Plants for a decorative reservoir and a garden pond in the country. The most beautiful plants for a pond in the country Aquatic plants for a home pond
So, you are the owner of a garden ornamental pond. Having spent a lot of effort on the arrangement of a mini-reservoir, and having decorated it in a landscape or design style, it is time to start gardening. What plants can be planted in a pond, and what plants can be planted near the pond, in its coastal zone? There are a lot of options here, here you will learn about the most popular representatives of aquatic flora for an artificial reservoir.
What types of plants can be planted in a home pond
All aquatic plants for an artificial pond perform an important task: they serve as a kind of filters to purify water and maintain biological balance. It is desirable that at least one third of the artificial reservoir be devoted to plants.
There are several types of aquatic pond plants, each of which requires planting at a certain depth.
There are deep-sea plants for the garden pond, the flowers of which are on the surface of the water surface (for example, water lily).
There are oxygenator plants that grow in the water column and bring the greatest benefit pond, but from the outside they are almost invisible.
There are floating plants for the pond, as well as coastal plants that rise above the surface of the water, and their roots are in the ground under water. Swamp crops are usually planted next to a body of water in waterlogged and moist soil. They bring little benefit to the reservoir, but they provide shade and perform a decorative function. When deciding which pond plants to plant in the water surface and on the shore, you need to choose them in accordance with the style of landscape design, based on your own taste.
Planting water plants for an artificial country pond
Plants for a pond in a country house are planted in a pond already at the moment when the structure is completely ready, filled with water and settled for 10 days. It is better to plant aquatic crops in early summer. Depending on the type of plants, they are planted along the shore or at the bottom of the reservoir. You can plant the plants directly in the soil laid on the bottom, but it is best to place them in plastic or ceramic pots, which are then placed on the bottom.
Pots with water plants for a pond must have holes in the walls and bottom, this is necessary for soil ventilation, otherwise the roots will rot. W and plants in pots and baskets will be easier to care for: move to winter warm room to carry out reproduction, etc.
The soil in the baskets can be made up of ordinary earth from the garden (it is better to use clay soil) and a small amount of bone meal. It is impossible to enrich the soil with manure, fertilizers, black soil or peat, this can cause poisoning of the inhabitants of the reservoir.
Take care to keep the soil layer in the baskets from being washed away by water, and also that the fish do not pick up turbidity from the surface of the soil. To do this, after planting the plants in the pond, you can lay a clean burlap or other coarse fabric on top, and place small pebbles on it (2 cm layer).
Regardless of which plants you decide to plant in the pond, before planting, you need to remove them especially long roots and old leaves. After planting, it is necessary to compact the soil around the stem of the plant so that the distance between the soil and the edge of the basket is at least 40 mm. Before planting aquatic plants, it is imperative to establish exactly at what depth they should be planted.
There are also such types of plants for an ornamental pond that do not require landing at all - they float freely on the surface of the reservoir, independently holding on to the surface of the water. These plants include water lilies and lotus. But these cultures need to be closely monitored, because in favorable conditions they multiply rapidly and, if not thinned out, can short term take over the entire pond.
The main problem for any closed reservoir with stagnant water is the duckweed, which multiplies rapidly and rapidly captures the entire area. In no case should you plant it specifically. In general, when planting plants, you need to adhere to the measure - all plants need light and, in addition, dense thickets in a small pond will look unattractive.
In any case, the reservoir with plants must be regularly thinned out, removing excess and old processes. As for the preparation of plants for wintering, those aquatic crops for which temperate climate is a natural habitat, should be left in the pond.
Exotic home pond plants from warm countries should be removed from the pond by placing them in a home aquarium or indoor bath for the winter. First you need to prune heavily overgrown plants. Indoors, crops need to be provided with sufficient lighting so that they do not wither.
If it is not possible to buy plants for a country pond in a store, you can simply go to the nearest swampy pond, carefully study what grows in it and at what depth, and then select individual specimens for your own reservoir.
Since the water in the pond is stagnant, as in most artificial reservoirs, the plants in it will be suitable, and besides, all of them, without exception, are adapted to the local climate.
In this case, it will be possible to transplant into an adult plant immediately. But you need to be careful and not go “for prey” alone, because after all, many of the plants grow in swampy areas, and here it will be difficult for one person to cope with the task, and it’s not safe. You must first stock up on two long poles to feel the ground under your feet, good rubber boots with a high top, and a reliable assistant who will have to remain on the shore, but within reach of the pole.
The most popular aquatic pond plants
The most popular aquatic plant in the construction of an artificial pond is the water lily, or water lily. It belongs to the category of deep-water plants and has a horizontally growing rhizome. There are four types of water lilies: dwarf (planting depth - 0.1-0.25 m, diameter of the surface covered with leaves - 0.3-0.6 m, coverage area - 1-2.5 m2, flower diameter - 5-10 cm ), shallow (planting depth - 0.1-0.25 m, diameter of the surface covered with leaves - 0.3-0.6 m, coverage area - 1-2.5 m2, flower diameter - 5-10 cm), medium (planting depth - 0.1-0.25 m, diameter of the surface covered with leaves - 0.3-0.6 m, coverage area - 1-2.5 m2, flower diameter - 5-10 cm) and large (planting depth - 0.1-0.25 m, diameter of the surface covered with leaves - 0.3-0.6 m, coverage area - 1-2.5 m2, flower diameter - 5-10 cm). Often, large and beautiful water lilies are much cheaper than small and nondescript at first glance relatives. But the former grow in tropical climates and do not adapt well to ours. In addition, large water lilies need a large body of water. But smaller water lilies and take up little space, and feel great in the local climate.
As you can see in the photo, these aquatic pond plants come with white, pink, red and yellow flowers:
The leaves begin to grow immediately after the ice melts, when the water temperature in the reservoir rises several degrees above the zero temperature of the thermometer, and the plants bloom until late autumn. The peak of their flowering falls on the warmest period of the garden season. When choosing the type of water lilies, their characteristics must be taken into account: the temperature of the content ( exotic species not adapted to our climate), the depth of the reservoir (some species require a depth of up to 1 m), the area covered with flowers.
If a body of water small size, then too abundant flowering will cover more than half of the surface of the pond, and this can lead to shading of the reservoir, there will be a lack of oxygen in the water, an excess of swamp gas will appear and the water will rot.
