Pond plants for a whisky barrel pond

Last post 27-04-2012 8:47 AM by miranda. 5 replies.

• 24/04/2012 01:38 PM

  Helen Philip Location: Cookham Joined on: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 45

  Reply | Contact Hi  Rain or shine this next weekend i am putting in a pond using a half whisky barrel sunk into the ground.  The pond will be incorporated into my main flower border against a west facing fence.  I'm not putting in any fish as i want it purely to attract insect and wildlife to hopefully benefit the rest of the garden.  I don't really have any knowledge of pond plants at all so i'd be grateful for any suggestions of what i might look for to put in it. Thanks

• 24/04/2012 06:05 PM	In reply to
  Julie Location: London Joined on: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 410	Reply | Contact I have a couple of water lillies in mine. The depth of barrels is relatively deep so you can't have marginals. You need to have plants that cope with that depth of water or those that float.

• 25/04/2012 02:15 PM

  In reply to

  Susiq Location: Northumberland Joined on: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 3,125

  Reply | Contact Hi Helen Lovely idea, but PLEASE do bear in mind that if you do get any visiting frogs or toads, they won't be able to get out of such a deep barrel and will drown unless you put in a ramp of some sort or some stones etc., that reach the top, for them to be able to get out again. That said, I got some fantastic pond plants that tolerate all sorts of depths from a stand at Chelsea last year, I think it was called Waterside Nurseries? Good luck with your new project

• 26/04/2012 01:20 PM	In reply to
  Helen Philip Location: Cookham Joined on: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 45	Reply | Contact i was going to make a ramp using a plank of wood for things to get in and out and i was also thinking of putting in a brick or something to stand a plant on that maybe shouldn't be placed so deep?

• 26/04/2012 07:13 PM	In reply to
  Susiq Location: Northumberland Joined on: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 3,125	Reply | Contact You have (thankfully) thought it through properly, any plants you do buy should come with care instructions so you can take it 'plant by plant'. Just do a bit research first on what you want the overall look to be and I'm sure you will be fine.

• 27/04/2012 08:47 AM	In reply to
  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 4,072	Reply | Contact I'm also glad that you're making an escape route for your little pond, Helen. If you have some, then chicken wire makes a good ramp too.  There have been several occasions when I've had to rescue frogs that have been trapped in buckets of water, but thankfully they've still been alive. The idea of them floundering until they drown is awful to think of.