Building a Scenic Yard with Pond Plants

When people think of backyard garden ponds, the first thing that often comes to mind is the eclectic mix of vegetation. While fish are important, they are not always seen; instead, the visible environment, the shrubs and trees and flowers, are what make the first impression. However, while these plants are testaments to good landscaping, the important plants are the plants inside the pond.

Pond plants, while not always seen, are essential to the maintenance and health of garden ponds. Without these plants, fish would probably not be able to survive in the pond, and the water itself would become toxic. Choosing pond plants is an important step of the pond building experience, and every homeowner must remember that different plants serve different purposes: sometimes, aesthetic value is the smallest concern.

The Circle of Life

Like most vegetation, pond plants breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen, at least during the day. At night, these plants breathe in much the same manner as human beings. This cycle makes them essential to the environment of any garden pond. Pond plants convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen, oxygen that is released into the pond water. This process, called photosynthesis, is used by the plants to produce energy in the form of sugar.

Some plants are better than others at oxygenating the water, although almost any type of plant helps a little. Depending on whether or not the pond contains fish, the best choice might be those plants that really boost oxygen levels in the water; these plants are usually submersed and are not visible above the surface of the water. However, these pond plants are so efficient at oxygenating that on a sunny day it is easy to see tiny air bubbles floating up from the leaves. Once again, while plants around the pond add a lot of aesthetic value to the yard, they do not have much influence on the health of the pond itself.

Water lilies are some of the most popular pond plants. They come in a variety of colors, sizes and scents, and they only bloom at night. These plants root strongly to the bottom of ponds, but the leaves float on the surface of the water. Consequently, water lilies are good at oxygenating the water, but they are also beautiful to look at.

On the other hand, oxygenator pond plants are strictly used for filtration and oxygenation purposes; they are completely submerged, but can singly-handedly keep an entire pond in good health. Floating water plants and marginal water plants are other popular types of pond plants. Some flower, others do not, but for the most part they are not extremely efficient at oxygenation.