I've just completed a pond in my garden and I'm wondering what the next step should be. The Freshwater Habitats Trust suggests that I don't need to plant it right away and that plants will come naturally over time. With frogs, toads, ducks, and newts already visiting my garden, I'm leaning towards letting it rewild. However, I'm not seeing many attractive plants nearby. Has anyone experienced good results from just letting nature do its thing?
4 Answers
I suggest starting with some native plants and maybe a few non-invasive ones that attract pollinators. It helps kick-start the pond's ecosystem, and you'll likely still get some volunteer plants showing up later!
I think it's great to plant what you want in your pond but leave room for self-seeding plants, too! It’s totally possible to strike a balance.
Sounds like a good compromise!
If your pond is set up naturally, it might gradually get some plants on its own, but I still recommend buying a few to get it started. Left alone, it might just turn into a grassy mess! Remember, a garden can be wild while still needing some management.
Thank you!
Be prepared for a bit of a wait—if you have ducks, they can be pretty rough on young plants, even if you buy them. Just a heads up!
Thank you! It’s a small 2mx2m pond, and the ducks are pretty shy. I haven't seen them go in yet, but I might need to protect the new plants. Aren't ducks just everywhere?
The rest of the family wants water lilies and such, so that sounds like a good compromise!