Garden pool

Question 1

Describe the three groups of aquatics plants

Answer 1

1. Bog garden plants: prefer a damp growing medium and grow in marshy, permanently moist areas, but areas which are constantly waterlogged
2. Marginal plants: grow in a few cm of water around the outside of a pond, or in the margins themselves (normally pond planting shelf 9cm deep)
3. Deep water plants: grow in the water itself or are filamentous plants which float
   
   1. Floating plants do not need anchorage in soil. Their presence on the surface reduces amount of sunlight penetrating water and keeps water cooler discouraging algae.

Question 2

Describe the planting of aquatic plants in a garden pool

Answer 2

• Plant mid-spring to early summer when water is warming up, allows plants to establish well before winter.
• Grow plants in baskets lined with hessian or close weave polypropylene (baskets are easier to lift and maintain, and prevent roots piercing liner)
• Use aquatic compost, place gravel on compost surface to prevent it being washed away. Large plants may need large rocks in bottom of basket to aid stability
• Plants should be planted at same depth as in original container
• Newly planted deep water plants may need raising on bricks to start so plants are not too deep and any leaves which float on surface are not submerged. Lower in stages as leave reach surface.

Question 3

How any aquatic plants per pond?

Answer 3

• For 2.5m x 2.5m pool allow:
  
  • 2 deep water plants
  • 2 bunches floating plants
  • 5-10 marginal plants depending on size
• Floating plants 1 per m2 surface
• Submerged aquatics (oxygenating plants) 4-5 bunches, each with 3-4 stems per m2 surface

Question 4

Describe maintenance of garden pool

Answer 4

• Aim to keep 50% surface clear of plants
• Deep water plants e.g. water lilies need dividing and repotting in spring
• Thin excess oxygenating plants
• In summer:
  
  • Top up water level of pool, ideally with rain water
  • Remove floating weeds by twirling them around on stick. Leave on pond edge for wildlife to return to water
• If algae is problem use algaecide or raise pH to 7.0 by adding small amounts of lime.
  
  • Use mesh bag with barley straw (50g per m2 surface), remove when black
  • Use black pond dye
• If aphids on marginal plants is problem submerge plants to drown aphids
• In autumn remove any dead or decaying foliage, remove fallen leaves to prevent toxins from decaying vegetation
• Tender plants may need lifting and storing in greenhouse over winter
• Floating ball on surface can delay ice formation