The sun’s out after Easter, and every pondkeeper is looking to spruce up their aquatic greenery. Here’s how to get the most of yours in time for summer.
WORDS: NATHAN HILL
POND PLANT RETAILERS tend to know exactly how busy their days are going to be based on sunlight alone. With a few warming rays, we pond keepers are eager to rush back outside and get things in shape for the warmer months. But a pond doesn’t quite work at the same pace as the wider garden…
First up, don’t rush it…
While the sun might be hitting the garden, pond plants are still sat in a pool of surprisingly cold water. Compared to their terrestrial kin, they will be slower to gear up for the year.
But my plants haven’t come back yet!
An all-too-common knee-jerk by novice pond keepers is to assume that their plants have died over winter because they haven’t started to sprout yet. Were they thriving last year in the same place? If so, then just give them more time. Remember, everything grows slower in the pond.
Where are all the big waterlilies on sale?
Here we go with the cold thing again. Yes, garden centres will be packed with vibrant, young terrestrial plants, but aquatic stores will only have waterlilies with maybe a single leaf struggling to grow. Typically, waterlily pads won’t start to reach the surface until the end of May or start of June—and even that can be optimistic.
However, use this to your advantage. Spring is a great time to stock up on waterlilies, as they actually travel better when they’re still at this young stage. If purchasing now, go a step further and aim for lilies where the leaves are still furled up, as these will be less likely to break off or become damaged in transit. If they’ve come from a reputable supplier, they’ll already be potted up with the right type of soil and enough food to see them through their first year.
Re-potting last year’s plants
One thing you can do to prepare for the warmer months is repot your existing pond pla
