Benefits of Water Plants
If you happen to add water plants to your garden you will make it a more tranquil oasis․ Gardens have long been locations of relaxation and comfort‚ so the addition of a pond or stream will bring more tranquility to a garden․ Water plants such as lilies or cattails add not only beauty‚ but life․ Wildlife will come to visit and enjoy the whole process of nature unfolding․ As you can see‚ the benefits of water plants in your garden are limitless - they are much more than a mere ornamental addition and make an essential contribution to the overall environment of a garden․
Water plants also have useful functions in a garden; the first of which is that they act as water filters‚ in effect cleaning and purifying the water for a pond or stream․ Water plants use excess nutrients during photosynthesis․ This removes nutrients from the water and stops algae from populating the pond․ Water plants provide homes for frogs‚ dragonflies and many other types of wildlife․ Plants are important in order to create a balanced ecosystem in your back yard․ They also keep the water cool‚ so it is kept at a good temperature for wildlife during hot weather․ Water plants give many advantages to our waterways and it is essential that they are part of sustainable gardening schemes․
Choosing the Right Species
Next‚ you will want to choose the most suitable plant to use as a water feature․ Not only will it need to grow but also it needs to look good․ Some plants will grow well in full sunlight‚ others like the shade․ The most popular include the highly decorative water lily with its broad leaves and large flowers‚ and the far hardier cattail․ Native plants are often the best suited to a pond‚ as they have adapted to the climate and local conditions‚ and because they and local wildlife have co-evolved․ Researching to learn how compatible your plants are with each other‚ and how to create an ecosystem that will flourish and thrive in the layout of your garden‚ can help․ Many local gardening experts or nurseries can also help you to decide which plants will work best in your situation․
Water plants should be checked often for diseases and pests‚ as well for dead flowers and leaves․ Regular pruning of plants can encourage new flowering‚ new leaves‚ and‚ at the same time‚ keep the plants from becoming overgrown and crowded within the water garden․ Fertilization can also help‚ but care must be taken to balance the quantity and type of fertilizer used to avoid disturbing the nutritional balance․ Water quality is important and the chemical composition (especially the pH level) must be monitored․ Algae growth should always be kept in check․ The care required by water plants changes with the seasons‚ and the degree to which you are able to stay up to date on their needs will determine your success in maintaining a water plant garden․
Diversity can be improved by adding natural objects to the edges and inside the water plants․ Rocks‚ logs and other objects will not only make your water garden project look better‚ but they will provide shelter for amphibians and insects․ Planting your water feature with a variety of native flowering plants can also attract wildlife‚ such as bees‚ butterflies and other pollinating insects․ This can also benefit the overall biodiversity of your yard․ This landscape design style has the dual purpose of helping to keep nature's balance and providing an environment in which families can view and enjoy nature right in their own yard․
Aesthetic Appeal of Water Plants
One of the impressive characteristics of aquatic plants is their beauty․ The broad green pads of the lily floating on the surface of the water‚ the color of the blossoms and the elegance of the foliage‚ add greatly to the beauty of the landscape․ The rippling of water over rocks‚ or the rustling of leaves in the lightest breez‚ can have a quieting effect‚ and offer food for thought․ Many gardeners take a particular delight in the effect of the vegetation of water in reflecting the seasons‚ and the continual changes of expression that this may imply․ The beauty and sound of water creates an atmosphere which is calming and contemplative‚ and provides a welcome rest from the stresses of everyday life․
Water plants are a very good addition to any garden․ They provide filtering for the pond and its inhabitants‚ and visual interest in the garden․ With a little thought into the choice of plant and a small amount of upkeep‚ water plants can greatly improve any pond and provide quality habitat for the life it supports․ Generally‚ aquatic plants tend to make any pond more attractive․ The water plants add to the attraction of the water garden and the life living in it․ Whether you have a small water garden with a few water plants or a full-size water garden with a large pond‚ water plants can make your garden a haven for wildlife․
