Aquatic plants for plastic pond. DIY landscape design

With the arrival of the summer season, many summer residents and owners of private houses are entertained by the idea of creating personal plot reservoir After all, a body of water can have not only decorative properties, but also makes it possible to cool off in it on hot days. Depending on the capabilities of the site and the material component, reservoirs can be the most different sizes. The coolness that blows from a fountain, stream or waterfall so saves you from the heat and gives you strength and vigor. Very often such bodies of water are called water gardens, since they are necessarily surrounded by various plants. When designing your pond, it is very important to choose the right foliage and flowering plants.

In order to have a pond on the site for a long time remained healthy and beautiful and did not turn into a swamp covered with dense thickets over time, it is necessary to carefully select plants for it. They should grow both along the edges of the reservoir and in the water. This is also important because many summer cottages have very little area free from beds. It probably won’t be very pleasant to see cabbage or cucumbers planted next to a water garden.

Standard pool rectangular shape or a stone waterfall will not be entirely appropriate in such cases. You can build, for example, a raised pond with a seating area or a pond with a small waterfall on one side and dense vegetation on the other. Modern technologies allow you to make a geyser fountain in the center water garden or a pond with fluffy grass lawn on the shore.

Large reservoirs

If the site allows you to build a pond large area, then for this you will need to first create a real project. It will take into account everything down to the smallest detail: materials, types of plants, decorative components (for example, stone, figurines, lighting, seating areas, water pump, etc.). To design such a reservoir you will need maximum creativity and imagination, because in such an area many interesting ideas can be brought to life. There are places to roam – these are the banks of the reservoir and the water surface itself.

Large bodies of water have very important advantage in front of small ponds - due to the great depth, the water does not bloom and remains clean for a long time. This allows you to grow a large number of aquatic plants at different depths without fear for their full development.

Along the edge of such a reservoir, you can create a natural corner from coastal subshrubs and shrubs, evergreen flora, and marsh plants will take root directly in the water. The most commonly used are marsh iris, lotus, snake knotweed, and among the tall ones - reeds, reeds, bergenia, cattails, buzulnik, pontederia and others.

Miniature ponds

An extraordinary water oasis can be created even in the smallest area. For skillful hands The area doesn't matter at all. Even a small pond with numerous plants will always give you coolness and delight your ears with the splash of water. Representatives of the fauna - frogs, newts, dragonflies and water striders - also quickly settle in miniature reservoirs.

Plants for such a water garden must be selected taking into account how quickly they grow and how luxuriantly they grow. It is very important that the pond remains a reservoir for as long as possible, and does not become a small swamp. Experienced craftsmen recommend planting more plants along the edge of the reservoir and at least on its water surface.

They feel favorably in such ponds and delight the eyes of those around them: water hyacinth, cuckoo flower, marsh forget-me-not, dwarf irises, as well as taller plants - bamboo, sedge and various ornamental cereals. So that aquatic plants can be thinned out as they grow, it is more convenient to plant them in small flower containers. IN winter time Such containers with plants can be transferred to home conditions.

To prevent the pond space from becoming overgrown with plants in a matter of days, you should not plant cattails and reeds near the pond; they are the ones that have the ability to grow quickly.

When constructing a pond in the shape of a circle, a classic fountain in the center will look good. But for square or rectangular water gardens, a more formal decor will be required. Such reservoirs are often surrounded by low-height stone walls. Plants should match this style and emphasize its elegance. These can be ivy, decoratively trimmed boxwood and umbrella susak, which will look great as a frame for a pond. But lotuses and water lilies are ideal for decorating the water surface. The coast of such a reservoir can be decorated with climbing roses or other climbing plants.

Design of waterfalls and streams

A calm stream in the form of a leisurely water flow can be organized with your own hands without any experience. The bed of such a stream will be narrow and made of large stones or river pebbles. Since the water surface area is not wide, it will be enough to plant algae as aquatic plants, but along the coast of such a reservoir it is advisable to place dwarf willows or cedars, coniferous subshrubs, dicentra of different shades, as well as irises.

