Author Topic: Small wildlife pond (Read 28737 times)

hopalong · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2009, 17:34:46 »

Looking good, Georgie. The frogs will love it. On second thoughts, perhaps Marsh Marigolds will be a bit big for it? I suppose you can keep thinning and dividing them though.

Georgie · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2009, 17:46:49 »

Quote from: hopalong on January 31, 2009, 17:34:46

Looking good, Georgie. The frogs will love it. On second thoughts, perhaps Marsh Marigolds will be a bit big for it? I suppose you can keep thinning and dividing them though.

Oh I hope not, I'm rather taken by those Marsh Marigolds. I'll be popping to Wild Woods (at least I think that's what it's called) in Crews Hill soon to take a look at their plants. There's also that place near Capel Manor on the A10 too. I'll let you know what I get. :)

G x

manicscousers · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2009, 17:50:09 »

just ordered a couple of yellow flag iris to place in the wet bit near our pond ;D

Georgie · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2009, 14:40:34 »

Quote from: manicscousers on February 01, 2009, 17:50:09

just ordered a couple of yellow flag iris to place in the wet bit near our pond ;D

Good idea, Manics, I love Irises. :)

Can't see much of my pond today. ;)

G x

Georgie · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2009, 16:47:08 »

I've done a bit of research today and have come up with a list of five possible native plants as follows:

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata)
Watermint (Mentha aquatica)
Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga)
Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides)

I'm assuming I can only have two plants in such a limited space so I'd welcome your thoughts on which two to choose and why. :)

G x

hippydave · « **Reply #25 on:** February 03, 2009, 16:57:52 »

marsh marigolds are very good cover for frogs and newts, mine get very full and i think there is a waiting list to get in when its in full growth ;), but i do find that its very prone to downy mildew but when it starts to get over run i trim all the foliage down to its base and i get another flourish with no mildew

Georgie · « **Reply #26 on:** February 03, 2009, 17:08:16 »

Quote from: hippydave on February 03, 2009, 16:57:52

marsh marigolds are very good cover for frogs and newts, mine get very full and i think there is a waiting list to get in when its in full growth ;), but i do find that its very prone to downy mildew but when it starts to get over run i trim all the foliage down to its base and i get another flourish with no mildew

Thanks for that tip, Dave. I thought powdery mildew was caused by roots being too dry? Must have got that wrong then! ???

G x

Flighty · « **Reply #27 on:** February 03, 2009, 17:38:28 »

I think that I'd go for Marsh Marigolds growing beside the pond and Brooklime in it.

hopalong · « **Reply #28 on:** February 03, 2009, 17:39:58 »

I'd go for a marginal plant and a floater, Georgie. Although I began to have second thoughts after suggesting it originally, because it can get big, Marsh Marigold looks great and you can keep it in check by trimming (and get rid of the mildew which, like Dave, I also have on mine). `Stratoides aloides (water soldier) is good fun: it sinks in the winter and floats in the summer and has babies like a spider plant, on the end of stalks.

If I had a third choice it would be Orontium aquaticum (Golden Club). I haven't got any in my own pond but it looks stunning with its candle-like flowers in spring and blue-green leaves later. However, I gather it does not flower well in shallow water, so maybe it's not for you.

froglets · « **Reply #29 on:** February 03, 2009, 17:45:30 »

Hi Georgie,

My little pond is only 8 months old so I'm new to this too, but have you got anything tall and thin ie reed like in that list. I have a relative of horsetail which gets to about knee high ( were I walking on water) and is in there to give nymphs something to crawl up when they are ready to turn into flying things - my notes are in the shed and it's freezing over out there.....

It doesn't take up any space but looks good and encourages more wildlife.

Cheers

Georgie · « **Reply #30 on:** February 03, 2009, 20:06:17 »

Thanks for all your help so far folks. :)

Froglets, I'd love a reed like thing but haven't found anything native that's suitable for such a small pond (yet). I reckon I could only go to a height of about 45cm without it looking silly. I don't know how tall you are (ie what knee height is) but when it warms up a bit and you can retrieve your notes I'd be interested in the name of your plant. ;D

G x

betula · « **Reply #31 on:** February 03, 2009, 20:25:49 »

Could you raise your small pond onto a plinth of some kind?

Then do planting surrounding the plinth so the plants come up to same level or taller.?

Discuss?? LOL

Georgie · « **Reply #32 on:** February 03, 2009, 20:31:18 »

Quote from: betula on February 03, 2009, 20:25:49

Could you raise your small pond onto a plinth of some kind?

Then do planting surrounding the plinth so the plants come up to same level or taller.?

Discuss?? LOL

ROFL ;D

G x

grannyjanny · « **Reply #33 on:** February 07, 2009, 16:08:23 »

I love the idea of a little water feature at the lotty. I've got a big green plastic plant pot that i bought a few years ago & never used it or I could buy a new trug. What would you suggest I use to make sure hedgehogs if there are any don't drown. We disturbed a ouple of toads recently so would like encourage them to stay with us.
Janet.

Georgie · « **Reply #34 on:** February 07, 2009, 17:06:54 »

I googled 'can hedgehogs swim' and it came up with the following:

'Hedgehogs can swim very well, but if they cannot escape from a pond they will become exhausted and drown. Make sure that any hedgehog can get out of a pond by making a bank with a gentle slope; or a piece of chicken wire, secured well on the bank can serve as a ladder for them to climb out.
Check ponds daily.'

Hope this helps. :)

G x

grannyjanny · « **Reply #35 on:** February 07, 2009, 17:17:05 »

Thanks Georgie. That does help.
Janet.

vitaw · « **Reply #36 on:** February 12, 2009, 11:40:34 »

Tonybloke--just love that stone creature in your lovely pond. Did you create that yourself? It is a great feature--looks like the 'Green Man' plaques at Green Ginger--do you know that place/product line? I really like that image you've posted.

tonybloke · « **Reply #37 on:** February 14, 2009, 19:17:19 »

The 'water god' is a sculpture by my O.H., water trickles from the mouth during the summer (via pump) it looks wierd with the occasional tadpole coming through!!there are a healthy population of sticklebacks and frogs in there, it( the pond) is glassfibre, 3 ft deep, and just outside the backdoor, the frogs croaking at breeding season is excellent, ('cos I have a deep voice, they respond to me talking!) ;)

Georgie · « **Reply #38 on:** February 15, 2009, 14:02:15 »

I've got my list down to four plants now as follows:

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga)
Water Soldier (Stratiotes aloides)
Bulrush (Typha minima)

So imagine my disappointment when I went to two water garden specialists today only to find neither had many plants at all. :( I'm assuming the plants are 'seasonal' and will become available next month?

And one other question if I may. I'm know the marginals will need to be grown in those special baskets but do the floaters do that, just float?

G x

Baccy Man · « **Reply #39 on:** February 15, 2009, 14:35:31 »

Most marginals are usually available from March floaters from April/May all are usually available until September.

Yes the floaters do just float on the surface of the water.

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Author Topic: Small wildlife pond (Read 28737 times)