Clarence transforms a humble pond into a thriving aquatic environment by incorporating pots of native plants perfect for the different depths of water. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe
Like land-based plants, aquatic plants grow in a whole range of situations, from being deeply submerged to damp areas.
Pond planting zones are generally measured from Zone 5 – the deepest – to Zone 1, on the pond edge. Today Clarence is focusing on the middle bands of Zones 2, 3, and 4.
The plants will be submerged or partly submerged, so they’ll need a heavy potting mix that won’t float away. Clarence mixes two parts loam with one part gravel and one part sand.
Aquatic plants also need a pot that allows water flow; specially designed pots with holes down the size can be bought. Depending on the size of the pot you use, you can put a few larger pebbles or rocks in the bottom to help anchor it.
Zone 4 – here plants are immersed by about 20-40cm – this zone suits waterlilies and plants such as marbled marshwort. Clarence is using water lawn (Lilaeopsis sp.). Try to avoid air bubbles by filling any gaps with the potting mix and making sure the plant is firmly in place.
Rocks can be added to the surface to keep plants in place.
Zone 3 – submerged but not as deeply; the foliage will be showing at water level. Here Clarence plants Native water milfoil (Myriophyllum sp.) and Running marsh-flower (Ornduffia reniformis).
Zone 2 – along the water’s edge. Plants that grow well here include rushes and sedges.
When planting in this zone be careful not to pierce any pond liner being used or pipes/hoses connected to a water feature.
Generally, plants can obtain enough nutrients from the pond environment, so they don’t require fertiliser.
Featured plants:
Water lawn (Lilaeopsis sp.)
Native water milfoil (Myriophyllum sp.)
Running marsh-flower (Ornduffia reniformis)
Knobby club-rush (Ficinia nodosa)
Tassel cord-rush (Baloskion tetraphyllum)
Filmed on Dharawal Country in Heathcote, NSW
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4 Comments
Sure this'll be a great video, 41 seconds ago!
I found it much easier and cleaner to just use course bedding sand from Bunnings and Osmocote root tabs for water gardens also from Bunnings much cleaner and easier, I've been doing it for years and I propagate a lot of them year after year, those pots that you have used are a bit of a waste of time as well, better to use shallow 200mm pots so the plants can spread, I can't see the sense in taking it out of one pot and putting it into another the same size and then covering them with rocks, if you use the coarse bedding sand it will definitely sink and I don't even wash it as it clears up pretty quick.
Two parts LOAM, one part sand, one part gravel
I have a natural brook/pond and would love to know more about what to plant to hold the sides up when there’s a rush of water or flooding.