Planting for Natural Swimming Pools

When a pond or lake is new it has a number of years before it starts to reach maturity and during this time algae blooms can occur until the natural balance is finally achieved.

To help speed the maturation process mature aquatic plants can be added.

The key to creating a successful natural pond or pool is the planting with a range of aquatic filtration plants. These should include oxgenators, waterlilies, shallow and deep marginals and waterside bog garden species.

Planting a natural swimming pool or pond with a range of aquatic filtration plants including oxgenators, waterlilies, shallow and deep marginals and waterside bog garden species is key in forming a good natural pond or pool.

It is good to use as many indigenous native plants as possible, non-native ornamental varieties can be used however to increase the range of colour and flowers types, these species can also extend the season of interest and add a longer period of nutrient usage within regeneration filter beds.

The term ‘filtration plants’ can be a misleading one as plants do not really filter the water and remove particulate matter. What plants actually do is absorb nutrients from the water, which in turn prevents those nutrients being used by algae.

The amount of nutrients that plants absorb is more or less proportional to the amount of plant growth. So, plants that grow ‘more green’ are removing more nutrients, but this can also mean that they grow somewhat more aggressively.

Planting mature plants in a natural swimming pond has many advantages over using smaller plug plants grown in aquatic clay. Obviously, seeing mature plants will add immediate impact and you won’t have to wait several years to enjoy them, but the most important reason to use mature aquatic plants is because there are no nutrients in the water for months until the pool is mature for younger specimens to feed on and grow.

Natural swimming pools have a unique type of growing conditions compared to garden ponds.

1. Very low nutrients water which controls algae growth.
2. Filter grit is used for growing instead of soil.
3. Under gravel filtration system pulling water passed plant roots.
4. This has limitations on plant growth as well controlling algae.

Poolscape has it’s own aquatic nursery and can supply plants, such as those listed below, that are suitable for natural swimming pools and ponds.

1. Cyperus longus ( Galingale)
2. Iris pseudacorus (Flag Iris )
3. Typha (Bulrushes)
4. Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife)
5. Caltha Palustris (Marsh marigold)
6. Mentha Aquatica (Water mint)
7. Mixed oxygenators
8. Carex pseudocyperus (Hop sedge)
9. Equisetum japonicum (Banded horsetail)
10. Nymphaea alba. (White water lilies )

All plants are grown in large aquatic baskets as mature plants establish better in natural swimming pool low nutrient water and help obtain an ecological balance much faster. We recommend that all soil is washed off a plant’s root system before planting into filter beds.

Biotop natural swimming pool fertiliser may be necessary early season for good plant growth which is formulated to limit algae. Biotop’s hybrid pools marginal edging borders can support a great variety of aquatic plants because of slow release fertiliser under the bio clay.

Poolscape offer a complete aquatic landscaping service:

1. Natural swimming pool plants grown in our own aquatic nursery. 
2. Pool maintenance service.
3. Planting schemes for natural swimming, lakes and ponds. 
4. Biotop fertiser and phosphate binder material.
5. Bio clay and filter grit.

Contact  Peter or Owen for more details 07974390452 / 07896846995