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Wildlife pond and what plants to buy

noseypooley 2103213618noseypooley 2103213618 Posts: 10
in Problem solving
Hi all,
Me and my dad are about to make a waterfall and a wildlife one at the bottom of it where can I buy plants ones and with are best for wildlife and where's cheapest to buy god quality ones in Pembrokeshire or online  :)

Posts

  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    So surprised nobody has replied to this. If you want wildlife it is very important to keep the water fresh and full of oxygen. Go down to the garden centre, preferably one that has a pond, and say you want some "pond oxygenators". There are a number of different plants that float on the surface and do this job and it may depend on what they have in stock. As far as plants are concerned, a lot depends on the size of your pond, but if I had to choose one that will suit both large and small it would be "marsh marigold". This can be planted in the wet soil at the side. One last word of warning. Try not to let the surface of your pond become completely covered in green. By June you will need to use a rake to keep the surface at least partly open, so that sunlight can get in. Best of luck. Ian
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
  • ZenjeffZenjeff Posts: 651
    Always buy my pond and bog plants on line from these quality plants and good service.
    http://www.bromfieldaquatics.co.uk/
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,949
    For an on-line supplier have a look at Puddle Plants
    https://www.puddleplants.co.uk/

    Good luck!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,110
    Another recommendation here for Puddleplants ... it's a little bit early in the season for buying pond plants as the water needs to warm up a bit for them to be growing, but if you email them and tell them what you're interested in they'll let you know when they're available. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,949
    edited March 2018
    You may want to re-consider the waterfall.
    They're a lovely feature, but they're not really suitable for wildlife ponds.
    The sort of wildlife you want to attract prefers still water.
    But your main problem will be in the summer.
    You pond will get blanketweed algae, especially in the first year or 2 - it's natural and will clear as the pond matures and settles - this takes time and cannot be rushed. This algae will block the filter on the pump probably every day in the summer. Each time you pull the pump out to clear it, you'll pull lots of plants out with it and you'll have a murky pond all the time and forever untangling plants.
    I built a wildlife pond 18 months ago and was going to have a small waterfall, but decided against it for the reasons above. And I'm glad I didn't have one. Just to sit by the still water in the summer and watch all the goings-on in the pond is so peaceful and fascinating

     April 2017

    August 2017



    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Pete, your pond and surrounds are beautiful and I am not surprised that this gives you immense pleasure.  Was this picture taken recently - if so it has weathered the winter very well.
    We do have a waterfall, and the sound of moving water is very relaxing, the birds love bathing in the moving water and although I take your point about wildlife and moving water, so far we have had 2 or 3 different types of dragonfly, water boatmen, pond skaters, and a newt and a couple of ducks that really would like to make their home on our pond if we would only let them.  No frogspawn as yet, but our pond is barely a year old and we are more than happy with it so far.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,949
    Thanks GD and glad to hear your pond is maturing nicely now.
    The 1st pic was April 2017 - the second pic was August 2017. The pond was frozen solid until last week.
    Lots of bugs and beasties last summer and loads of newts, but no frogs yet either - I've made the mini-log pile bigger to help.
    At the moment the water hawthorn seems to be growing but most of the rest of the plants haven't woken yet - and I don't blame them!
    I've got a fish pond just outside the house with a waterfall and the sound is so relaxing. When I turn it off to give it a clean, not hearing the sound of trickling water seems strange and I can hear it as I nod off at bedtime.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    I don't appear to be receiving notifications, so sorry for the delay in replying.  Your pond is gorgeous Pete - I can't believe that it is just a year old - far more interesting and exciting for wildlife than our pond is - by far.  I am sure you will soon have plenty going on in your pond after the cold weather of the past few weeks - however it is due to get cold again here this w/end. We have cheated and got some frogspawn from a nearby gardener who had too much and I noticed our first dragonfly larvae in the pond yesterday.  It had legs! 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,949
    No problem GD and thanks again - just two very big koi in the main pond.
    Hope the wee Best from the East that's heading our way this weekend isn't too damaging. With -1c predicted on Sunday I'll have to dig out an old duvet to cover my propagator.
    Catch-up soon

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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