A “mountain” waterfall is much easier to create if the one chosen for it land plot located on a slope. For the riverbed, it is necessary to choose medium-sized stones and preferably of the same type. These will form steps for the flow of water. To make the banks of the waterfall look festive and lift your spirits, you need to choose for planting flowering species plants: irises, marigold, mint. Plakun-grass and umbrella grass will feel good near such a reservoir. Suitable aquatic plants include marsh forget-me-not and dwarf water lilies.

Design of springs and fountains

The depth of these reservoirs is usually shallow, so plants for them need to be chosen at different levels and no more than three copies. Plants should be planted only along the edges of the water surface or on the water. Among the tall representatives of the flora, sedge, irises and arrowhead will look most impressive here. You can place cinquefoil or cattail in close proximity to water. But white, pink or red nymphs, as well as water lettuce, will fit perfectly on the water surface. Plants should not be planted in a spring.

When choosing plants to plant in a self-constructed pond, it is very important to consider at what depth they need to be planted. If the planting depth is inappropriate, the plants will not take root in the new location or will look unhealthy. Each plant has its own preferences in this regard and they must be taken into account. Some of them can grow only in shallow water, others - at great depths, and still others - only near the water surface. Conventionally, all domestic reservoirs in depth consist of five main parts.

Waterdeep

The deep-water zone is considered to be a depth of 40 centimeters or more. In this part of the reservoir, plants develop well, whose leaves and flowers prefer to be on the surface of the water, and whose stems and root parts prefer to be in the water. If the depth of the pond is about a meter, then the plants can feel normal even in winter. They don't freeze at that depth.

The deep-sea zone is most suitable for the following plants: water lilies, lotuses, water star, swamp grass, water buttercup, hornwort, turcha and chilim.

Shallow water

The shallow zone is considered to be a depth from 10 to 40 centimeters. For such a pond, decorative plants of dwarf species or low-growing species are needed, in which only the root part should constantly be in the water and at the same time the entire plant will develop and grow perfectly and fully. Typically, in shallow waters, it is customary to plant flowering plants with medium-height stems and decorative leaf parts.

Most suitable plants: marsh irises, arrowhead, calamus or marsh grass, ponytail, elodea, swamp grass.

Swamp zone

In such a zone, the height from the water's edge to the bottom is no more than 10 centimeters. The water level in such areas very often changes in one direction or the other due to prolonged and heavy rainfall. Such changes are stressful for many plants, so only the most adapted species and varieties will be able to grow in these areas.

Plants that can feel comfortable in this zone: euphorbia, cattail, sedge, manna grass, hedgehog grass, whitewing, loosestrife, watchwort, chastukha, saururus.

Coastal areas that are in close proximity to water, with constant waterlogging of the soil, resemble a wet lawn. Very often, water from a reservoir floods the surface of nearby soil. This occurs due to weather conditions or excessive rainfall.

The most suitable plants for this zone are: bergenia, meadow tea, irises, primroses, tradescantia, swimsuit, ostrich, buzulnik, Volzhanka, loosestrife, zorka, hosta.

Coastal zone

This zone is the size of each owner summer cottage may vary depending on the total area land. The fact that the reservoir is very close has only positive impact on the development and growth of coastal plants. In such areas you can grow any plants intended for the garden and flower garden. The soil is always moderately moist and watering is required extremely rarely.

The entire transition from the pond to the garden plot can be planted with appropriate plant species: rhododendrons, viburnum bushes and conifers, decorative varieties apple trees, cereal plants, ferns, geraniums.

Cleanliness of the reservoir and proper care It will preserve and enhance the beauty of plants, and will also be able to delight you with coolness and freshness for many years.

Plants for a pond (video)

Every body of water is a small magical world full of a wide variety of inhabitants. Under natural conditions, not a single pond, swamp or lake exists separately from flora and fauna; life is in full swing in them and an ideal balance is maintained for the coexistence of a wide variety of organisms. In artificial conditions, created by human hands, you and I must create such balance and harmony in order not only to delicately fit the pond into the surrounding landscape, but also to make it a full participant in our country life, and to bring us closer to the beauty of living nature.

