advice - pond in shade

[peadlsrv]

Hello all,

I recently created a wildlife pond in my south-facing back garden. With the left-over liner I also created a small pond in the front garden. It's only a small pond 1m by 0.5m (about 30cm at the deepest point) and is completely shaded by the house - it doesn't receive any direct sunlight.

Can you give me any advice as to what plants to stock in this shaded pond? Or should I convert it into a bog garden (again can you advise what plants to use)?

Thanks for your views,
P

[Dogghound]

Carex Pseudocyperus, Cirsium Palustre, Filipendula Ulmaria, Gentiana Asclepiadea,
Geranium Palustre, Geum Rivale, Hypericum Calycinium, Hypericum Moserianum, Impatiens Noli, Juncus Rush, Lysimachia Nummularia, Lysimachia Vulgaris, Mentha Longifolia, Mentha Piperita ,Mentha Rotundifolia, Molinia Coerulea, Phragmites Australis, Primula Vialii, Sasa Palmata, Schoenoplectus Tabernaemontani, Sinarundinaria Nitida, Symphytum Officinale
Alisma plantago, Ranunculus aquatilis, Rumex aquaticus, Sparganium erectum, Veronica longifolia

All these species like semi shade areas so will probrably ok

Comarum Palustre, Calla palustris, Iris pseudacorus, Nuphar lutea also worth a try

[Tursiops2]

I think the main problem with a pond in the shade is that the lack of sunlight restricts the growth of oxygenating plants, the resulting lack of oxygen in the water causes stagnation, and you end up with nothing living in the pond except bloodworms and mosquitoe larvae.

I believe that this can be avoided with the right plants, but a shady pond will never support the same diversity as a sunny pond, and I dont actually know what plants to suggest. You could try various oxygenating plants to see if any do OK, but in the long term I think you might find a damp fern bed is a more practical option, and looks more natural in the shade.

HTH
Tursiops2

PS, I forgot... welcome to the forum