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 shrubs and trees
There are many good reasons for growing shrubs and trees around, or near, your pond. The first is that ponds require a certain amount of shade, if water is in full sun, it will overheat and the bacteria that encourage oxygen to remain in the water to feed plants and fish will become starved.
Second, trees like willows in particular and alders, have a natural affinity for water and will thrive where other plants dont cope so well.
Third, the structural beauty of trees and shrubs adds an extra dimension to your water feature the red leaves of a maple in autumn, for example, are doubly beautiful when reflected in water, and the catkins of willow trees in spring make the surface of the water appear to dance even when its still.
You need to be aware of some of the drawbacks though. There is a certain amount of work to be done in scooping fallen leaves from the water in autumn, unless your pond is extremely large, and a tree planted too close to the edge of a clay pond can send its roots through the clay liner, thus damaging the water retaining structure.
Size can also be an issue your tree should not tower over the pond, nor grow so fast or so far that it excludes light and growth beneath it. Smaller trees, such as birches and dogwoods may be more suitable, and dogwoods in particular are very useful because you can prune them to within six inches of the ground in spring, to promote new growth, and they have bright winter stems of red, yellow or green, that make a good show of colour.
