Ornamental Fish Production and Management (1+1)

12.1.6 Stocking of ponds with plants

As was described for freshwater aquaria, plants can carry out a number of very important functions and their effect on algal growth and on stabilizing water conditions are both particularly pertinent in garden ponds.

The simplest and most convenient way to plant out a pond is using the baskets that are available form most retail outlets. These come in a range of sizes and permit easy rearrangement of plants at a later date. The baskets are best lined with clean sacking and then filled with unfertilized garden soil. Following careful planting of these baskets and before placing them into the pond, a layer of pea gravel or pebbles can be added to the basket to prevent fish disturbing the soil causing discolouration of the water.

Pond plants are generally divided into marginals,submerged and  floating.