Pond Planting & Design

At Long Island Elite Landscaping, we provide an array of pond services for homeowners in Suffolk County, including pond building, pond landscaping and pond planting. For the most part, all three of these services go hand-in-hand. With our pond planting services, we can ensure that the building of the pond gets accentuated by the plants around it. And thus the overall pond landscaping is greatly enhanced. In general, submerged plants and many marginal plants should be grown in baskets or containers. However, we will work with you to choose the right plants for your yard. Get the best pond planting services around when you turn to Long Island Elite Landscaping, which is located in Rocky Point, New York. Get an estimate today.

Get Pond Building Estimate

When you reach out, we can provide you with a free estimate for our pond building services.

Benefits of Aquatic Plants

There are some wonderful benefits to growing aquatic plants along with a garden pond. Here are some of the most common benefits of pond planting.

  • Water plants actually help to keep the pond in an ecological balance without the use of chemicals or other expensive equipment.
  • Certain types of plants will aerate or add oxygen to the water, which is an essential need if the pond is also housing fish.
  • Plants in the pond can also provide shade, which helps to reduce the growth of algae.
  • The addition of beautiful aquatic plants creates a natural look that enhances the whole yard.

Types of Aquatic Plants

In general, there are three common types of aquatic plants that can be added to a pond planting project: submerged plants, floating plants and marginal, or bog plants.

Submerged Plants

Submerged plants are exactly how they sound: submerged below the surface of the water. These plants are often referred to as oxygenators, which are plants that add oxygen to the water. This is a beneficial process for fish and other plants. On top of that, submerged plants also act as natural filters, which help to maintain the ecological balance of the pond. Some common examples of a submerged plant includes pondweed, hair grass, and water hyssop.

Floating Plants

Floating plants are plants that grow on the bottom of a pond, but then send leaves and flowers up to the surface of the water where they float. Floating plants require 6 hours of full sun per day in calm water in order to live. A common example of a floating plant is in a Koi pond, that generally features floating plants because they provide fish with shade and hiding spots. Some common floating plants include lotuses and water lilies.

Marginal Plants

Marginal plants also go by the name of "bog plants." These are plants that thrive in shallow water and muddy soil. The roots for these plants are mostly underwater, but most of the plant is still visible above the surface. Marginal plants are typically grown in containers that are then placed into the water. Some common examples of bog plants include grasses and reeds, forget-me-nots, water clovers, and cattails.

Tips for Growing Pond Water Plants

Here are some common tips for growing pond water plants at your home.

  1. All aquatic plants grow best in still water. So if your pond has a waterfall or a stream, then it is important to make sure these plants are far away from those features. This way they do not become damaged by the moving water. This tip is especially true for the more delicate plants, like water lilies and lotuses.
  2. A good rule of thumb for growing water plants is to remember that one-third of the pond should be covered with plants. With the one-third rule of thumb in play, it creates a good mix of shade and sunlight for the pond, which is necessary for the plant health, water quality and the wellbeing of the fish (if you have fish).
  3. If you have a pond with a more formal design, then it is best not to overdo it with a lot of planting. Typically, a formal pond will only feature one or two aquatic plants. With our help, we can design a pond that looks great by creating patterns, rows, and borders with the plants that will mimic the geometric structure of the pond and garden design.
  4. For ponds with a more informal design, the plants should be the priority. An informal pond often aims to look as natural as possible and the inclusion of aquatic plants do just the trick. We can help you choose the right plants for your pond and allow you to grow a variety of plants that have differing textures, shapes, and colors. With our skilled expertise in aquascaping, we can make sure the pond planting has a natural, random look.