Deep-sea lilies as they grow (after 2-3 months) need to be transplanted to a greater depth, and if the pond is shallow, then pots with roots should be removed to the basement for the winter.
The bog-flower is also a deep-sea plant. This plant resembles a water lily, because it has small wavy leaves, often with brownish spots (up to 5 cm in diameter).
Look at the photo: this pond plant has flowers yellow color, collected in inflorescences, reach a diameter of 4 cm. Usually this culture is planted in a pond until water lilies take root. Has a tendency to grow rapidly. Planting depth - 0.3-0.6 m, height of flowers above the water surface - 5-8 cm. Bog flower blooms from July to September. Reproduction occurs by dividing the rhizomes and occurs in late spring or summer.
Another plant from the deep-sea category is the egg-pod. This is a "relative" of the water lily, although it is not so beautiful. The capsule has small and uninteresting flowers, planted on thick peduncles, towering above the surface of the water. For this plant need running water and penumbra. For a medium-sized pond, you can use a small and dwarf egg-pod.
Japanese and foreign capsules are often found on sale, but these plants require a large reservoir, because the diameter of the flower reaches 8 cm, and the pistil is comparable in size and shape to a small glass bottle. Landing depth - 0.3-0.6 m (for small species), the height of the flowers above the water surface is 8 cm, the capsule blooms from June to September, and propagates by dividing the rhizomes in late spring or summer.
Floating plants for garden ornamental pond
Vodokras ordinary, or frog, is a plant floating on the surface of the water. This culture is often used in small reservoirs, because it grows slowly, although it blooms all summer, and its foliage dies off in autumn. Vodokras hibernates in the form of buds at the bottom of the pond, which rise to the surface at the beginning of summer and a new plant grows from them. Some experts recommend taking out the kidneys for the winter along with part of the muddy bottom and storing them in a jar of water, and lower them back to the bottom in April. This will protect the population from freezing, because shallow water bodies freeze thoroughly.
Water color leaves reach a diameter of 2.5-5 cm. The height of flowers above the water surface is 3-5 cm. Water color reproduces in summer by dividing the bushes.
One of the most popular plants in the construction of artificial reservoirs - hornwort. This plant is an oxygen generator, i.e. it has no roots and grows right in the water. Adapted to any light conditions, does not grow too much, propagates by dividing the shoots into parts in the summer.
In the water it looks like a thick branched brush. This plant is necessary to maintain the biological balance in the water.
There are several types of hornworts, but for artificial reservoirs, dark green or submerged are recommended. The plant overwinters in the form of buds at the bottom of the reservoir.
What plants to plant near the pond in the country
Below are coastal pond plants with photos and names that can be planted around an artificial reservoir.
Air refers to coastal plants. There are several varieties of calamus, which differ in color and size. When choosing, remember that undersized varieties more vulnerable to winter frosts. Usually, two types of these coastal plants for a pond are used to decorate garden ponds: common calamus and marsh calamus.
The first type is very large, resembling an iris. It has straight arrow-shaped leaves that exude a pleasant aroma. Cob inflorescences are of little interest - they are small, greenish and horn-shaped. The second type of calamus has beautiful leaves with green-cream coloration, which turns green-pink in spring.
The height of this plant of the coastal zone of the pond is 0.5-1 m. These aquatic plants need to be planted at a depth of 8-15 cm. It is also a coastal plant - Volzhanka. There is a dioecious Volzhanka and a forest Volzhanka, or an ordinary one. The latter is the most common. This plant is unpretentious, takes root well in a new place, reaches a height of 2 meters in 2 years. Flowering time - June-July, propagated by dividing the bushes in the fall. Volzhanka inflorescences are large, fluffy and long (up to 20 cm), consist of many creamy white flowers. You need to plant crops at a distance of 75 cm from each other and in small quantities, because this large plant quite strongly obscures the reservoir. At the end of autumn, the Volzhanka must be cut, leaving only stems 10-15 cm long above the ground. The crop should be planted in the shade.
Plants of the coastal zone around the pond in the country
When deciding which plants to plant near the pond in the country, pay attention to buttercups, they also belong to the group of coastal plants. For the design of artificial reservoirs, an underwater ranunculus is used, which looks very peculiar - it has two types of leaves: the underwater leaves are cut into thin segments, similar to hairs, and the surface ones, floating on the surface, have trifoliate leaves and look like clover. The first flowers appear in early summer. They are white, on branching stems that rise above the water. When the flowering period ends, the plant dies. Buttercup propagates in spring and summer by cuttings.
kaluzhnitsa is a marsh plant, and it is often used to decorate the coastal zones of reservoirs. This plant near the pond is a very unpretentious culture that grows well on the banks of small ponds or swamps. The marigold blooms early - in April. Its flowers resemble buttercup flowers, and the leaves are round or heart-shaped. The most popular variety of this plant, planted near the pond, is marsh marigold. The height of the plant is 0.3-0.5 m, it is planted to a depth of 5 cm, blooms with bright yellow flowers.
Another popular type of plant around the pond is Calthapalustris Plena. This culture is distinguished by double, yellow flowers similar to small chrysanthemums, blooms in April. The bushes reach a height of 10-30 cm. There is a variety of the Alba plant that blooms in May with white flowers. The culture grows in a swamp, the planting depth is up to 2.5 cm, the height of the plant is 15-20 cm. Another marigold, thin sepals, is a bit like Alba. But this is a real giant among all the other relatives. Marigold multi-petal has large beautiful leaves and large yellow flowers, grows up to 1 m in height and is planted to a depth of 5-10 cm in large reservoirs. All these plants growing near the pond in the country house are propagated at the end of summer by fresh seeds or by dividing the bushes.
What other plants to plant near the pond in the country
What other plants to plant near the pond to decorate the coastal zone of the reservoir?
Sedge grows both in water and in coastal marshy soil. The depth of its landing in the water is 5 cm. There is tall plants which are suitable for large reservoirs. In decorating the pond, sedge sticking out is often used. This plant, planted near the pond in the country, has yellow leaves, and the bush reaches a height of 0.5 m. You can also use coastal sedge - it has green and white leaves and a bush height of 0.3-0.6 m. a plant with fragrant leaves. Its bushes grow to 15 cm in height, and bloom all summer with small yellow, button-like inflorescences. There is a coronopus leaf kotula - annual plant which is easily propagated by self-sowing.