In the article we will talk about how to properly breathe life into our artificial pond, or more precisely, how to plant aquatic plants in the pond so that they delight us with their appearance all the warm months.
Someone might think, why plant plants in a pond? It seems that it looks beautiful, but inviting a specialist for this procedure again would be costly... No, this is the wrong position. A pond needs aquatic plants like air!

Firstly, they do protective function- protect water from blooming and overheating. Don’t think that there should be no flowering at all! This is a natural process in the life of every pond; it takes place in April-May and takes about 2 weeks. During this period, the pond cannot be touched, and there is no need for cleaning work. The water itself will become clearer after flowering.

Secondly, a pond with plants looks much more aesthetically pleasing and harmonious than the same pond without them. Therefore, if you do not want your pond to be covered with a green film in a few weeks, listen to the advice below. Moreover, you can do everything yourself if you have the desire. Well, shall we get started?

What we need:

Plants for the pond (for medium and large bodies of water, aquatic plants are perfect: nymphea (in our opinion, water lily), aponogeton, orontium with interesting tassel buds, duckweed floating on the surface; pond cleansing plants - pondweed, water buttercup. For small bodies of water - 50 cm deep - it will be enough to buy one dwarf water lily, placing it in the center, or a compact plant with arrow-shaped leaves without large and bright flowers).

Note: the cost of one water lily is about 200-300 rubles. In winter (or in the period before planting), the plants are kept at home, in a dark place, directly in pots, placed in a large saucepan or bucket of water. The option of wintering directly in the pond is possible, but for this the pond must be securely covered with boards, and on top - with lutrasil or a thick layer of polystyrene foam (of course, this option is more suitable for small ponds).

You can carefully remove a nymph for your pond from its natural habitat. We plant plants in the pond in May!

Low plastic, clay or ceramic containers or deep mesh plastic plant boxes of suitable size;

Soil for or soil for aquatic plants (costs about 160 rubles); dense clay;

Gravel or pebbles.

Step 1

Pour a little gravel or pebbles onto the bottom of a pot, box or tray so that the fertile soil is not subsequently washed away by water. It is better, of course, to take special containers for aquatic plants (they cost about 50 rubles). If you don’t have any at hand or find them in the store, simply lay a non-woven covering material or burlap inside the box to cover the drainage holes.

Step 2

We fill the container halfway with potting soil with added clay or soil for aquatic plants; clay is added to it in the form of small balls, which greatly simplifies this procedure.

Step 3

Carefully move the plant from the temporary pot into our container. Add water room temperature and fill the container to the top with soil. The soil should lie tightly, but there is no need to compact it in the pot! Leave some space on top for gravel/pebbles.

Step 4
As already stated, upper layer Our container will contain gravel or pebbles. This will protect the container from washing out the soil while being immersed in the pond. The pebble layer is about 4 cm.

Step 5
Carefully place the containers with plants in the pond. Visible parts of containers can be decorated with pebbles. All is ready!

Useful tips “on the road”:

1. Never overwinter aquatic plants in running water. The soil will be washed away, and the plants in the container without food will simply die.

2. Snails, water striders and other living creatures (from a real body of water) can and should even be placed in the pond.

3. You can fight “unplanned” greenery with special means that do not destroy the biocenosis (for example, Pond AlgoRem, costs about 650 rubles)

4. Do not add “well” water to the pond, due to the presence of numerous useful substances it will become a real delicacy for your pond. You won't be able to cope with flowering later.

5. Don't forget to feed the plants in the pond. Nymphea - with bone meal (can be bought at any pet store), other plants perfectly accept blue clay rolled into balls.

Water- a much more complete education than a simple one. Water environment binds its inhabitants and regulates their existence more powerfully and comprehensively than a piece of land.

Plants for ponds or what to plant in a pond?

This number will include those who live in the pond under duress, and those who simply need water. Traditionally, plants for ponds are grouped according to their growing zones. There are those floating freely on the surface or simply in the water column - they are not connected by roots to the ground, they need it as a source of nutrients. There are submerged plants - they grow in the ground, but at different depths: some hide in the water “with their heads”, others only dip their “feet” into it. They make stepped banks or plant them in flooded containers; the recommended planting depth can be seen on the label. There is a very large group of coastal plants that grow in the waterlogged soil of the shore. But often the same species can arbitrarily occupy different positions.

