Photo courtesy Serene Ponds and Landscapes
Pond plants aren’t just decorative; they’re vitally important to the health of your pond. They filter out nutrients that otherwise feed algae, create hiding places for fish, beautify the pond, and provide shade, which cools the pond and further reduces algae growth. In fact, ponds should have 60% plant cover to keep algae growth to a minimum and to provide shade to koi and other fish.
In this region, what to plant is limited almost solely by your imagination. But choose carefully; the beauty of water gardens is their peaceful, Zen-like simplicity. “I suggest selecting a few varieties of plants. If you have a small pond, choose two to three varieties. If you have a larger pond, maybe seven,” recommends Erik Wicklein of Wicklein Water Gardens in Baltimore.
Patio Joe, a hardy waterlilly blooms just above the water. Courtesy Maryland Aquatic Nurseries.
Pond Plants
Aquatic plants are submerged under water in pots. They shoot up foliage and blossoms that float on the surface of the water.
The waterlily is the queen of the pond. “They’re great because most lilies have a very long season, from May until October,” says Margaret Koogle, president of Lilypons Water Gardens in Adamstown. “And they’re prolific bloomers.”
There are two categories of waterlilies: hardy and tropical. Hardy lilies are like ground perennials; they grow back each spring. They come in many colors, but are most readily available in white, blue, and yellow, and they bloom throughout June and July.
Tropical lilies should be treated like annuals. Thanks to frost, our region will not support year-round tropicals. But that’s no reason to forego them. “I recommend everyone try at least one tropical every year. It gives you a great burst of color,” notes Koogle.
Tropical waterlilies tend to give off blooms that are both bigger and more fragrant than their hardy counterparts. They also bloom longer than hardy lilies, all the way through October.
All waterlilies love ponds. “They spread in a couple of days,” says Londot. Because they grow so quickly, lilies should be planted about 10-square-feet apart to give them room to spread.
They also need plenty of sunlight and still water. “Most lilies need five or six hours of direct sunlight each day, so they don’t do very well if there are lots of trees near the pond,” cautions Koogle.
And don’t place them within splashing distance of fountains or other active water features. “If water regularly splashes on their leaves, they won’t bloom,” warns Wicklein.
Waterlilies open during the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “That means people who work often miss the blooms,” says Koogle. To keep lilies flowering around the clock, she suggests adding a few night blooming varieties, which blossom from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m.
For a nice assortment, Koogle recommends pairing “After-glow” with “Emily Grant.”
Lilies aren’t the only choice for pond coverage. Other floaters provide eye-catching growth. For instance, Londot recommends water hyacinth for fast growth. “They divide like crazy. Bring home one plant and you’ll get 20-30 new plants in one season,” he says.For vertical interest, lotus offers major bang for the buck. They’re relentless bloomers that shoot up seven feet above the water. They’re hardy and come in a variety of colors, most commonly yellow, red, white, and pink.
Easy to grow, Colocasia "Font" provides dramatic contrasting foliage and rapid coverage. Photo courtesy Maryland Aquatic Nurseries.
Marginal or Bog Plant
Marginal or bog plants need a few inches of water over their roots but cannot be completely submerged. They do well on pond shelves and in pots placed near the surface of the water.
If you’re looking for fast foliage, water mint is a good choice because it’s an aggressive grower. “If you don’t mind doing a lot of cutting back this is good plant, but if you want an easy low-maintenance water garden, don’t get near water mint,” warns Wicklein. For gardeners looking for a low-maintenance marginal, he prefers the more controlled water forget-me-nots.
Marginal or bog plants that are native to the Mid-Atlantic such as lizard’s tail, cattails, and pickerel rush do especially well, as does water iris. “What’s really nice about iris is that they bloom in the spring before the lily does, so you get color early,” notes Koogle.
For more dramatic foliage, turn to tropicals like elephant ear and umbrella palms, which have huge showy leaves. “Those two can be brought inside during winter as long as the roots are covered with a couple of inches of water,” says Wicklein. “Then you can bring them out to the pond in the spring.”
Maintaining A Garden—the Easy Way
Water gardens are actually less labor-intensive than other gardens. “Remember, you’ll never have to mow, weed, or water,” laughs Koogle.
Maintaining a water garden shouldn’t be a major project. Mastering a few basic techniques for caring for aquatic plants will save time and money (and frustration). With that in mind, here are a few tips from the experts:
• Plant Smart: Before submerging your plants, Koogle recommends placing stones over the dirt and then running the entire pot under water to tamp dirt down. This will keep dirt from clouding up your pond. “If you have larger fish, like koi, use large stones to hold down the soil because they love to disrupt roots,” she explains.
• Leaf-Free: Sludge is caused by falling leaves. It leads to an unpleasant smell and water discoloration, and is unhealthy for fish and plants. “Don’t let leaves stay in the pond,” says Koogle. “As soon as you see yellowing leaves on your aquatic plants, trim them off.” If this seems like too much work, Wicklein recommends investing in a foliage net that will keep leaves from sinking.
• Fertilize: “As with land gardens, aquatic gardens do much better with regular fertilizing,” says Wicklein. Aquatic fertilizing tablets should be inserted into each pot once a month throughout the growing season. You can do it yourself or hire a service to fertilize for you.
• Divide and Conquer: Every couple of years, you’ll want to take your lilies and other hardy water plants out of the water and divide them into individual pots to keep them healthy. “If you don’t divide, you’ll notice your blooms and leaves get smaller,” says Koogle.
Once you’ve set up your water garden, selected your plants, and have developed a maintenance routine, remember this most important tip: gaze at your garden. “The garden isn’t meant to be a chore; it’s meant to beautify your yard,” says Londot. “So the most important thing is that you look out and enjoy the view.”
CLICK HERE for a gallery of plants for your pond.
Andrea Poe is a frequent contributor to ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
Lilypons Water Gardens: lilypons.com or 301-874-5133
Maryland Aquatic Nurseries: marylandaquatic.com or 410-557-7615
Serene Ponds & Landscapes: sereneponds.net or 301-805-0119
Wicklein’s Water Gardens: wickleinaquatics.com