You can sow the seeds of this plant in the spring at home, and then, transplanted into a ceramic pot, planted in a pond. Depth of landing kotula - 12 cm.
An excellent plant for the shore of the pond is pontederia. The heart-shaped pontederia is the most popular when arranging garden ponds. This is a very beautiful plant: it has large shiny leaves, it grows in bushes, the inflorescences are cylindrical, spicate-shaped, pale blue in color, the height of the peduncles is 0.6-0.75 m, it grows slowly. Pontederia blooms from July to September, propagated by dividing the bushes in late spring. However, this plant, planted around, is not very resistant to frost, hibernates with buds at the bottom. Therefore, it is desirable that the kidney be as deep as possible, or for safety, you need to choose the kidneys from the bottom along with silt and place them in a jar of water for the winter, and with the onset of heat, move them back to the reservoir.
Admire the reflection of the sun's rays on the water surface, watch insects and amphibians, just relax in a cool corner by the water... What could be better, especially if all this is in your own garden.
Most often, it is aesthetic pleasure that prompts owners garden plots equip . But the garden pond also has a practical purpose.
It allows you to create an ecosystem that promotes better vegetation of both trees and horticultural crops. Moreover, the presence of a reservoir eliminates the washing out of the fertile soil layer.
But all these advantages are possible only in one case - if the pond is as if created by nature. And what is this body of water?
"Alive", in which small aquatic animals and plants feel good. By the way, it is plants that create that unique eco-environment that allows water to always remain clean. Biological balance is maintained due to the saturation of water with oxygen, the decomposition of unnecessary impurities and the exclusion of decay processes.
If a fish lives in a pond, then the plants will help it to overwinter.
What Plants Do Ponds Need?
For a normal natural balance in a garden pond, aquatic plants of certain types are needed.
They are conditionally classified into deep-sea, waterfowl, oxygen generators (plants that purify water in a pond from carbon dioxide) and coastal ones.
All of them interact with each other and perform a specific role. And if at least one plant species is missing from this chain, it will be almost impossible to create the desired balance.
plants for water
aquatic plants for the pond, which are located directly in the water.
deep sea
These are plants whose roots are at a depth of 30 cm to a meter.
The most common deep-water plants are water lily, egg capsule, lotus, aponogeton, nymphaeum and others. The leaves of these plants float on the surface. But most of all, the amazing beauty of flowers attracts the eye.
Pictured is a nymphaeum
Most commonly used:
- Water lily- perhaps the most common flower of this species. Its other name is water lily. Rhizomes of water lilies are thick, creeping, rich in starch. Today, about 35 species of these flowers are known, most of which are artificially bred. More common is the snow-white water lily, a resident of natural reservoirs and therefore the most resistant to climate change and growing conditions. These water lilies bloom from May until frost. The flowers have a delicate pleasant aroma, and the leaves reach 20 cm in length. For abundant flowering Water lilies need a sunny location.
- Aponogeton- Another beautiful water flower. True, unlike the water lily, its tubers will have to be brought in for wintering in a room protected from frost. This is because aponogeton is a resident of water bodies of tropical and subtropical countries. You can plant it on the bottom of the reservoir when the water warms up enough and the spring frosts pass. The optimal depth is up to 50 cm. Water hawthorn blooms (this, by the way, is the second, more common name among gardeners) in spring and early summer. The flowers are large: white, pink or yellow with a distinct smell of vanilla. When planting aponogeton in a pond, avoid areas with direct sunbeams. The best option for this plant is partial shade.
- Nymphaenik- an unpretentious plant for a reservoir. The miniature leaves look like water lily leaves, but the yellow flowers are more like buttercups. It tolerates winter well and grows quickly, so in garden ponds it should be controlled by removing unnecessary shoots. It blooms from July to September, subject to placement in the sunny zone of the reservoir. It is better to plant nymphaeums to a depth of 60 cm.
water plants
A special place in the pond is occupied by waterfowl. Their roots do not need soil, they swim freely and multiply on the surface of the water.
But, when settling such plants in your artificial reservoir, it should be borne in mind that they are quite aggressive and are able to flood the entire surface of the water. However, it is probably impossible to do without waterfowl at all. Their main purpose is to protect water from direct sunlight.
In the photo, water paint
For small ponds, you should not choose duckweed, it grows too quickly. But vodokras, telorez and salvinia are ideal.
Plants-oxygenerators
Plants - oxygenators saturate the water with oxygen, absorbing harmful carbon dioxide.
It is thanks to this process that the water space will be protected from pollution and overgrowing with mud.
Interestingly, oxygen generators are almost always invisible, they are hidden under water, but their role is extremely important. The most common among such representatives of aquatic flora are:
- hornwort lives in ponds with slow flowing water. In warm water it develops quickly, and by autumn it almost completely dies off. Only the tops of the shoots sink to the bottom, where they overwinter. To populate a reservoir with a hornwort, you just need to throw its cuttings into the water.
- Bolotnitsa- a wonderful algae for shallow ponds. Its delicate stems resemble cereals, they grow all over the bottom. Therefore, in artificial ponds, it is most often grown in special containers. The bog is resistant to frost and does not require maintenance.
- grows in any reservoirs - both with stagnant water, and with a fast current. The plant is planted to a depth of 1.5 meters, it tolerates winter well and does not require care.
Kabomba - beautiful and unusual
Plants of the coastal zone
Plants that are planted around the pond can be divided into two groups - those that grow in shallow water, and those that are used to decorate the shore.
The first ones are mandatory for the reservoir. The most popular coastal plants are calamus, swamp, water pine, reed, forget-me-not, sedge, cattail, reed, marigold, buttercup and others.
How in design summer cottages used for the plant, features of breeding and pest control. Details in our material.
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Most often used:
- Air- unpretentious shallow water plant. It is often used in landscaping water bodies to add vertical lines to the composition. All parts of plants contain essential oil with a characteristic aroma. The rhizome of the plant is brittle, but each part gives a new growth. It can be planted in spring or summer to a depth of 15 cm.
