Garden Machinery
Garden Leisure
- Greenhouse Heaters
- Loungers
- Midgeaters
- Gas Barbecues
- Charcoal Barbecues
- Masonry Barbecues
- Furniture Sets
- Benches
- Greenhouses
- Water and Light
- Garden Sheds
- Gazebos
- Firepits
- Wildlife Boxes
- Rock and Stone
- Weather Vanes
- Rabbit Hutches
- Urns & Planters
- Sundials
- Birdbaths
- Garden Swings
- Climbing Frames
- Croquet Sets
- Wildlife Cameras
- Bird Feed
Water feature – planting in running water
Sadly, there are not very many submerged plants that will thrive in running water, although those that do add immensely to the beauty of your stream or waterfall, both in themselves, and by attracting insects and birds that will complete your garden feature.
When planting, start with a base of good soil, add the plant, and cover its roots with a good layer of sharp sand or washed gravel to anchor the soil. New plants that are quite large or tall will be more prone to tugging from the current so you can set a stone over their roots to hold them safe until they are fully established.
It’s important to remember that heavy rain will increase the flow rate of your stream and raise its level, in areas where this is known to happen, you should use plants that root strongly and remove any that have a tendency to loosen the soil, for example, stinging nettles and Himalayan balsam are both prone to this. Grass is fine for the banks and sides of streams and helps to avoid erosion as do some bamboos, rushes and particularly sedges which will also cope with a certain amount of flooding. Remember though that they can also be invasive, and may extend very rapidly beyond the area in which you plant them. If you live in the south, you may want to try the umbrella plant, which makes a dramatic display and is an excellent choice for ground stabilisation, but it’s not hardy right across the UK.
