Willow moss pond lining.

[Red_Dragon]

Hi.. I have recently attempted to make a very small wildlife pond in my garden. I'm a complete amature, and need all the help i can get. it's about a 1m diameter, and is 60cm deep (will add pictures when i find a camera). I used a black pond rubbery material, and now that the pond is complete, I want to some how hide the black lining Below the water level..
I thought perhaps I could use willow moss/water moss..
Will this moss attach itself to my lining?
Will it grow vertically on my lining?

I eagerly await your replies..
thank you.

[Red_Dragon]

or any other advice on how to hide the lining below the water level would be gratefully appreciated...

[Red Robin]

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I'm a newbie at creating wildlife ponds too - I started mine in June. Mine has a black pliable plastic preformed lining and green filament algae has grown below the water line on the pond's walls. It isn't excessive and is grazed by Giant Pond Snails. Now that the weather is cooler and less hours of direct sun, the algae seems to have stopped growing.

I have no idea or info for you about Willow Moss lining but I think you'll find that nature takes its course mostly of its own accord.

[Red_Dragon]

My pond is only about a week old, so haven’t had any noticeable algae growth in there. Would love to see a picture of vertical pond lined walls with algae growth on them, just to see what I can expect… At the moment it just looks like a black bag filled with water and snails, lol.

I'm also thinking that i might be able to make my own pebble/rock mesh, and place this over the edges of the pond. Maybe this will give the Moss something to root into? Just have to find out how to make the pebble mesh, lol.

[Red Robin]

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Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but judging by my own new wildlife pond, long green filament algae only started to flourish when subjected to strong sunlight. Now the season is changing, the water is cooler and there is less algae growth. It actually provides fodder for various miniature creatures and so, as long as it doesn't become excessive or turns brown it's healthy.

It's best not to position your pond so it's in direct sun all day. Mine gets no more than about 5hrs in the Summer, the rest being in shade.

Lilies provide good shade and shelter for various creatures living in or visiting your pond. You also need oxygenating plants.

I'm exclusively using river water and therefore importing all sorts of good ingredients whenever I top up. Rainwater is good too. Tap water is to be avoided, I've read on this forum.

Why are you so intent on using Willow Moss?

I'll show you photos of how I've dealt with the pond edges in due course.

[Red_Dragon]

I’m a complete armature on wildlife/ponds/gardening.. Willow moss as far as I’m aware is an oxygenating plant. I’ve seen pictures of it, and it looks really pretty. I like the look of moss in general, and this one particular type grows underwater.

My aim at the moment is to hide the black bag look of the lining below the water level on the walls of the pond.

I thought I could perhaps grow the moss over the lining, but was unsure if it’d grow on the vertical parts… If it doesn’t grow directly on the lining, I thought perhaps I could place a sheet of some kind (pebble mesh or something else) over the edge of the pond so that the moss had something to grow on… The moss and mesh could then act as a decent hiding/feeding/breeding ground for other insects that in turn newts/frogs and whatever else can eat.

If there’s another oxygenating plant you think could do a good job of growing on the lining, or is able to disguise the lining, then I’m all ears. As I stated above, I’m a complete amateur and am open to any suggestions 

I’ll have a lily in there this time next week for shade purposes.. My pond is located in the corner of the garden next to two walls, so doesn’t get direct sunlight all day.. the moss could also act as a means of escaping the sun .

I’m importing pond water only as a means of introducing a pond ecosystem. I’m from South Wales, Mid Glamorgan, and it does tend to rain a lot where I am, even in the summer. I might think of capturing rain water and have it run into the pond, but that’s not a big concern at the moment.

Main aim at the moment is make pond look pretty while encouraging wildlife.. seeing the pond lining on the side of the pond spoils the beauty of it in my opinion, and would much rather see something natural there.

[Red Robin]

^^^^
Understood

Hopefully someone will read your thread who knows about Willow Moss and can then offer you some advice or tips.

[Red_Dragon]

thank you.

[Red_Dragon]

Am now thingking for putting the moss in a fine mesh, and then putting the mess over the sides of the pond.. Hopefylly the moss will then grow through out the mesh, and will look all natural.. similar to the one seen here

Moss Wall Pics

[fox403]

hi id suggest u forget about the moss it will take years to cover an edge of a pond and chances are it will be patchy at best the pics are of tropical fish tank were mosses like java moss spread because of the heat and abundance of light, i few things u can try is planting a few creeping margnal plants creeping jenny Choosing Your Plants or Mazus reptans which are great for hideing edges