To make a picture a masterpiece you frame it, in the same way edging your pond will give it a finished look. Edging will also protect the pond liner beneath it. Edging can be of various types.
There are a variety of plants that could be used around your pond. For surface cover and good water balance, you need pond plants. If you don't use plants for your pond you will have major algae problems. The plant foliage help by absorbing the carbon dioxide and minerals from the water, which in turn starves algae. You need to cover half of the water surface with plants to achieve a good balance.
With the current drought gripping most of Australia there is a trend amongst investors to purchase prooperties in areas of New Zealand that have temperate climates and good levels of rainfall. As an example this has lead to increases in value for property nelson as more offshore investors flood the market in search of properties with enough water for their very onwn pond!
- Marginals cover a wide range. Marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris) and water forget me nots are popular. Pickerel weed (potederia) is good too. Marginals usually grow in either the shallow area of the pond or on a marginal shelf, as their name suggests. Some examples of Marsh Marigold are Alba, Pickerel Weed.
- The leaves of the Deep Water Aquatics help to keep your pond life cool, offer shelter and also keep the water clear by limiting th rays of the sun. They need to be planted a foot or more deep. Try the Water hawthorn (aponogeton) which is fragrant, long flowering and will tolerate moving water and some shade.
You need to plant the Golden club (orontium) in a deep tub, it has unique white flower heads.
- Oxygenators are very essential to keep the water clear. You have to buy them in bunches. Most are non flowering except water violet and water buttercup.cup. A pest report can sometimes tell you more.
- Floaters are simply dropped into the pond. The roots get submerged. The leaves and stems float on or just below the surface. Water hyacinth is a flowering 'floater' and stays well in summer. Frog-bit, water lettuce and water soldier are some of the other floaters. Avoid the fairy moss and duckweed.
- The more plants you have, the more the algae starve and reproduce less. Stock up with plants.
- You can create shade for your sunny pond by adding floating plants such as water hyacinths, water lettuce and waterlillies.
You can design your backyard pond on the same lines as you would design a normal pond. Just make sure you don't grow plants that attract stinging insects. Here you can have a serene fountain, a bird bath and a rock garden. Check out the page on backyard garden for more details.
