Pond edge plants or other suggestions.

Mokles

Hi All, this is my first post although I joined last year, which was the year I finally got my pond!

As you'll see from the photo it's not very big. The stony beach worked well at hiding the pond liner but I hadn't reckoned on it being used as a bird bath, which was fine for the little birdies but I think the pigeons have been in and my husband spotted an inquistive cat too. Anyway, whatever the cause we had gradual rockslides throughout the year and I've just fished most of the stones out from the pond bottom. I can't put any plants in the pond there as we made that side sloping, so I wonder if anybody can suggest any plants that I could plant in the gravel which would creep down to the waters edge or indeed any other suggestions for hiding the liner there. Thank you.

Fairygirl

Yes - lots of things which will work - from Caltha [marsh marigold] to evergreen grasses. Carexes are particularly good. Even some of the small, variegated ivies will be fine - they don't get out of hand like their large cousins.
If it's damp enough, Hostas will also do a great job - watch out for slugs. Native primulas are also good for damper soil. Heucheras and Hellebores are the same. 
Things like Ajuga will cover anything, and even grow over into the water. They'll grow in almost any soil and in any aspect.
If the ground's very dry, Thyme, and some of the little alpine type plants are good. Arabis is also useful. There are several types. 

There will be more suggestions from others, but that gives you a start. Many of those are evergreen too. 

Mokles

Thanks Fairygirl for the quick reply and for all those suggestions. I actually have two different thymes (orange and lemon) planted elsewhere in the gravel and one of them is creeping really well so I may use some of that as a start. I garden on  chalk so it's very free draining.  I like the idea of Ajuga going into the water too. I think I may also have some Arabis growing in a basket which I could plant out. Can't wait to get outside again tomorrow.

Fairygirl

There'll be loads of other things you can try too. It's always just a question of your conditions, and the look you want etc.
Some of the little saxifrages would also do well - they spread around once they're happy too. You can get plenty of those at G. Centres or nurseries.
Things like Salvias would also do well if you have lighter soil. Most are happy in any free draining soil, and they also provide a good habitat for bees and butterflies.
Some early bulbs are good, for in between little ground cover plants, and they provide early nectar for pollinating insects too 

KeenOnGreen

Beautiful job.  Lysimachia (creeping Jenny) would like the moist conditions and would be a nice foliage contrast.  If you are only using rain water in the pond you could try Sarracenia. Ours are in pots without holes, so they sit in water all winter, to no detrimental effect.  

Victoria Sponge

I tipped a layer of playsand onto the offensive bits of underwater liner in my pond. After a few weeks it sort of 'naturalised' and blended in, it didn't retain the golden colour. You have a smart little pond there though so it might not be a look you want.

PS, welcome to the forum🙂

Fairygirl

I was just looking at your pic again, and wondering if the water level is just a bit too low in general. If you remove the pebbles and gravel etc at the beached end , and just raise it a little by putting some extra 'padding' there, it'll raise the water level at the other sides too. They look a bit low. 
I've just been doing something similar here, and it  helps the overall appearance. 

You could also try a layer of bigger cobbles/pebbles cemented onto the layer of liner at the beached end, to help create a little shallow pool there for the birds. A two tier effect. That will help prevent so much gravel sliding into the main pond. I know only too well how those big wood pigeons disrupt the facilities 

Mokles

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

Fairygirl, it's hard to keep the pond level up because it's quite small and we have a wind travelling through the garden.  I spent the summer topping it up from my water butts, but even with all the rain we've had this winter it never got up to the top of the liner. It's hard to tell from that photo with all the stones but the shore line is level with the rest of the pond.  I like your idea of cementing some of the stones to the liner...

Fairygirl

If it never reaches the top, there must be a slight unevenness. It took me a little while to get mine right - even with boards and spirit levels. It's a common problem.

If you can, you can also try tucking some turf or similar [something soft] under the edges of the liner at the beach end, fill it with the hose, and see if that helps. 

I know it's a bit faffy, but if you can do it without disturbing the fixed edges, it's worth a shot