How To Choose Water Garden Plants...
A lot of people adore plants and would want to have them in their water gardens. However the plants that they love so much end up giving them problems, having some plants quickly wilting and have staggered growth. All these problems are not necessary, actually they should not happen at all - that is if you have made the correct choice of water garden plants. Making the right choice will go a long way in ensuring that the plants thrive and produce fruit in abundance.
There are many different water garden plants - in fact I can safely say that there is at least 1 aquatic garden plant for every watery situation. There are waterside plants to shelter the pond, marginal flowers for the shallows, floating leaf, deep water plants, emergent plants and so on. To the uninitiated this plant jargon might sound to "big", but there is no need to worry as I am going to discuss the various water garden plants available. I am also going to discuss when to use and where to get the plants from. By the end of the article you will be able to safe choose plants for your water gardens with no worries...
But first lets look at why you need plants for your water garden...
Plants are selected not only for their natural characteristics but also for the dramatic effect they bring to a previously dull water garden. Vegetation gives height, color and life to the scene. The plants have a pleasant aroma, provide oxygen which is vital for all aquatic life (in the case of oxygenated plants) and provide food for the pond life. When people talk about designing a flower bed they are actually taking about "embellishing with plants" and the type of plants are selected according to their color, size and habit.
Plants also provide food for aquatic creatures such as fish... Need fish for your water garden? Click here
Water plants are very sensitive and they flourish when they are planted in suitable conditions, i.e. those positions that favor the plants growth. The plants prefer a certain amount of sunlight, water, humidity and so on. Get this right and the plants will thank you by blossoming, creating the exact look you wanted....or even better.
Aquatic plants can be divided into 5 distinct groups. I have listed them below and you can find out more detailed information by clicking the underlined links.
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Floating leaf plants
These plants float on the water surface, giving cover to fish and aquatic creatures
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Aquatic plants
They produce bubbles of oxygen and clean the water
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Bog and moisture loving plants
These plants thrive in waterlogged soil and provide perfect cover for frogs and insects
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Emergent or marginal plants
Plants that flourish at the water's edge or in shallow water
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Backdrop plants
These plants compliment the water garden and include trees, bush and flowers.
What to buy, how many to buy, where to buy?
These are the fundamental questions as far as water garden plants are concerned. You need to access the size and character of your water garden before you choose to buy any aquatic plants. Not doing this usually spells disaster. When deciding how many plants to buy you should have knowledge about how the plants are propagated - Some plants grow from seed, while other from cuttings.
Its always best to buy all your garden water plants from reputable garden centers and nurseries. Purchasing stock from specialist nurseries is even better.
Combing Aquatic plants...
Knowing the 5 groups of plants I have mentioned above will definitely help you when you are planning you water garden arrangements. It is essential that you understand the physical characteristics of the plants so that you will be able to have an ecological balance in you backyard, having certain plants performing specialist functions.
General terms and what they mean
It is also essential that you start off your water plants journey well equipped, and for you to be in this position you need to be familiar with the following terminology...
Annual plant
These plants are sown, grown and flower in a year
Biennial plant
These are sown one year and flower the next
Container plant
These include all the plants that can grow in a container
Hardy plants
These are plants that have a resistance to cold conditions
Herbaceous Perennial
Plants that die down to ground level in autumn and develop fresh shoots in spring. Herbaceous water plants live for 3-4 years before it becomes necessary to divide them.
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Important Fish Pond & Water Garden Articles to View... - Learn how to choose a fish pond pump ... pond pumps circulate oxygen enriched water to keep fish and pond filter bacteria alive. Fish pond filters make sure water gardens remain clean and healthy for you and the pond fish. Learn how to choose a UV light for your fish pond... UV sterilizers make sure backyard ponds remain crystal clear and green algae free. Water garden plants help to keep garden ponds in balance by removing nutrients on which pond algae feed. Most fish ponds and water gardens are built from flexible pond liner. If your fish pond ever suffers from blanketweed this is the page to view.
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