- (often also called "tail") - an unpretentious plant of the coastal zone. Its stem is single, up to half a meter in height, and the roots are creeping. The plant perfectly cleans the water of decomposed organic residues, and also removes unpleasant odors. But it's growing fast.
- Sedge- a plant that today occupies a special place in the landscape design of reservoirs. There are more than 2 thousand species of sedge, which have different characteristics and are able to adapt to different conditions. climatic conditions. decorative types This plant is able to give the reservoir a unique appearance. The plant is propagated by dividing the rhizome, planted directly near the water. In winter, the leaves of the sedge die off, and the roots overwinter in the soil without shelter.
Water pine - coniferous in your pond
And, finally, decorative moisture-loving plants can be planted near the shore of the reservoir. Their roots should not be in the water, but such plants do not tolerate drought either.
Many moisture-loving plants bloom beautifully, so the pond at different times can look elegant and well-groomed.
To moisture-loving plants include loosestrife, various irises, astilba, comfrey, ferns, etc.
The video looks at the main aquatic plants that are used for an artificial pond.
Daylilies by the pond - it's beautiful and bright
Features of planting plants in the pond
It is better to plant plants, starting from the deepest zone. Initially, the number of plants should be determined.
Again, it is important that all four of the above groups are present in the reservoir - deep-sea, oxygenators, floating and coastal plants.
Do not plant plants too densely, because they will grow anyway. Optimal if calculated ½ m2 per plant. In addition, it is desirable that representatives of the flora occupy no more than two-thirds of the entire reservoir.
Deep-water plants are conveniently planted in special containers. For waterfowl containers are not needed. When choosing plants, you should adhere to a certain decorative idea.
If placement is planned near the water, then tall plants should not be placed in this part of the reservoir.
They should be in the background, creating a beautiful backdrop for other, perhaps decorative foliage or flowering plants.
Plants around the pond in the country
Features of care
To care for the pond you will need a certain set garden tools- pond shears, secateurs, net and tongs. First of all, plant care consists in the timely cleansing of the reservoir from dying parts of plants.
Yellowed or browned leaves of deep-sea plants should be cut off. To do this, the pond shears are lowered 20 cm below the water, and the cut leaf is removed with a net.
It is especially important to clean the surface of the water in spring period- when there is a lot of pollen, dry scales and earrings, as well as in autumn, when leaves fall from trees and shrubs.
Leaves and stems of shallow-water plants should not be cut before winter, because half-dried, they are an excellent conductor of oxygen under the ice. But in the spring, these stems should be removed so that the reservoir looks attractive.
Knowing the features of planting plants for a reservoir and knowing how to care for them, you can create a wonderful corner in your own garden. It will delight the owners and guests of the estate for a long time, it will become a picturesque natural accent that attracts you at any time of the year. Everyone can create beauty.
See how cozy and pleasant your own garden can be!
Now, more and more often, such elements of landscape design as artificial reservoirs appear on the sites. And how else, it's so nice to relax in nature, contemplating the water surface. But what body of water can do without such a necessary detail as plants. Landscaping of the water space itself and the coastal zone is very important point, which I would like to dwell on in more detail.
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Of course, you have seen the perfect lawn in the movies, on the alley, and perhaps on the neighbor's lawn. Those who have ever tried to grow a green area in their area will no doubt say that this is a huge job. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilization, watering. However, only inexperienced gardeners think so, professionals have long known about the innovative tool - liquid turf AquaGrazz.
Starting gardening of a reservoir in the country, it is necessary to pay attention to the following issues:
- Can plants survive the winter in or near a pond. The answer to this question depends on the choice of plants and the method of planting them. Many plants for decorating the coastal territory of an ornamental pond in the country can also be planted in containers.
- Which plants to choose - deep sea, oxygen, coastal or floating? The classification of plants, which is given below, will help you answer this question.
- When and how to plant aquatic plants.
By answering all these questions, you can decide general view ornamental pond, and with its durability, as well as with the ability to provide life for aquatic life, if any.
Aquatic plants are plants that grow and live only in the aquatic environment (pictured).
These are mostly perennials. This habitat endowed aquatic plants with a list of certain signs and features:
- the leaves of aquatic plants have a shape dissected into parts in the form of threads,
- stems - air cavities,
- The roots of aquatic plants are poorly developed.
Aquatic plants are classified in different ways, and there is no single system for this, but there are main groups based on which you can make a choice:
Oxygenators are plants that actively release oxygen, thereby ensuring the life of all the inhabitants of the garden pond - fish, frogs and others.
- Plants of this group can also be food, for example, for fish such as carp.
- They also perform the function of biological water purification in the reservoir.
In order for oxygen plants to cope with both the cleaning function and the oxygen saturation function, it is necessary to select several types of such plants for the garden pond, but at the same time not to overdo it.
The most popular are aquatic plants that perform these functions:
- marshy turcha,
- asterisk water
- urut
- hornwort.
Pond decor
Hornwort is a plant that is called an underwater Christmas tree. It is very beautiful, ornamental and grows fast.
- Hornwort can live in different ponds, even very deep ones.
- He does not like bright light, preferring shade.
- It does not have a root system, and special branches descend into the ground.
- Hornwort is often used as food for the inhabitants of the home pond.
- The leaves of this plant actively absorb carbon dioxide, nitrites, nitrates and other elements, so it can be used to clean the pond in the country.
- On the winter time, the leaves of the hornwort die off, but the shoots overwinter well at the bottom of the reservoir.
What the hornwort looks like, look at the photo:
Floating plants are aquatic plants that float on the surface, giving the pond in the country a special charm. Aquatic floating plants can be planted directly on the bottom of a pond or in containers. They are both tropical and frost-resistant. In care, such aquatic plants are usually not demanding, but it is necessary to control their growth rate. Floating aquatic plants grow very quickly and without control can occupy the entire surface of the pond, which is already undesirable.
The most common floating aquatic representatives of the flora:
- duckweed,
- vodokras,
- eichornia.
Vodokras - a plant that is perfect for a small pond.
Most often, for landscaping a reservoir, a frog water color is used, which blooms all summer. It blooms with white flowers, and the leaves are round, as in the photo:
Eichornia or water hyacinth - used both for water purification and for decorating a pond.