All aquatic plants can be divided into 5 groups:

coastal;
deep-sea;
floating;
swamp;
oxygenators.

For decorative garden ponds, the first two groups are most important - coastal and deep-water plants. planted in shallow water, at a depth of up to 30 cm.

deep sea- everyone’s favorite water lilies (nymphs) - require a depth of 60 cm. The shape of the bottom of reservoirs is also related to the different requirements of aquatic plants for depth. Even at the design stage, places for planting certain groups are provided. The bottom of the reservoir should be stepped, and each step should be horizontal or even with a reverse slope.

Coastal plants

These are shallow water plants: cattail, susak, schenoplectus, reed, watch, chastukha, cotton grass and others. Their roots and lower parts of the stems develop under water, and leaves and flowers develop above water. Coastal plants strengthen the coastline well and decorate ponds. Among them there are tall plants, for example, cattail, reed, schenoplectus, and there are small ones - three-leaved watch. This allows you to create various compositions in a garden pond.

Three ways to plant coastal plants

1. Buy an aquatic plant in a container and simply place it in the right place at the bottom of the reservoir.

If the depth is too great, stones, bricks, etc. are placed under the container. Large plants with large windage can be overturned by the wind. To avoid this, the containers are secured on the sides with stones or even tied to pegs driven on the shore.

2. Plant coastal aquatic plants in specially prepared niches:

Lower the water in the reservoir so that the first underwater terrace is exposed at a depth of 30 cm.
Form a border out of stones using flat stones, they are easier to work with. Do not glue the stones with mortar; they are laid simply and lie under the influence of gravity.
Line the resulting niche with geofabric from the inside so that the soil does not wash out of it.
Fill the niche with soil, fine gravel with the addition of clay, sapropel or marsh soil.
Plant some plants. If the reservoir has a flat bottom lined with stones, then plants can be planted directly into the bottom, placing them between the stones.
Fill the reservoir with water to the desired level.

3. Plant coastal aquatic plants using geofabric:

Strengthen the geotextile on the banks of the reservoir. Coconut and jute fabric rots upon contact with soil. It is better to use black geofabric that is permeable to roots for this purpose.
Immerse it in water, but do not go beyond the waterproofing on the shore, otherwise the water will flow through the fibers from the reservoir into the soil.
Use garden wire to form pockets.
Place plants in pockets. After a while, you will notice how plant roots emerge into the water through the fabric.

Deep-sea plants for a decorative pond

Representatives of this group are: marsh flower, egg capsule, aponogeton and queen of ponds - or nymphea.

Many people create ponds in their garden just because they really want to grow water lilies. We purchase large water lilies from the nursery Alexandra Marchenko. They are sold in large pots containing food for 2-3 years. The water lily is a “glutton”; it requires a lot of nutrients. It is irrational to plant them in the ground, because for optimal growth and development in winter and summer it must be at different depths. To overwinter well, it needs 90 cm (in the conditions of the Moscow region), and to grow and bloom better - 60 cm. When the water lily is planted in, it is very easy to move it around the reservoir. In addition, water lily rhizomes planted in the bottom soil quickly grow, and the plants occupy the entire reservoir.

After 3 years, container water lilies need to be replanted, otherwise they will become smaller and bloom poorly. Procedure:

remove containers with water lilies from the pond;
cut off the top layer with rhizomes;
assess how the plant can be divided, taking into account the number of awakened buds;
cut the layer into several parts and plant them in separate containers (the rhizomes are not buried in the ground, but placed on the surface so that they do not float up, tied garden wire);
Attach a wire handle to the container to move it along the pond from the shore without falling into the water.

How to cover a black film on the edge of a pond

Cut a strip of geofabric wide enough to secure it to the ground without touching the water. On the shore, plant ground cover plants: creeping tenacious, loosestrife. They quickly grow along the geotextile and form a dense layer of roots and stems. Then it will begin to live its own life - marsh plants will settle on it, coastal plants will grow.

