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Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: gray1720 on February 16, 2021, 18:35:30

Title: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: gray1720 on February 16, 2021, 18:35:30
Yes, plant singular!

In the ongoing absence of time, money and space to put in the big rockery* with raised pond that I really want to do, I've decided to add a little bit of water to at least attract interests and have added a pair of sink-bowl ponds - hence plant singular!

Any ideas what I could put in them to help attract the critters? See pic - I think they'll look OK once they've been grown up around.

*I have, however, collected from the local fields on my lockdown exercise time not spent on the plot several tons of rocks, many flattish and just nice for building.
Title: Re: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: Paulh on February 16, 2021, 20:17:53
You could try a gunnera ...  :drunken_smilie:
Title: Re: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: gray1720 on February 17, 2021, 07:56:57
...but then I'd need to plant the gunnera first, and put the pond in the gunnera, and I want a plant in the pond, not a pond in the plant!  :tongue3:

My morning didn't need brightening up, but that has done so, thank you!
Title: Re: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: Tee Gee on February 17, 2021, 09:34:55
May I suggest you look in here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Content/P/Plants%20for%20purpose/Plants%20for%20Purpose.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Content/P/Plants%20for%20purpose/Plants%20for%20Purpose.htm)

Scroll Down to around the middle of the page and you will find a few suggestions under the poolside/ marginal plants list.

Click on each of them for cultural suggestions.


Hope this helps
Title: Re: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: Digeroo on February 17, 2021, 10:29:10
I like candelabra primulas, though they like margins rather than in the water. 
I have fallen for lobelia cardinalis but that is not quite in the gunnera department but at at 4 feet plus it is not far off.  But otherwise could be called the queen of the bog plants.
So perhaps it has to be a flag.
Title: Re: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: ACE on February 17, 2021, 11:40:24
As the water is contained, there will not really be proper damp marginal areas so anything goes that fits the theme of the area. What I would do though is get some mosses to plant in amongst the rocks to green it up a bit, also those small irises to give the  area a damp ambience.
Title: Re: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: gray1720 on February 17, 2021, 11:49:02
I must admit I was thinking more of a water plant *in* each for oxygenation and cover for critters (I am aware that this may mean a lot of watching the levels in summer when my stock of rainwater is lowest!). However the ideas for stuff *around* them largely cover stuff I'd not thought of, so keep them coming please. I do have some white iris that I've popped in next to them, and there was borage there last year (see front of photo!), so I may have to fight that regularly.
Title: Re: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: ACE on February 17, 2021, 11:58:37
Something in the water?   wetland grasses are good for cover, pond insects etc. Just lift, shake and cut a chunk off when it gets too big. A different colour in each tub.
Title: Re: Plant for very small wildlife pond
Post by: gray1720 on February 17, 2021, 18:20:34
That's a good call, Ace.
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