If you're thinking about adding a pond to your garden, there are plenty of things to take into consideration.
One of the most important of these is the type of vegetation to include in your new water feature. You should devote as much to time deciding what to plant here as you would for other parts of your plot.
To realise your pond's full potential, it is best to aim for species that provide a wide variety of colour and foliage during different parts of the year.
You'll also have to factor in the depth of the water, as different plants grow at different depths. Waterlilies can be grown at all depths – although this depends on the variety you choose. Other plants are only suitable for the shallower waters around the edge of the pond.
Also take into account the potential height of plants, as some rushes can grow very tall and obscure the view of your water feature.
Good submerged plants include water starwort and hornwort, as well as willow moss and frog's lettuce. These provide oxygen during the day and also act as cover for aquatic life.
Floating plants make important additions to ponds as they block out sunlight and prevent the water from getting too hot. Frogbit, water soldier and azolla mexicana are all options worth considering.
There is a huge range of plants that can be added to the margins of the pond, depending on the depth of water.
For depths of six inches to a foot, bog bean, spear wort and arum lily are all ideal selections, while for greater than a foot, water hawthorn and great water plantain can be added.
Some plants will need containers, particularly in smaller ponds. These prevent them from becoming too large.
You can use garden soil when planting your water feature, as long as it is free from pesticides and herbicides. Aquatic compost can also be used, if desired.
