WILDLIFE GARDENS AND PONDS

@martin-f I have planted a few things and will put in more as I go along, but I don't know if I can cover all the edges. I'm not the most creative of people in the garden . Also, the pond has a very rounded top, which is why I think it looks like a dog basket. Some of the preformed ponds I've looked at seem to have more of a flat edge top. This pic shows how rounded the edges are .

And this is it as of yesterday. I've ordered more marginal plants but it will be after easter before I get them, no despatch date given when I ordered. And I can plant around the outside a little more. There's no membrane under the gravel, so easy enough to make new planting holes.

 

I wasn't going to do it right now, lots of other stuff to do first. Why would another pond " look like a puddle in the ground " .

 

Coming along very nicely @luciusmaximus

My first reaction .... get some slate to over lap those edges. They would provide a lip of shade over the water too. Different sizes and shapes mean you could lay them in such a way that the pond no longer looks like a dogs basket.

Not my image and not *quite* what I was looking for, but it may give you the idea I'm trying to convey



I think once the weather warms up you will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your pond takes on natural life. The pond skaters will arrive for a start

 

@M . I hadn't considered slate, good idea . . I'll have to see if I can source some free slate and see how it looks. I can use it elsewhere if I don't like it.

 

Good suggestion from M also don't forget moss will grow on anything

It looks lovely Luci in the middle of the summer it will look different again and i am sure you will be pleased with it, friendly advice stop lacking convidance its slowing you up you have the skills and nohow

 

I haven't measured it but approximately 8ft long by 6ft wide. I could always buy more liner if need be, but as I said I have more than enough to keep me occupied at the moment . I was thinking later on in the year perhaps when I should have finished the other pond.

 

I know this is going to sound a bit dull but can someone tell me how to plant Bog Bean please? The plant I have has long feathery strands that come off the main stem and go about half way up. Are these roots or leaves, I'm not sure, think they are roots? Should they all be covered with soil? I will need a very large pot if so.

 

Hi Luci i know nothing about this plant but it looks lovely in flower a link here to add to A information.
Bogbean

 

@ARMANDII I am going to put it in the pond ( for now ). I'll take a pic later to show what I mean about the roots. They extend half way up the stem so I would need a large pot to fit it into. If this is the case it won't fit into my pond.

@martin-f for link

 

No worries Luci if you read the information in the link it tells you how to plant it, it should be half submerged in water if its going in the pond, don't worry about the roots/rhizomes just let them overhang the pot into the water.

 

I did look at the link . I don't have an old washtub to submerge it in though. I've got a 2 litre basket, so I will see how it gets on with that. The label says 30cm planting depth, which would be pot stood on a brick on bottom of pond. Have got much space left. Half the pond is a rock ramp in case anyone falls in and the other half already has a Hair Grass and several loose oxygenator plants. Plus I want to keep a bit of mud free for anyone to use in winter. There's going to be no room for the water soon . I've planted in the Bog garden, so no space there either. I think I should have bought a much larger pond

 

There is no clump @ARMANDII , just a single curly stem