Understand the planting and maintenance of a garden pool Flashcards
Name two FLOATING aquatic plants
What are they?
Stratiotes aloides
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Don’t need roots in soil / place on the surface / provide cover while deep water plants are establishing / may need to separate clumps when placing in pool (1 plant per square metre of surface
Name two DEEP-WATER aquatic plants
What are they?
Nymphaea ‘Chromatella’
Aponogeton distachyos
Root in the soil at the bottom of the pond (30-90cm) but have leaves and flowers that are on the surface / decorative / cover water surface reducing build up of algae and provides shade for fish
Often lowered in stages as their leaves reach the surafce , until the appropriate depth is reached (raised on bricks) to ensure leaves aren’t submerged / soak well before immersion
Name two MARGINAL aquatic plants
What are they?
Caltha palustris
Veronica beccabunga
Grow in water but not at same depth / depth 15-30cm usually on a ledge around the edge of the pool / decorative and link to rest of garden
use aquatic pots / if bareroot (summer) trim back tops by half and trim roots back to with 2.5cm of crown
Can take being out of water for a season
Plant to depth instructed according to the type of plant
soak well before immersion
Name two BOG plants
What are they?
Gunnera manicata
Iris laevigata
Like moist soils but not continuous waterlogging / some also happy in herbaceous border
Don’t necessarily need stadning water and can be a way to use wet sites
Describe the planting and establishment of aquatic plants in a garden pool
To include selection for suitable vigour, containers, growing medium, nutrition, planting techniques
Differentiate between deep water aquatics, floating, marginal plants (in container) and alos bog plants (in garden soil)
What to consider when planting aquatic plants in garden pools
Need to consider size of pool - if small can’t choose plants that are too vigorous
When to plant: mid-spring to early summer (as water warming up)
In smaller, perhaps butyl lined ponds - grown in containers to prevent becoming too large and invasive - aquatic baskets hahve lattice sides to allow water, gas and air movement through / line with hessian ro prevent soil washing out
Use aquatic compost or clay soil (free from fertiliser and herbicides) as potting medium - needs to be heavy to avoid the soil seeping out into water / aquatic compost may also container slow-release fertilisers that don’t seep out into water / normal garden compost has too many nutrients
How to plant aquatic plants in a garden pool
Choose appropriate container for the size of the plant
Place large rocks or stones at the base of containers to stabalise the pots
Part fill with compost
Plant the plants to the same depth as original container / plants with rhizomes needs to be positioned just above the soil’s surface / firm plants in well
Apply a layer of grit or fine gravel to prevent soil coming out
Describe the annual maintenance of a garden pool including possible controls for algae including blanket weed
Seasonal maintenance taks to include:
role of oxygenator plants / maintenance of water levels in summer
control of vigorous growth and invasive weed pondweeds / division of plants
netting against leaves / management of ice formation
Controls of algae to include pond balance, use of barley straw or other additives and manual methods of removal
What is the role of oxygenators?
Submerged plants not grown for their appearance but because theu compete with algae for minerals and carbon dioxide / thus keeps water clear / alos produce oxygen from photosynthesis which is vital if fish are in the pond
What is annual maintenance routine spring/summer maintenance for a pond?
Lift and divide exisiting plants if necessary
Remove fallen organic matter - removes excess nitrates to prevent algal blooms -
Remove blanket weed if this is a problem - either by hand using rake oor sticks / barley straw to prevent - leave on side overnight to allow wildlife to return to water
Top up water level with rainwater or tap water that has been left standing for at least 24 hours
Handweed bog garden
Deadhead spent flowers
Insert fertiliser tablets into planting baskets
Structural repairs to the pond -any time e,g, repair/replace liner
Check water pH
Consider water feature to improve oxygen levels
What is the annual maintenance autumn/winter routine for a pond?
Net pool to catch falling leaves or scoop with net to get them out
Remove dying foliage
Cut back oxygenators if necessary - aim to keep 50% of surface vegetaion free
Remove and service any pump - goot to circulate oxygen in ponds with fish and amphibians
Ensure water doesn’t freeze (esp. if got fish - but also for birds) - special heaters for large ponds or ball floating on the surface of small ponds
Ensure light gets to pond by pruning back overhanging branches and brushing off snow - allows submerged plants to carry on photosynthesiszing
Check for leaks - because if water level still drops in winter - leak has probably occured