Eichornia blooms with lilac and white flowers.
This plant does not tolerate frost very well, so it is better to plant it in containers, and move it to an aquarium for the winter.
Deep sea plants are aquatic plants that will help complement the floating ones and create the composition you need. Deep water plants can grow in shallow ornamental ponds with clean water.
Many aquatic plants growing under water cannot overwinter there, they need to be planted in various containers so that in winter they can be brought into a cool room in the country or in the basement.
The most common and picky in care are: nymphaeum, capsule, apongeton.
Nymphea is a plant that can decorate any pond. She is unpretentious and easy to care for.
- There are more than 35 types of nymphs.
- They bloom in various colors. Water lilies come in white, red, yellow and blue.
- They also differ in size: 2.5 cm is a dwarf species, and up to 15 cm is a snow-white water lily.
- They are distinguished by frost resistance and the depth at which they grow.
Different varieties are intended for ponds of different sizes and depths. How the water lily looks like, look at the photo, and you can learn more from the article on our website.
Capsule - a plant with dark yellow flowers and a thick pistil. The diameter of the flowers of the capsule is from 3 to 8 cm. The leaves floating on the pond look very good.
Aponogeton is a perennial plant that is considered one of the best for a pond in the country.
- Aponogeton has thick tuberous roots and oblong leaves.
- It grows well, and its flowering is quite long.
- If the reservoir is deeper than 60 cm, the plants can overwinter in the water.
Coastal plants - plants that grow on the shore of a reservoir, decorating its contour and protecting water from excessive heating in the summer heat.
It is necessary to choose not very tall coastal plants, counting so that the shadow falls directly on the pond.
It is not recommended to plant trees in coastal areas. Tree roots can destroy the shoreline of the pond and damage the waterproofing layer. If there is a need to place a tree near a pond, then it is better to do this away from the shore.
Coastal plants such as:
- barberry,
- dwarf spruce,
- pine,
- iris.
Iris is a perennial with many varieties.
- Iris can bloom in various colors - from yellow to bright purple.
- It changes easily and at any time.
- These coastal plants prefer brightly lit and well-moistened areas.
- In winter, shelter from spruce branches is required.
On the shore of a reservoir, iris can grow up to 1.2 m in height. And what the iris looks like, look at the photo above.
Planting methods
Aquatic plants for landscaping a pond can be planted in containers and flowerpots or directly in the ground in a pond.
If plants are planted in the ground, you need to follow these recommendations:
- At the bottom, 8 cm of fertile soil is poured, which should be composed of sand, compost and mullein.
- Plants are planted in the soil: tall - near the coastline, floating - in the center of the reservoir.
- Plant roots must be covered with 4 cm river sand. The sand protects the soil from being washed out.
It is more convenient and rational to plant plants for landscaping a pond in containers.
With this planting, the plants can be hidden on winter period from frost and, if necessary, change the composition, arranging the plants differently.
To land in a container you will need:
- Take a spacious container. A small capacity will limit the root system of plants, and this will interfere with growth and development.
- Place burlap inside the container to help protect the soil from being washed out.
- Plant the plant, covering the roots with earth. The earth should be located 4 cm below the top edge of the container.
- After planting, the plant can be fertilized with clay fertilizers mixed with bone meal.
- From above, the remaining 4 cm to the upper edge must be filled with gravel. gravel - protective layer, which can protect the soil and ensure the stability of the containers.
After planting the plants, the containers will need to be installed at the bottom of the pond.
Whichever way you decide to plant plants, you need to follow this rule: plants whose leaves are on the surface of the reservoir should not cover more than half of the water (as in the photo).
Planting time and care of aquatic plants
Water plants are planted in summer when temperature regime better.
If a decorative pond in the country has just been built, it is still impossible to plant plants in it. Construction Materials can allocate toxic substances and plants may die.
- It is necessary to plant plants in artificial reservoirs no earlier than a few weeks after the completion of construction, and preferably the next season.
- For each plant, it is desirable to allocate 4-5 m2 of area. More accurate data on the required water space should be clarified when choosing plants.
- The main care of the plants in the pond is to carry out regular cleaning. If you do not do it on time, you will have to carry out restoration, and this is a more time-consuming task.
To clean the reservoir and care for it, you will need the following tools:
- pond scissors,
- secateurs,
- forceps,
- net.
- The leaves of plants that have turned yellow, turned brown and began to fade should be immediately cut and removed from the pond.
- In spring, pollen, fluff, flowers, lying on the water, prevent oxygen and light from entering artificial reservoirs, nourishing plants and fish. Therefore, it is necessary to clean up such contaminants regularly. It is easy to do this with a net. A similar problem occurs in the fall, but with fallen leaves.
- Plants such as rushes, reeds and other shallow-water plants do not need to be cut for the winter. Drying, the stems of these plants serve as conductors of oxygen under the ice. The stems of such plants are cut off already in the spring.
The beginning of June is a great time to plant aquatic plants, so it's time to talk about which ones are best for decorating a pond to match the style of your dacha.
Water lily hybrid (Nymphaea)
No other plant can match the beauty of the nymphaeum or one of the most beautiful aquatic plants. These are white wild-growing water lilies from natural reservoirs, and varietal nymphs with large, 15-20 cm in diameter flowers of a wide variety of colors: white, pink, yellow, crimson. Blooms in June-September.Water lilies appeared on sale a few years ago, but so far, in terms of the beauty of aquatic plants, they are not inferior to anyone in their palm. Water lilies give the pond a touching, nostalgic flair and fit perfectly into the design of the cottage, both in a romantic style and in modern style.
Growing features
It is recommended for the deep-water zone of the reservoir, when planting large plants at a depth of 50 cm or more, small ones - from 20 cm, preferably in a thick layer of organic silt or on fertile heavy clay soil.In ancient times, the flowers of the blue nymph, called the Egyptian blue rose, decorated the halls of rulers, places of worship and dwellings in the country of the pharaohs. AT Ancient Greece the water lily flower was a symbol of beauty and eloquence. There is a legend about nymphs who turned into a flower of a white water lily and lured travelers to the bottom.
Among the Slavs, the water lily was endowed with mystical and healing powers. She was called overpowered-grass and believed that she was able to overcome all evil spirits and ailments. In addition, she helped travelers, softened the hearts of cruel beauties, endowed them with talents.
