Planting your Water Plants
It is important to have a mix of the plants in the diagram above to help establish an effective natural ecosystem in your pond.
All our plants come with a comprehensive label with planting depths, care instructions, season and eventual height information. Below you will find some general information for the above plant groups.
Marginal Plants
Planting Density:
5 x 1ltr per linear metre or 7 per square metre
3 x 3ltr per linear metre or 5 per square metre
If you buy Marginal plants in 9cm pots they will need to be repotted as this size pot is solid so does not allow nutrients to flow through. Simply purchase aquatic compost and an aquatic basket from our large range to suit the size that best fits your pond.
Oxygenators
Planting Density:
Potted Oxygenators - 5 x 1ltr per linear metre or 7 per square metre
Potted Oxygenators - 3 x 3ltr per linear metre or 5 per square metre
Weighted Bunches - 2-3 bunches per square meter
Oxygenators come in both containers and weighted bunches depending on the variety. If possible the bunches should be pushed into the soil at the bottom of the pond, Hornwort can be split from its bunch and simply thrown onto the water, it will find its way to the pond floor and root itself.
Oxygenators purchased in 1ltr and 2ltr size pots can simply be placed on the bottom of your pond or shelf for varieties preferring shallower water. Your plants will arrive in a Finofil aquatic basket planted in aquatic compost, simply lower into place and adjust the depth needed by using bricks.
If you buy oxygenator plants in 9cm pots they will need to be repotted as this size pot is solid so does not allow nutrients to flow through. Simply purchase aquatic compost and an aquatic basket from our large range to suit the size that best fits your pond.
Water Lilies
Planting Density:
1 x 1ltr per 1 sq metre
1 x 3ltr per 1/2 sq metres
1 x 30ltr per 4/5 sq metres
Water Lilies, whatever size you buy will all come in Finofil aquatic baskets that can simply be lowered into position straight away. It is sensible to use bricks to lower the lily over time as the leaves grow across the surface. These lilies will not need to be repotted for many years. The 30ltr lilies can weigh up to 50kg, so make sure you have some help to lower these into your pond. Lilies do not like getting their leaves wet, so please make sure they are away from any splashing water or fountains.
Floating Plants
Planting Density:
2 to 3 per sq m
These will come loose in bags and simply can be placed onto the ponds surface in the appropriate position to receive their desired light levels. At least one third of your ponds surface should be covered with floating plants or lilies to allow shelter for wildlife and limit algae production.
Deep Water Plants
Planting Density for Water Hawthorn:
4/5 x 1ltr plants per sq metre
2/3 x 3 ltr plants per sq metre
1 x 3ltr plant per sq metre for large ponds of 20+ sq metres
These plants like to have their roots at the bottom of the pond and as the name suggests like deep water. They all come in aquatic baskets which are ready to pop straight into your pond at their preferred depth.
Moisture Lovers
Planting Density:
Plant as you would a normal dry flower border
These plants sit around the edge of your pond and are planted straight into the soil. Some do not mind sitting in very shallow water, while others prefer just damp or boggy ground. As with normal flower bed planting, arrange plants with highest towards the back and lowest at the front.
Molluscs
Swan Mussels
Density:
1 per cubic square metre
Swan Mussels are only suitable for large ponds, they can grow up to 17cm long. Swan Mussels help are filter feeders and will feed off pond debris.
Ramshorn Snails
Density:
1/2 per square metre
Ramshorn snails live on the sides of your pond and feed off plant debris and algae.