|
Allotment Articles1.
Allotment Articles 2.
|
|
Plants For Round A
Pond
If you have a very large pond you may be tempted to plant a willow as this tree likes water, but it really isn’t a good idea. The leaves will fall into the pond in Autumn and pollute it. If it is a lake on a farm, or golf course, however this shouldn’t be a problem and another very large plant for such surroundings is the Gunnera which looks like something straight out of the jungle. For most ponds these are just to big and smaller plants should be chosen that like the damp conditions that prevail. Plants such as Hostas are a good choice if the damp area to be planted gets some shade. They make good foliage plants and have a flower as well. Ferns come in many varieties and also love damp shady spots. Nowadays there are many types of bamboo available from large growing varieties to dwarf ones suitable for planting round the smallest of ponds.
Variegated grasses such as Phalaris Picta make quite a nice show with its striped leaves. Indeed this particular plant can also be planted in the shallow areas of the pool so that the outline of the pool can be merged in with the planting on dry soil round it. Garden irises can be used in a similar way, planting them in the soil next to the pond with its water varieties inside. Another plant that can go in the pond, or in damp soil is Houttuynia Harlequin which is very colourful. The leaves are red, white and green on a good healthy specimen. This plant spreads very quickly by its root system throwing up new shoots everywhere. Astilbes like damp conditions, but these plants grow a little taller producing a mass of tiny flowers clumped together to make a large flowering head. They come in several colours, red, white and pink.
There are dozens of varieties of Primulas, some more common than others. Primulas come in many colour variations and are ideal for the poolside making small clumps. What to plant around waterfalls is often a problem, but some of the best plants to hide the pipes, earthworks and plastic edges are alpines. There are literally hundreds of varieties of these available and most are suitable with the most common being blue Aubretia, white and pink Arabis, yellow Alysum Saxatile and yellow Lysimachia. They can all be bought for a very modest sum as small plants, but they will grow quickly if cared for, hiding everything that is unsightly.
|
|