You can also read about the hybrid water lily on the site in the article.
Calamus ordinary, or swamp (Acorus calamus)
Calamus forms spectacular groups of stems and sword-shaped leaves rising high above the water with a spicy, pleasant smell. The strict linearity of the plant will harmoniously fit both in regular style dachas, and in its landscape image. Maintains and creates green or greenish-white (‘Variegatus’ form) gamut.
Growing features
Calamus is planted with immersion in water to a depth of 0.3-0.5 m or with landing in a wetland, preferably on clay, but it is also possible on sandy soil, permissible - in containers (for the winter, the leaves are cut off, leaving 10 cm above the surface of the water). It grows in one place for a long time. With intensive growth, it is able to displace other plant species; distribution control is required. The distance between plants is 50-70 cm.Calamus, like a water lily, is also shrouded in legends and traditions. It is believed that it was brought from the south during the Mongol-Tatar invasion. It was the eastern warriors who threw it into the reservoirs, and if the plants took root, then the water was considered clean and drinkable.
Iris iris, or marsh (Iris pseudacorus)
A very spectacular aquatic plant from the iris or iris family, which quickly forms groups of lush greenery. During the flowering period, it brings its sunny joyful chords, proclaiming the triumph of life. It grows up to 90 cm high, on one rhizome - 12-15 bright yellow flowers that bloom in late May - July. Xiphoid leaves up to 120 cm long are decorative throughout the summer.
Iris iris or marsh. Photo from econet.ru
Growing features
Planted in shallow water. It is necessary to control the spread of the rhizome. It is better to plant in a container and annually remove shoots growing to the sides. At the end of summer, all the leaves are cut off so as not to clog the banks and the bottom of the reservoir.Calla, or marsh calla (Calla palustris)
A beautiful exotic aquatic plant from the aroid family, especially spectacular during the flowering period. Natural habitats are shallow water along the banks of overgrown ponds. A thick, fleshy rhizome grows rapidly; in one summer, a plant can completely cover an area of several square meters.Its heart-shaped dark green shiny leaves are beautiful. Inflorescences with a white veil appear in May-June. By the end of summer, bright red fruits are formed. Suitable for reservoirs of dachas in the Art Nouveau style. Flowers are used as cut flowers, they look very beautiful and majestic in bouquets, symbolizing freshness and purity.
Photo from econet.ru
Growing features
The planting depth of calla lilies is 10-15 cm. Propagated by segments of rhizomes. The leaves are pruned for the winter. It is better to plant callas in a container, which is brought into the basement for the winter and stored until the onset of stable warm spring weather.In the southern regions, a relative of the marsh calla is more often used in ponds - Ethiopian calla or Ethiopian zantedesia ( Zantedeschia aethiopica). Provided that the tubers are dug up in autumn (they are stored at a temperature of +10 ... + 15 ° С) and not too fast (after the last spring frosts) planting in the spring, this plant can be grown even in the reservoirs of central Russia.
On the Black Sea coast Krasnodar Territory and the southern coast of Crimea, you can leave Zantedesia to winter in open field near the water in secluded places of the dacha, protected from the cold northern winds, covering it with leaves. Beginning in May, the Ethiopian calla blooms profusely for a long time.
Cattail (Typha)
All cattails are beautiful background perennials. They are recommended for creating spectacular thickets in large reservoirs, and in small ones they are planted in small groups or singly. Cattails look harmoniously in the reservoirs of landscape-style cottages. Their dense, dark brown cobs with a velvety surface bloom in June-August.
Growing features
The minimum depth of placement of plants in the reservoir is 7-12 cm. Requires control over distribution; better planted in a container. In this case, excess rhizomes should be removed to prevent overgrowth.Surely many of you know cattail called "bulrush". However, real reed is a completely different plant from the sedge family, with wide panicles at the ends of long stems. You will read about it below. Why this happened is not known for certain.
Lake bulrush (Scirpus lacustris)
The same "noisy reeds". With this large plant from the sedge family with a loose texture, it is better to decorate rather large reservoirs in mass groups. When landscaping small ponds, it can be used in small groups planted in containers to limit the feeding area and, consequently, the growth of plants. The long stem grows up to 1-2 m high, and the leaves of the reed are barely noticeable, narrow, small, located near the panicle inflorescence.
Bulrush. Photo courtesy of swamp.osu.edu
Growing features
It is better to plant in containers in the shallow water zone at a depth of 7-12 cm. It winters in water bodies.Reeds can not only decorate ponds, it is also suitable for food. Its rhizomes are edible - fresh, baked, crushed and boiled, flour can be made from dried rhizomes. You can also eat the root part of the stem of young plants, juicy and sweet in taste. People who find themselves in extreme conditions are not in danger of starvation when there are reeds nearby.
Common reed (Phragmites communis, syn. P. australis)
Reed belongs to the bluegrass family (so reed, cattail, and reeds, belonging to different families, should not be confused). Reed is more suitable for decorating large reservoirs in landscape-style dachas. It is decorative throughout its growth, and even dry plants in a frozen pond, covered with snow, enchant with their beauty. Reduces water pollution organic matter(oxygenator).
Common reed. Photo from econet.ru
The reed has long, erect, bluish-green stems-straws up to 3-4 m high. Flowers in brown-purple spikelets-panicles are small, inconspicuous, bloom from July to autumn. In August-September, they turn into eye-catching silvery-brown fluffy plumes. There is an ornamental variety of reed ‘ Variegata' - up to 1 m high, leaves with a golden yellow, later white border.
Growing features
Can be planted to a depth of 1.5 m, variegated form ‘ Variegata' - 7-12 cm or in the coastal wet zone. Mandatory control over distribution, tk. the plant is large, powerful, forming thickets. Winters in open ground.The Latin name of the reed - Phragmites - comes from the Greek word phragma, which means wattle, fence. And this is not accidental, since since ancient times it has been used to cover roofs, make fences, and weave baskets.
Susak umbrella (Butomus umbellatus)
A very elegant plant for decorating ponds, able to emphasize how strict regular style of composition with its xiphoid, long leaves, and naturally fit into the company of aquatic plants of the pond landscape style. The height of the stems at the susak is 40-10 cm, the flowers are pink-white, collected in umbrellas, bloom in June-July.