How to keep your pond water clean

Helps keep water clean. Its cloudiness or “blooming” is caused by microorganisms. Their activity is especially noticeable when the reservoir is first filled. The water quickly acquires a “swamp” color and becomes opaque. The reason for this is the proliferation of blue-green algae. But in a few days they will “eat up” all the free nutrients in the pond and die of hunger. Only a faintly noticeable coating on the bottom will indicate their presence. From this time on, the water in the reservoir will remain clear (repeatedly tested for own experience), if new portions of food for microorganisms do not get there. If you drain muddy water and fill the reservoir again - everything will repeat.

Aquatic plants compete for nutrients with microorganisms that cloud the water. Higher plants remove nutrients from the water, with their help they build their bodies, thereby purifying the water. In addition, niches and pockets with coastal plants retain various organic debris that has entered the water, turning it into a nutrient substrate.

In we We do not recommend using filter systems. No matter how much their sellers praise them, they have a number of shortcomings:

high price;
electricity consumption and the mandatory supply of electricity to the reservoir;
need for maintenance.

For the filter to be effective, it must work constantly: from spring to autumn. If you run the system when you come to the dacha on the weekend, there will be practically no effect. Filters are needed for swimming pools, where the water is constantly circulating and saturated with chemicals. For outdoor pools they are starting to use a cleaning system - bio-plateau. Plants cope with water purification much better: economically, environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/TASS, IOSIF KAUROV, OLEG KULAGIN.

THANK YOU SVETLANA CHIZHOVA, ART DIRECTOR OF THE LANDSCAPE ART COMPANY, FOR THE PROVIDED MATERIALS AND PHOTOS, WWW.LANDY-ART.RU

When the construction of the decorative reservoir is completed, you can begin to design the coastal zone and water surface. At first glance, it seems that even a child can plant plants by the pond. However, it is not. It is important to select types based on the characteristics of the soil, the amount of water, and some other conditions. Then you will need to plant them correctly, following all the recommendations of experts.

We will teach you this simple procedure. The article gives a clear and detailed idea of what plants should be planted by pond owners and what rules should be followed.

Design of the coastal zone

The first zone we will work with is called coastal. This is the area near the pond.

Hosta. The peculiarity of the plant is that it is prone to strong growth. In nature there are low and tall views. Mostly miniature specimens are planted. Blue hostas prefer to grow in the shade, while green hostas will do better in partial shade.
Sedge. Everyone who spent their childhood near a river knows what sedge is. The plant has narrow leaves that reach 60-80 cm in length. Until mid-winter, sedge does not change its lush appearance, therefore it is highly valued by designers and owners. personal plots. Prefers shade.
Molinia. Cereal plants at the dacha near the pond are interesting in their own way. For example, the perennial molinia. It has graceful and very narrow leaves. There are dozens of species in nature, the height of individual specimens reaches 150 centimeters. Lover of sunny, well-lit places, but not drought.
Willow loosestrife. A marshy plant that can be safely planted near a pond. It is a bush up to 140 cm high with narrow leaves. You can easily recognize it by its purple inflorescences. It is good for a pond because it is beautifully reflected in the water, and it is completely undemanding to the conditions.
Darmera. Most often found in large bodies of water due to its volume. Frost-resistant, unpretentious, prefers partial shade.
Fern. You won’t believe it, but there is no better plant for a country pond than fern. Whatever species is chosen (and there are many of them in nature), it will feel just wonderful on the shore. The height of the moisture-loving plant varies from 30 to 150 centimeters. It is advisable to plant not too close to each other - ferns often grow up to 3 meters.
Astilbe. Astilbia completes our list of plants for the coastal zone. Gardeners choose it because carved leaves and a beautiful hat of flowers. The height varies from 40 to 200 centimeters, but low types are preferred for landscape design.

