The best plants for a backyard pond are those that will keep the pond environment healthy enough for any living creatures placed within it.
As such, placing garden pond plants isn't only decorative, but also practical. Aside from cleaning the environment and keeping a constant supply of oxygen, pond plants are also a source of food and shelter for the fish inside the pond.
How do you choose the best plants for a backyard pond? Your first concern is the size of the plants in proportion to the size of you pond. Obviously, you don't want your plants to overwhelm your pond. Be aware of environmental conditions too. If winter is a seasonal visitor in your area, you'll have to install garden pond plants that are suitable for winter weather. You don't want to have to move your pond into the house during winter so your plants can survive. Usually, when you buy pond plants, you can find information on this in the plant label. Your nursery employee can also help you with this issue.
Worried about plant roots choking your pond? Not to worry. You can actually use pots for your pond plants. In many cases, using fabric pots or mesh pots is better. A mesh pot will let enough water in to keep your pond plant well supplied. Fabric pots let air through so that your pond plant can grow healthy without taking anything away from its natural growth. Additionally, the soil won't leak which will keep your plant clean and clear.
Now, what are the best plants for a backyard fish pond? Again, it depends on the size of the pond. Here are a few insights that will help you make your decision.
Ponds usually have waste lying on the bottom. Deep water pond plants can help keep the bottom of your pond clean by absorbing the waste as fertilizer. Furthermore, deepwater pond plants also grow faster with the use of aquatic plant fertilizers, a good amount of sunlight and oxygen. Usually, Water Lilies, Water Hawthorn and Lotus are good choices for pond plants. However, your pond has to be deep enough to accommodate these plants because they require 60 centimeters or 2 feet of water depth. The Water Hawthorn can survive in a slightly lesser depth starting at 3 inches.
Some of the best plants for your backyard pond are those that will give out oxygen and also act as a food supply if you have fish or other water creatures in your pond. Because they absorb carbon dioxide and nutrient waste, algae build-up inside the pond will be limited. These plants will provide areas for fish to lay their eggs and maintain the cleanliness of your pond water. Common oxygenating plants are Water Milfoil, Water Buttercup, Water Violet and Hornwort.
Mind you, not all pond plants float. Of those plants mentioned above, some will and some won't. Also some floating pond plants like duckweed will propagate very fast which will wreak havoc on your pond's small environment. With your pond all covered up, oxygen will fail to reach your fish. If you want floaters that are commonly used and yet, maintain a healthy environment, try using Water Chestnut, Water Soldier, Water Lettuce, Bladderwort or Water Hyacinths. These may be the best plants for a backyard pond.
For ponds with a minimum depth of 2 inches and a maximum of 12 inches, marginal pond plants are most suitable. If your pond has a depth gradient, you could place these marginals on the shallower areas of the pond. Cattails are a good example of marginal pond plants. They act as food and shelter for your fish. However, like duckweed, they grow very fast. Use cattail only if you are willing to spare time to care for your backyard pond plants. On the other hand, the Bog Bean, Japanese Arrowhead, Lobelia, Sweet Flag, Golden Buttons, Iris, Marsh Marigold, Pickerel and Golden Sedge are moderate in growth and may just be the best plants for your backyard pond.
Astilbe, Lysimachia, and Primula are bog plants. They stay round the edges of the pond. Still, being garden pond plants, they need a lot of moisture as well as mud. They also prevent algae growth because they use up the nutrients that algae need to grow.
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