Growing features
Susak can be planted in a container in shallow water (from 10 cm to 1 m). Prefers clay soil. Grows fast; divided every 2-3 years. Distribution control required.Arrowhead or common arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia)
Arrowhead - one of the most beautiful aquatic plants, stands out with decorative leaves different shapes(depending on their location) and white with dark purple or pink flowers in racemes on triangular stems. Blooms in July-August. Suitable for reservoirs of cottages, made in various styles: both regular, landscape, and eclectic.
Growing features
It can grow at different depths: from 20-60 or more (up to 120 cm). The arrowhead is unpretentious to the ground, grows well on a muddy bottom.Plantain chastuha (Alisma plantago-aquatica)
This is an excellent ornamental, in bloom - an openwork plant with a beautiful Latin name great for decorating ponds in landscape or landscape style. Spreading rosettes of leaves look great along the coast. The stem with flowers reaches a height of 60-80 cm, the flowers in the panicle are small, white or pinkish, bloom in June-September.
On the right is a plantain chastuha. Photo from econet.ru
Growing features
Can be planted in shallow water with a depth of up to 15-30 cm. The distance between plants is 40-50 cm.
And if some green pets already live in your pond, tell us about them!
April 26, 2011“Everything should be perfect in a person…”! Do you remember Chekhov? But this rule is valid not only for people, but also, for example, for a summer residence or a garden. Here, too, every corner must be perfect. This time we will bring the country pond to the ideal.
We have already made the reservoir itself, launched fish into it, and now it opens a green water page. We will dedicate it plants for the pond.
You may be surprised, but we will start from the shore. If you correctly make the decor next to the pond, then the pond itself will become for you and your guests unusual place and will favorably emphasize the style and design of the entire site.
If the house and the entire garden are made in modern, high-tech trends, then a classic pool with potted palm trees on the shore will look best here. But such a “resort” option does not go well with fish, and the underwater flora will no longer be out of place.
The Japanese design of the plot will be supported by a gazebo and beautifully flowering coastal plants. Iris is well suited for such a composition. Siberian (Iris sibirica), three-leaf watch (Menyanthes trifoliata) or small daylily (Hemerocallis minor Miller). And not at all to the Japanese yard sprawling wide plants. They give the whole coast a wild look.
But if the house on your site is massive and wooden, then here the wildness of the coastal zone will come in handy. And the whole pond can be turned into a kind of forest lake with reeds, a wooden bridge and wooden sculptures on the shore.
But our observations still show that the owners of summer cottages or country houses can rarely boast of the above designs. In most cases, a garden is a moderately well-groomed place where a play area with a lawn, flower beds with alpine slides, and a corner with a pond coexist at the same time. That's it for such areas most of our advice.
First rule landscape designers who are engaged in the design of reservoirs - do not get carried away! This also applies to planting plants in the coastal zone and in the reservoir itself.
If you go too far with the decor of the coast, then already on next year Your pond will be lost in the overgrown jungle. So let's go back to the slogans and rules: less is better, but better!
One of the most advantageous options for decorating the coast is weeping willow, preferably grafted onto a high trunk. Under its spreading branches, ferns and others will take root well. shade tolerant plants which will create an excellent composition. You can replace willow with other perennial large-sized trees, such as spruce, mountain pine, barberry, juniper or thuja.
Blooming mixborders look spectacular with conifers. But you need to take into account that a big tree over the years, it will also grow a large root system, which can damage the waterproofing of the pond and cause many problems. Therefore, if you still decide to decorate the pond with a large size, place it away from the water. And save the reservoir, and you will not close it from the sun. This, by the way, is also very important: regardless of the nature of coastal plantings, they should not completely cover the mirror of the pond with their shadow. A small area of shade above the water is even welcome - this allows the water not to overheat, but completely immersing the pond in the shade is very harmful for all its inhabitants.
Now that the coastal decor has been sorted out, you can go out on the water. First of all, we divide all plants into two large groups - floating and deep sea. The latter must be planted in the ground or special baskets. But floating all this is not required. They exist on the surface of the pond and actively reproduce on their own. In a short time, such plants can close the entire mirror of the reservoir, so from time to time you will have to work with a net and thin out the thickets. It is impossible to allow floating to occupy more than half of the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe reservoir.
by the most famous representative of this species is duckweed, familiar to everyone from village ponds and swamps. Now more and more often on garden ponds you can see Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Azolla fern (Azolla filiculoides) and other plants. garden centers now they can present several dozen species and varieties for a country pond, but we remind you again - do not get carried away! All plants need space and light to thrive, so you have to choose.
The same goes for deep water plants. Their assortment is the richest, but in order to plant everything at once, you will need not a garden pond, but something more similar in size to Lake Baikal. We will talk about the most popular plants in aquatic design a little later, but now we will focus on the general rules for planting deep-water plants.
The best time to populate the pond is from May to August. In some climatic zones or in particularly successful years, this process can be extended until the beginning of September. The main thing is that the water temperature is high enough.
Before you start planting plants directly, you need to prepare the water. You won’t have to do anything special with it, just if the pond is new and you filled it for the first time, let the water settle for about a week. During this time, it will warm up, and harmful volatile impurities will leave it.
When the water is ready, you can act. In strict accordance with the plan! If you don't have a plan, you'll have to make one. It is this measure that will help you not to overdo it, to clearly understand where and what will grow, and how it will all look in a couple of years. With such a long-term program, you will keep the pond tidy and prevent it from becoming overgrown. By the way, here is one of the main conditions for drawing up a plan - for 1 sq.m. the pond should account for no more than 2 plants.
With a ready plan in hand, we approach the landing directly. And here again you need to make a choice: plant plants directly in the ground or prefer container planting. To make it easier to choose, we will tell you about each method.
When planting in the ground, a soil substrate is poured onto the bottom of the pond. It consists of peat or silty earth, coarse sand and rotted mullein. You need to pour this mixture with a thickness of 5-8 cm. To save money, you can pour fertile soil only at the planting sites. For example, in a film pond, recesses can be made in advance and not cover the entire bottom of the reservoir with a useful layer.