Hosta, astilbe, fern

Choosing suitable plants for shallow water

Air. For a large reservoir, it is best to buy marsh calamus, the height of which reaches 1 m. There are also low species - for example, grass calamus with a height of 40 cm. Flowers appear in early summer. Even if not the best beautiful plant, but easily recognizable.
Whitewing. What really pleases the eye is the whitewing! It is unpretentious to conditions, has large leaves and beautiful flowers white. Be aware that in summer it produces red berries that are poisonous. Be sure to warn your children about this.
Irises. Despite the fact that iris is considered exclusively a “flower bed” plant, some of its species thrive in shallow water. Here they grow well, reaching 120 cm.
Marsilea. This is a perennial small size, somewhat reminiscent of clover. It can withstand even severe frosts and is unpretentious.
Water mint. creeping plant up to 50 centimeters high. It grows quickly and has soft purple inflorescences.

Marsilea, calligraphy, watermint

Planting plants in water - what to choose

When planting plants around a pond in your country house, you should understand that individual species can only grow in water. It is very convenient to plant them in pots or containers. If necessary, you can simply rearrange them and immediately change the design beyond recognition.

So, what plants can be classified as deep-sea:

Water lily. How many legends there are about the water lily - you can’t remember them all. The first flowers appear in summer, flowering ends in October-November. The flowers are large, reaching 12-15 cm in diameter. It is recommended to plant water lilies at a depth of 1 m.
Hawthorn. You will immediately recognize this plant by its inflorescences rising above the water and its vanilla aroma.
Watercolor. The peculiarity of this ornamental plant is that it overwinters well at the bottom. In the spring it rises and begins to bloom actively.
Azolla. Somewhat reminiscent of small ferns, it attracts attention with its miniature size. It covers the surface of the water quite quickly, so from time to time you will need to catch it with improvised means. Looks original, love it good lighting. In winter, it is better to remove Azolla from the pond, as it does not tolerate severe frosts.

Azolla, water lily, water lily

Help when choosing plants for a pond (video)

Main oxygen suppliers

To maintain the natural microflora and vital activity of the inhabitants of the pond, we recommend that you take care of planting turkish grass and hornwort. Among pond plants they are considered the most common.

By the way, “landing” is still a strong word. For example, hornwort has no roots at all, so you don’t have to bother with it. The same can be said about turcha, which is a rosette of leaves. She floats on the surface of the reservoir completely freely.

Turcha and hornwort

Despite this simplicity, the contribution of these plants to the beneficial microclimate of the pond is simply invaluable. They not only saturate the water with oxygen, but also purify the water. And with a harmonious balance, it is quite possible to create a real fairy tale on the water.

When to plant

All plants are planted in the pond only after it is fully equipped and filled with water. At least 10 days should pass - this will allow the water to settle well. Planting of crops begins in early summer.

When planting flora in pots, be sure to select containers that have holes and a bottom. This important requirement to ensure good soil ventilation. Otherwise, the roots will quickly rot.

What kind of soil should I use for baskets? A combination of ordinary garden soil or clay soil with the addition of bone meal. Many gardeners make the mistake of trying to enrich the soil with manure or fertilizers. This cannot be done, as it can cause poisoning of the inhabitants of the aquatic depths.
How to prepare for planting? Before planting, old leaves and long roots are removed, and after planting, the soil is compacted. Of course, there are plants that do not need to be planted at all. We have already talked about them. They float on the surface of the water. However, these crops also need to be looked after. IN favorable conditions they begin to multiply quickly. And if you don’t thin them out, the “floaters” will quickly fill the entire pond.
How to deal with duckweed? The most affordable and effective method- catch it regularly. Perhaps this is what is considered the main problem of any standing reservoir. Under no circumstances should you plant it on purpose.
What to do with exotic plants? Most likely, you will still have to put them away for the winter in an aquarium or bathtub. Heavily overgrown species are pruned. In some cases, additional lighting will be needed so that the sprouts do not wither.
Where to buy? In specialized stores they will show and tell you everything. If there is no such store in the city or you do not have the opportunity to visit it (or someone simply does not have the money), we offer an alternative. You can go to the nearest pond in your locality and carefully study the flora: at what depth it grows, what it represents. Then you select the strongest and largest specimens for your pond. In suburban and village ponds the water is stagnant, so the plants will be quite suitable for artificial reservoir. To make it convenient for you to get them out of the pond, stock up on good rubber boots and sixth. We also recommend taking an assistant with you - just in case there is a firefighter.

