Marginal aquatic plants are the ones found growing inside of your water garden—specifically the ones who’s root systems are thriving off of water (thus the name ‘aquatic’). To create a natural-looking pond, a good selection of marginal plants is very important. If you would like some tips on how to plant your aquatic plants, click here! There are hundreds of varieties of pond plants to choose from and the best part is that they come in all shapes, sizes, textures, and flower colors.
Attractive and Beautiful:
More than just adding beauty to your water garden, aquatic plants add valuable filtration to the pond as they remove waste, nutrients and other elements that would otherwise promote algae growth.
In an ecosystem pond, marginal plants are generally placed directly into the gravel, allowing them to thrive naturally and filter the water most effectively through the root-base. Certain plants like cattail, bullrush, and pennywart can be problematic and may even damage the pond liner. We recommend avoiding to plant them all together.
In an ecosystem pond, marginal plants are generally placed directly into the gravel, allowing them to thrive naturally and filter the water most effectively through the root-base. Certain plants like cattail, bullrush, and pennywart can be problematic and may even damage the pond liner. We recommend avoiding to plant them all together.
Planting Considerations:
All plants have specific needs: water depth, amount of sun exposure, zone levels and space to grow. Most marginals are planted on the first shelf of the pond because of their sensitivity to water depth while other plants like water lilies like to be submerged in deeper areas. Select plants of different heights, foliage types, and flower colors to create variety.
Before placing the plants in the water, be sure to wash away most of the soil from around the root system. Once the soil has been removed from the plant, push the gravel back and place it in the pond, filling the gravel back in around the root system to anchor it down.
The same process can be used for planting in a stream – carefully selecting aquatic plants that like or tolerate the shallow depth of the stream’s moving water. Not all marginal plants can thrive in shallow moving water.
ALL THIS INFORMATION can be found on the back of each plant tag that comes with the plant when you purchase it.
Before placing the plants in the water, be sure to wash away most of the soil from around the root system. Once the soil has been removed from the plant, push the gravel back and place it in the pond, filling the gravel back in around the root system to anchor it down.
The same process can be used for planting in a stream – carefully selecting aquatic plants that like or tolerate the shallow depth of the stream’s moving water. Not all marginal plants can thrive in shallow moving water.
ALL THIS INFORMATION can be found on the back of each plant tag that comes with the plant when you purchase it.
Aquatic Plant Maintenance and Care
Taking care of marginal plants in an ecosystem pond is fairly simple and is similar to regular landscape/house plants. As often as needed, remove any dead, discolored, or excess plant material. Doing so will stimulate new growth. Marginal plants (unless they are in pots) do not need to be fertilized, as they will flourish from the nutrients in the pond. Fertilizing potted lily plants, however, can be especially beneficial because of the amount of shade created by the extra pads.
For fall/winter care, aquatic plants in zone 5/6 deviate from regular house plant care. Aquatic plants need cut back to two or three inches above the water level of the pond. This allows them to begin going into their state of dormancy (sort of like hibernation) for the winter where they will stop growing entirely during this time. In the spring, make sure to remove all leftover dead plant material. This is the perfect time to thin out plants that have maybe over grown the area they’re in—especially lilies. There is a fine line between having enough plants and having TOO many plants.
For fall/winter care, aquatic plants in zone 5/6 deviate from regular house plant care. Aquatic plants need cut back to two or three inches above the water level of the pond. This allows them to begin going into their state of dormancy (sort of like hibernation) for the winter where they will stop growing entirely during this time. In the spring, make sure to remove all leftover dead plant material. This is the perfect time to thin out plants that have maybe over grown the area they’re in—especially lilies. There is a fine line between having enough plants and having TOO many plants.
Now What???
While flowering waterlilies are the most popular, marginal plants play a crucial role in the function, balance and beauty of a properly-conceived water garden. Without marginal plants, the water garden will look out of place and unnatural as they provide many textures, colors, and blooms that soften the edges and help blend the pond into the surrounding landscape.
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [email protected]
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [email protected]
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
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