When planting, you will not be able to stay dry. You will have to carefully stand on the bottom of the pond and carefully plant each plant individually into the substrate. The sequence here determines the growth - you need to start with the highest. Water lilies are usually planted last. The plants are then mulched with white, sifted sand. Its layer should be no thinner than 2 cm. The sand will interfere with the washing out of the soil, and will serve as a “cushion” for the second gravel mulching layer.
The second option is planting plants in baskets. To be honest, we like this method more. It allows you to periodically update the underwater composition by simply replacing one basket with another, and even with wintering, the issue is easier to solve - together with the container, the plant is taken out of the pond and taken to a warm basement. The main thing is not to let the earth in the baskets dry out.
To fill the baskets, ordinary garden soil is used, without the addition of the substrate described above. So that the soil is not washed out, the container is lined with burlap from the inside. Before planting a plant, long roots and old leaves are cut off. After planting, the soil in the basket is compacted so that it does not reach the edge of the basket by about 4 cm. The remaining space is covered with gravel. It also protects the soil from being washed out, and the roots of plants from too curious fish who like to dig in the ground and refresh themselves with a vegetable delicacy. Plus, gravel like ballast keeps the basket in vertical position under water.
After planting the plant, the basket is lowered to the bottom. For this you will need an assistant. You will take the basket from both sides and carefully lower it to the bottom. By the way, so that the basket does not catch the eye, you can hide it in a blockage of large stones.
What we haven't talked about yet is the fresh air". All the inhabitants of the pond (both plants and fish) need oxygen, and it is not always possible to get enough of it from environment. Therefore, oxygen generators must be planted in the pond. They will prevent water pollution, and serve as food for fish. Plants-oxygenerators include water asterisk (Callitriche hermaphroditica), marsh turkey (Hottonia palustris), spiked urt (Myriophyllum spicatum) or dark green hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum). Gardeners are advised to use several types of oxygen generators in one pond at once. They are planted in baskets with clay soil and also covered with gravel on top. The best time for landing is mid-June.
Well, now, as promised, we will tell you more about the most popular and pretty plants for decorating ponds. And let's start with the representatives of the floating family.
As we have already said, the most famous plant from this company is duckweed. But we will not dwell on it separately - it is too well known to all the inhabitants of our country. The only thing to be warned about is that duckweed multiplies monstrously quickly, and gardeners quite deservedly consider it a water weed. Therefore, if you have such an opportunity (and it certainly is), do not plant duckweed in a country pond. It will still appear from somewhere, for example, it will be carried by birds.
Continue our story Eichhornia pachypodia, or water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes Solms).
It has shiny, dark green leaves with thickened petioles. The flowers look like blue, pale lilac or yellow orchids, they grow above the water up to 30 cm. Because of the love of warmth, there are also problems with wintering. Before the first frost, the plant must be brought into the house, otherwise it will simply die. For wintering indoors, an aquarium with lighting and water at 15-22 ° C is well suited. Best time for planting eichornia - the month of June.
The next floating hero of our story water paint (Hydrocharis). Its leaves are similar to a water lily, only several times smaller: rounded, heart-shaped carved at the base. Roots with air cavities extend from a short stem. It is thanks to them that the water paint floats. Its flowers are white with yellow pistils and stamens. They fly around quickly, but they are replaced throughout the summer. Above the water, they stand out by 3-5 cm. Vodokras hibernates in the pond. In autumn, all the leaves die off, and the buds sink to the bottom, then, at the beginning of summer, they rise, and a new plant appears from them. A special effect of water paint is that it purifies water well and does not allow algae to grow.
Let's talk about the third swimmer - this is Azolla (Azolla), a small fern native to tropical waters in America. There are two varieties of it carolin azolla (Azolla caroliniana) and fern azolla (Azolla filiculoides).
The first representative is a very small, about 1 cm wide, fern with small pale green leaves that turn red by autumn. It grows very quickly, so it should be grown only in small reservoirs, where it can be thinned out periodically. The second subspecies is almost 10 times larger, and its foliage turns from green to red-brown.
Now let's talk about deep sea plants and the first on our list is aponogeton (Aponogeton). This genus includes almost 25 species that live in Africa, Asia and Australia. The leaves of the aponogeton are oblong with long petioles, the flowers are pink, yellow or white. This plant should be planted in well-lit reservoirs in a container to a depth of 5-50 cm at a fairly high temperature water, about 20 °C. For the winter, aponogeton tubers are cleaned in a box with damp sand and stored in a warm cellar. You can, of course, leave it to winter in the pond, but for this the reservoir must be deep enough and not freeze to the bottom.
The series of deep decors will continue with the egg capsule (Nuphar). This is a distant relative of the water lily, though not so pretty. Leaf petioles at the capsule different lengths and it depends on the depth of the pond - the deeper, the longer. The flowers are small and sit on thick peduncles.
The plant prefers clean water bodies, preferably well-lit and heated, and as for the soil, the egg capsule needs peat, humus and clay. The plant hibernates depending on the species. Some rhizomes can easily endure frosts at the bottom of a non-freezing reservoir and sprout again in the spring with young shoots; and non-wintering species will have to be taken to a home aquarium with cool water.
And finally, the queen of ponds is a water lily, she is also a nymph (Nymphaea). It grows from the equator to Scandinavia and this genus has more than three dozen species. All of them are divided into two large groups - winter-hardy and tropical. The latter are very capricious and for their growth they need average temperature 25°C. Therefore, it is realistic to grow them only in greenhouses. But winter-hardy species are suitable even for the Siberian climate. We will not describe water lilies: firstly, everyone has seen them, and secondly, there are quite a lot of species of this flower and you can write whole books about them, not articles.
What we will talk about is the features of planting, care and wintering.
You can plant nymphs from May to September in stagnant, well-lit ponds. Moreover, they are completely standing, even the presence of a fountain in the pond is a negative factor. In addition to light, the water lily also loves space. Each shoot requires from 0.5 to 4 sq.m of water surface.
You can plant nymphs directly into the ground (if its thickness is about 30 cm), and into a container. Planting depth depends on the variety: 15 cm is enough for dwarfs, and 1 meter is needed for the largest. But most water lilies prefer a depth of 30-60 cm.
Video
How to plant plants in a pond
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