Caring for plants in a pond (video)

Once again about harmony

When creating the overall landscape design of a summer cottage along with a pond, you should not forget about the plants that will surround it. Trees growing nearby should not shade the pond. The same applies to other representatives of the flora.

Think in advance what plants will surround the pond

When doing work in the country, you should always adhere to certain rules. Trees are carefully selected taking into account their properties and compatibility, and the characteristics of the root system. The statement that trees are not planted near water is erroneous. It is easy to refute if you use a twisting willow or use moisture-loving shrubs such as mahonia, barberry, and gooseberries. It is worth paying attention to thuja.

In the first 2-3 years experienced gardeners It is advised not to shade the banks at all. This will allow the flora to grow well and strengthen the root system. And don’t be confused by the fact that the appearance of the garden plot will be far from rich. Subsequently, such little things are more than compensated for by the simply fantastic view.

Time to take stock

Use this material to give your pond a beautiful, finished look. But do not forget that planted plants need the same proper care.

In summer, the coastal area will have to be watered, especially if it was a dry summer. Sometimes you have to deal with things like the appearance of small algae and duckweed. They also clean up.

Pond plants, or aquatic crops, are widely used both to decorate any artificial pond in the garden and for home ponds. To choose the right vegetation for a small or fairly voluminous decorative pond in your dacha, you need to know the basic botanical features such crops.

Differences and features of aquatic plants for decorating and cleaning a pond

Ponds and rivers are not only integral element modern design, but also an obligatory part ecological system bodies of water necessary to stabilize the equilibrium of the ecosystem. The presence of higher plants that purify the waters of reservoirs is especially important for small-sized and stagnant mini-ponds, as it helps prevent “blooming” and turbidity. Such processes develop especially quickly in warm and sunny weather, and decomposing organic matter, unicellular algae and bacterial flora can create a pond in the yard or on garden plot unsuitable for use. For the purpose of cleaning in this case, some water solutions are used. higher plants having certain characteristics and characteristics:

the foliage of aquatic plants is characterized by a dissected, thread-like shape;
the stem part is represented by air-bearing cavities;
The root system is rather poorly developed.

Criteria for choosing plants for an artificial pond

If available on garden territory An artificial reservoir must take into account the total area and depth, as well as the characteristics of the surrounding landscape. It is advisable to give preference to the most unpretentious ones that do not require special care species

the ability of decorative culture to survive winter period in a body of water or soil near it;
timing and methods of planting, as well as the durability of vegetation;
need for care.

If the pond has a main perspective, then the plant composition should be arranged in such a way that vigorous vegetation does not obscure the view of the reservoir. It is better to decorate the recreation area with low-growing or ground cover crops. With a useful area of four square meters, reeds, hogweeds, cattails, reeds, as well as angelica and rhubarb are used. Too small ponds are decorated with arrowhead, calamus, bracken, daylily and chastuha. The viewing part is decorated with low-growing cinquefoil, bergenia, marigold and watercress.

A good result is achieved by the contrast of long-leaved plants: cattail, calamus, daylily and reeds and round-leaved water lily, lotuses, bergenia and chastukha. Also widely used are near-aquatic and water flowers. To ensure all-season flowering, such crops can be placed in decorative containers.

What plants to choose for a pond (video)

Characteristics of the best plants for a pond

Absolutely all varieties and types of aquatic vegetation are representatives of the flora, capable of growing in the water column of not only natural, but also artificial ponds.

Aquatic floating on the surface

The foliage of such an ornamental crop floats on the surface. A characteristic difference is the lack of attachment of the root system to the soil. Above-water vegetation protects the water surface and thickness from overheating and is used organic compounds, which prevents water from blooming. Floating plants can grow very quickly, so they need to be provided with quality care, including pruning and timely removal of excess shoots. Growing in special floating baskets gives good results.

Near-water (coastal)

Coastal perennials are also very popular when decorating ponds. In order for the vegetation of the reservoir to look interesting and attractive, the coastal area also needs to be designed accordingly, as a result of which moisture-loving crops planted on the shore will serve as a connecting link.

