiny pond, it's possible to create a bit of height with a marginal or two, and you can use things like Caltha [marsh marigold] as a marginal. That will grow in any situation, and will seed around too. It can be a bit of a nuisance if it likes the conditions, but it's also evergreen - so very useful.
A brick, or similar, for them to sit on will be high enough, assuming your conatiner isn't too deep.
I have a bit of Ajuga at the side of my pond, and it grows into the water too. It was a tiny little scrap from elsewhere in the garden, and it grows quickly. Good if there's a bit of shade, as is the Caltha.
You can also put some plants in containers at the edges, if you don't have ground to plant into. Many plants like Hostas, Carexes, and ferns will be more than happy, and can hang over the edges, providing a nice little habitat for all sorts of creatures
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I had some creeping thyme 'Jekka' in a pot that was spreading nicely.
I pulled a few bits off and planted them at the front of my pond (behind the fibre optic grass - the dwarf artemisia wasn't working..) - in just a few weeks it's scrambled all over. The photo was a couple of weeks back and it's spread further and growing across the surface of the pond.
It's evergreen, smothered in flowers and bees in the summer, so I'm looking forward to seeing it next year -
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I have a couple of large rocks forming a little planting area, and there's an old tree stump rotting down. The Ajuga's planted in there.
You can see it in the pic below - spreading into the water too
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Pete8 that's done an amazing creeping job,had to zoom in for a good look!
Last Summer we didn't have any issues with amphibians baking on the rocks and pebbles. The rocks around our pond are always quite cool to touch. The pond's water level did drop extremely quickly though.
We're currently doing a major overhaul on our garden and are changing what's planted around the outside of the pond as I've never got it quite right. Hopefully I can update with photos in a few months.
Lucid