7
plants should cover about 60%
of the water’s surface to keep
algae growth under control.
Many aquatic plants, provided
with a constant supply of water
and nutrients, can be very
vigorous, and are often grown in
submerged perforated
containers to keep them within
reasonable bounds.
As a rule, use good garden
soil without organic matter
and low in nutrients, since
these things will encourage
algae growth.
The plant species which grow
underwater are called
oxygenators and they keep the
pond clean by removing excess
nutrients, thus starving the
algae. They also provide hiding
places for fish and other
underwater creatures.
Generally speaking, to keep
the water healthy, plan on
planting 12 cuttings of
submerged plants for each sq.
ft. of pond surface.
These are planted directly
into the soil at the bottom of
the pond. A layer of pea gravel
will help to keep fish from
disturbing them. If possible, let
plants become established
before introducing fish.
Marginal plants are the ones
that you will place on the ledge
of the pond, or plant in your bog
garden. While they enjoy
constant moisture on their
roots, they don’t want to be
deep in the water.
If you pot them yourself,
don’t use peat moss or
commercial “soil-less" mixes
because those substances will
float and pollute the water.
Use regular garden soil,
especially if it has a high clay
content. Small gravel on the
top will hold the soil in place.
Water lilies prefer quiet
water, so they are not
compatible with fountains.
Tropical species cannot survive
winter temperatures, but hardy
varieties will live if the foliage is
cut back and the pot placed in
the deepest part of the pond.
They are called “rooted
floating aquatics" because
they are planted in soil but
their stems stretch to the
water’s surface.
Floating plants don’t anchor
in pots or dirt, but rather let
their roots dangle in the water.
Like water lilies, their leaves cut
back the sunlight, and thus the
algae, and their roots consume
excess nutrients.
Many of these are very
vigorous growers and can take
over a pond, so be prepared to
scoop some out as necessary.
The removed plants add good
nutrients to a compost pile,
and the water is great fertilizer
for flower beds if you ever have
to drain your pond for
maintenance.
Sometimes aquatic
vegetation can get out of
control and threaten the
health of the pond. Often this
is due to an excess of
nutrients, perhaps the result
of runoff from lawn fertilizers
or farm animal waste
products.
Lowering the water level
allows you to pull the weeds by
hand. Any biological or
herbicidal controls should only
be used as a last resort and
with careful supervision.
NATIVE PLANTS SUITABLE FOR
PONDS, BOGS, OR WETLANDS
Floating Rooted Aquatics
s
Floating Heart
(Nymphoides aquatica)
s
American Lotus
(Nelumbo lutea)
s
Water Lily
(Nymphaea odorata)
s
Spatterdock (Nuphar advena)
Free-floating Aquatics
s
Mosquito Fern
(Azolla caroliniana)
s
Water Spangles
(Salvinia minima)
s
Large Duckweed
(Spirodela polyrhiza)
s
Inflated Bladderwort
(Utricularia inflata)
Submerged Oxygenators
s
Fanwort
(Cabomba caroliniana)
s
Eel Grass
(Vallisneria americana)
s
Waterweed
(Elodea canadensis)
s
Common Water Nymph
(Najas guadalupensis)
s
Hornwort
(Ceratophyllum demersum)
Marginal Plants
s
Duck Potato
(Sagittaria latifolia)
s
Arrow Arum
(Peltandra virginica)
s
Three Way Sedge
(Dulichium arundinaceum)
s
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor)
s
Water Horsetail
(Equisetum fluviatile)
s
Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica)
s
Swamp Lily
(Crinum americanum)
s
Pickerelweed
(Pontederia cordata)
Wetland Plants
s
Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)
s
Lizard’s Tail
(Saururus cernuus)
s
Woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus)
s
Cardinal Flower
(Lobelia cardinalis)
s
New York Ironweed
(Vernonia noveboracensis)
s
Water Willow
(Decodon verticillatus)
s
Wild Red Mallow
(Hibiscus coccineus)
s
Swamp Pink (Helonias bullata)