Organic and very picturesque coastal zone all kinds of decorative cereal crops look good, as well as flowering daylilies and irises, leopards, meadowsweet, loosestrife and valerian. The varieties of ferns look incredibly elegant.

Swamp

Important to remember, that in order to prevent marsh perennials from growing too much, it is necessary to periodically remove the plantings from the floor.

Qualitative characteristics water affects the growth and development of flora, so the reservoir must be cleaned regularly. This category includes swamp forget-me-not, Magellanic sedge, burberry, butterwort, crowberry, vaccinium and swamp violet.

Oxygenators

Substantial part Such useful perennials from the point of view of the ecosystem are located in the water, and the flowers are above or under the water. They help prevent water pollution and also serve as food and spawning grounds for fish.

Underwater foliage absorbs mineral salts and carbon dioxide. Several plants planted at the bottom of the pond in spring and summer can significantly improve the appearance and condition of the pond water.

deep sea

Root system located in the bottom soil, foliage on the surface of the water, and flowers on the surface or above the water. Some deep-sea crops can purify water, and their absence can cause uncontrolled proliferation of algae and bacteria.

Most often, this group of decorative perennials is represented by marsh flower or nymphaeum, water lily, yellow capsule, eichornia, watercolor, hornwort and duckweed.

Planting rules and design features of various types of reservoirs

In reservoirs that are small in volume and size, it is necessary to plant a couple of species of plants of each type, distributing them in small groups:

deep-sea and floating vegetation should cover no more than half of the entire water surface;
It is important to plant aquatic plants according to their adaptability to certain depth indicators;
when planting marsh ornamental crops Drainage is mandatory.

How to care for plants in a pond (video)

The design of reservoirs can consist of a soil or container method of cultivation and planting, carried out in the following sequence:

After draining, add ten centimeters of fertile soil substrate, represented by compost, sand and rotted mullein, to the bottom after draining;
coastal tall vegetation needs to be planted closer to the shore, and deep-water crops are planted in the central part;
the bottom surface should be sprinkled with a five-centimeter layer of medium-grained river sand, serving to protect the root system and soil from erosion.

Heat-loving crops quite often freeze completely in winter, so it is advisable to dig them up and move them to storage. No less popular in our country is container cultivation of aquatic plants, which allows you to move them with the onset of severe cold weather in the cellars:

for cultivation, a fairly spacious, lattice-type planting tank is used, which allows the root system to actively reproduce;
It is best to use containers that are not brightly colored and will blend in with the surroundings;
It is recommended to effectively protect the bottom and walls from washing out the nutrient substrate with burlap, and sprinkle the surface of the soil with gravel.

As a rule, all aquatic vegetation is planted from the last ten days of spring to mid-summer. You need to approach the design very carefully and responsibly.

Appearance reservoir	Recommended plants for decoration
Geometric Ponds	Perfectly suitable are common calamus, three-leaved wachtweed, loosestrife or meadow tea, loosestrife or weeping grass, dichromena latifolia, drooping isolepis, calamus or water iris, as well as sedge, syphilitic lobelia, long-leaved buttercup, manna major and marsilea obtuse.
deep pond	When decorating, vigorous reeds, cattails, reeds, buzulnik and Rogersia are used, as well as low-growing bergenia and funkia or beautifully flowering snake knotweed and marsh iris
Mini-ponds and shallow waters	Plants such as calamus, calamus, sedge or manna are characterized by high level unpretentiousness and vitality, therefore they grow well even in conditions of significant fluctuations in water level, and for some time even in its complete absence
Pond with decorative fountain	For registration you can use water hyacinths, a dwarf variety of water lily. coastline It is recommended to decorate with mantle, gravilatum, common plantain, cuckoo flower, low-growing irises, twisted rush or swamp forget-me-nots

Of course, on large bodies of water you can diversify the design and plant a significant number of plants. Spring flowering opens with cinquefoil, marigold and bergenia, after which water lilies, angelica and hogweed bloom, and the parade of colors is completed by brown-yellow daylilies, marshmallow and angelica. However, even small ponds can look very attractive. Experts advise combining the cultivation of several types of aquatic and terrestrial plants, which allows you to get the most decorative results.