Plants that Thrive Around Pools and Water Features

If you have a pond or water feature, you need plants that grow well in and around it.

What Plants Do for Ponds

Aquatic plants are necessary to balance the ecosystem in ponds. They benefit ponds in several ways.

Algae control

Plants absorb nutrients in the water from wildlife feces and runoff. Without plants, ponds would suffer from one algae bloom after another. When algae bloom uncontrollably, they absorb the oxygen in the water. Fish essentially suffocate because there isn't enough oxygen left over for them to breathe.

Shade and Protection for Fish

Everything in the pond is eaten by some predator. Plants give smaller fish and other aquatic life a place to hide from predators. In addition, the shade provided by plants helps prevent an algae bloom and keeps the water cooler than a pond with no plants would be. Water wildlife has a narrow range of water temperatures they thrive in, and when the water temperature exceeds that, the wildlife starts to die off.

Food for Fish and Wildlife

Many fish and wildlife eat aquatic plants. Even strictly carnivorous wildlife eat things that eat plants. Plants are the bedrock of the marine food chain.

Improved Water Quality

Plants absorb heavy metals and pollutants, so they do not stay in the water. Heavy metals can accumulate in predators as they eat other fish or wildlife, including people. Plants also help wetlands by cleansing the water. Many wastewater treatment plants use wetlands to clean water that has had the solids removed and have had great success with this process.

Erosion Control

The roots of emergent and shoreline plants are typically large, holding the soil on the shoreline so it does not erode. The plants also act as buffers to slow waves and reduce their impact on the coastline.

Improve Aesthetics

Finally, a pond with plants looks nice. Without plants, a pond is just a hole in the ground. It will stay sterile and unattractive until it is colonized by plants brought in by birds and other wildlife.

Types Of Plants For Ponds

There are four groups of plants that populate ponds.

Submerged Plants

Plants with roots in the bottom of the pond and are totally underwater are naturally submerged plants. Pondweed and bladderwort are examples of submerged plants.

Floating Plants

Floating plants have floating roots at the bottom of the pond but grow on top of the water. Duckweed and lily pads are examples of floating plants.

Emergent Plants

Emergent plants have roots in the bottom of the pond, but the most significant part of the plant sticks up over the water. Arrowhead, cattails, and rushes are examples of emergent plants.

Shoreline Plants

Shoreline plants have roots on the shoreline and are not submerged. These plants grow between the water and the ordinary high-water mark (OHWM). This mark is where the water reaches typically and usually leaves a high-water mark, such as driftwood or dead plants that have washed ashore. Shoreline plants can tolerate very wet roots and short-term flooding. Blue flag iris, red-stemmed dogwood, and buttonbush are examples of shoreline plants.

Landscaping For A Healthy Pond

Planting native grasses, perennials, shrubs, and trees along the shoreline is the best way to keep your pond healthy. You can leave paths to the water's edge to monitor the water quality and aquatic life in your pond. However, most of the shoreline should be planted in a buffer of different native plants. These plants slow runoff from rains so the pond doesn't get flooded with silt when it rains.

Fertilizer Free Zone

Once the plants in the buffer zone are established, they should not be fertilized. Do not fertilize within ten feet of the water line. Doing so risks an algae bloom when it rains and washes the fertilizer into the pond.

Seasonal Changes

In the spring and fall, you may see more algae than usual. Ponds have cold water at the bottom and warmer water at the top. As the temperature climbs in the spring, the water can mix vertically because it is close to the same temperature.

Water Problems

If the water is pea soup green and you can't see through it, your pond is getting too many nutrients washed from the land into the pond. Buffer strips help absorb nutrients before they wash into the pond. Find out where the nutrients are coming from and work to eliminate the source. Fertilized lawns are the most likely culprit in residential areas, but manure from livestock can cause problems, too.

Water Features

Water features are different from ponds. Most water features have a liner and/or concrete at the bottom. Care should be taken not to puncture this liner, or the water will drain out. Plants set on ledges in the pond can absorb the nutrients in the water feature. This is especially important in water features with fish in them. If plants do not absorb the nutrients in the feces of the fish, ammonia will build up and kill the fish. Fish pellets that are not eaten eventually decompose and add nutrients to the water. Without plants, the water must be filtered or changed regularly to avoid too much ammonia. The nutrient-rich water will also have algae blooms that are not good for the fish or attractive to see.

Lists of Native Plants

Plants native to your area provide food and shelter to the wildlife in your area in addition to conditioning pond water. They are the lowest maintenance plants you can grow, too. The staff at TN Nursery can tell you what aquatic plants grow wild in your area. Just call 931.692.7325 to talk to a staff member.