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|  » Stats |
Members: 50,185
Threads: 82,421
Posts: 853,732
Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, jakkie | |  | | 
16-02-2008, 10:07 AM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Wales
Posts: 77
| | | Wildlife Pond
We have just extended our existing pond from a formal one to a more frog friendly one.
It is now shallow around all the edges allowing for an edging of small rocks and pebbles, there are no fish and we dont plan on adding any. The idea being that any larvea or eggs laid by butterflies, dragonflies etc have the best chance of surviving.
The problem we have now is that all around the new pond its just a bare muddy patch. We plan on building a decked platform along the back, for us as the sun is there in the evening and to allow wildlife some protection underneath.
So..question to all you gardeners and wildlife experts...what plants to use?
We want to encourage bees, butterflies, may flies, etc but especially dragonflies. Are there any particular plants that will encourage dragonflies to our garden ? We already have a selection of grasses and a budleai (sp), which plants will grow in amongst the pebble 'beach' that will stay small but tolerate damp/wet conditions ?
Any and all ideas welcome.  |
16-02-2008, 11:13 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Outside Bewdley in a wood with stream in garden.
Posts: 2,892
| | | Re: Wildlife Pond
Depends just how damp/wet the conditions are but... marsh marigolds, meadowsweet, loosestrife, watermint, grass of parnassus....  |
16-02-2008, 11:27 AM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants.
Posts: 11,628
| | | Re: Wildlife Pond
Quote:
Originally Posted by tufftie  Depends just how damp/wet the conditions are but... marsh marigolds, meadowsweet, loosestrife, watermint, grass of parnassus.... | Water forget me not is also good for the shallow margins... |
16-02-2008, 11:53 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,689
| | | Re: Wildlife Pond
I also recommend Water mint whch is very beautiful with a purple fluffy ice cream cone of a flower....but i would probably keep it contained in a small bucket otherwise it could spread like all other mints...
also some purple loosestrife which is lovely although can get fairly tall.
But really the only rule iwould say is keep everything native  and good luck...
your one step ahead of me as my large wildlife pond has not been started yet, im waiting for the fencing man to come do his stuff first.
__________________
I am the original Nature Nazi ;) |
16-02-2008, 01:42 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Wales
Posts: 77
| | | Re: Wildlife Pond
Thanks for the ideas.
We will definately try to keep the plants we get as 'native' as possible. |
16-02-2008, 03:32 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants.
Posts: 11,628
| | | Re: Wildlife Pond
Acorus gramineus "Ogon", Japanese rush, grassleaf sweet flag
I know this Japanese rush acorus is not native but in our pond we call it frog island as the frogs sit in the middle all summer.
We also have yellow flag iris's they are native.. |
16-02-2008, 07:42 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,610
| | | Re: Wildlife Pond
As a general rule plant species aren't that important for dragonflies as they are carnivores at all stages. The structure of plants is more important- pondweeds for larvae to hide + hunt around, some species like floating plants, whereas some clear water is also important. Also some tall stems for larvae to emerge, eg Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Flag), club-rushes, etc.
For good nectar plants Purple Loosestrife, Hemp Agrimony, Water Mint,Marsh Marigold + Water Forget-me-not make good choices. In a garden setting I don't think you have to be purist about natives, but avoid the troublesome invasive aliens such as Parrot's Feather. Most of the nectaring insects won't be that fussy. |
16-02-2008, 09:03 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: march, cambridgeshire
Posts: 2,156
| | | Re: Wildlife Pond
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kayleigh | Kayleigh i did exactley the same thing,its such a nice looking plant,but i too regreted it a year or so later. |
16-02-2008, 09:54 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 2,983
| | | Re: Wildlife Pond
Quote:
Originally Posted by RockHopper We want to encourage bees, butterflies, may flies, etc but especially dragonflies. Are there any particular plants that will encourage dragonflies to our garden ?
Any and all ideas welcome. | Mud and something to climb up is what a dragonfly needs. And something in the mud or water that it can predate. | | | |
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