Which aquatic plants to choose for your natural swimming pool?

Which aquatic plants should you choose for your natural swimming pool?

Aquatic plants for ponds and natural swimming pools are not just decorative elements. They play an important role in water treatment. But for them to thrive, it is essential to choose and plant the perfect aquatic plants for YOUR natural swimming pool! Continue reading to select yours.

How to choose your aquatic plants?

When choosing aquatic plants, you must take various factors into account, such as sunlight exposure, soil quality, and plant combinations. You must also not forget the depth of the water in which the different species are placed. A distinction is made in particular between plants for marshes, for shallow water, and for deep-water zones. Moreover, all plant groups play specific roles in the natural swimming pool. Let's look at this in detail...

How to choose your aquatic plants based on their location?

In a marshy area, the water depth is between 0 and 10 centimeters. The ideal plant species for this type of depth are as follows:

• Mentha aquatica (water mint);
• Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag iris);
• Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife).

In damp areas that do not require permanent flooding, grasses (Carex species) and various rushes will be perfectly suited to your natural swimming pool.

In shallow natural swimming pools (10 to 30 centimeters deep), plant species often grow along the edges of the pond. The most popular aquatic plants for this type of pool are:

• Typha species;
• Acorus calamus (sweet flag);
• Hardstem bulrush;
• Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush).

These plant varieties play an important role in a pond. Indeed, the plants consume nutrients in the shallow water and the riparian zone. Their aerial tissues (aerenchyma) provide oxygen to the bottom substrate and ensure better living conditions for the fish populations that inhabit it.

Which plant species should be planted for natural swimming pools intended for bathing?

If the depth of your pool is greater than 50 centimeters, provide for a sufficiently large regeneration zone. In this oxygenation zone, place shining pondweed, milfoil, and water crowfoot. These aquatic plant species will provide all the necessary oxygen to your pool's water. Do not hesitate to add different varieties of submerged plants to ensure optimal water quality.

The plant species to plant for natural swimming pools intended for bathing are:

• Myriophyllum spicatum (spiked water milfoil);
• Ranunculus aquatilis (common water crowfoot);
• Elodea canadensis (Canadian pondweed);
• Pondweed species (e.g., Potamogeton coloratus).

All these varieties are capable of absorbing the nutrients present in the water thanks to their fine leaves. They then compete with algae, particularly filamentous green algae.

Furthermore, this high consumption of nutrients often results in strong plant growth. Regular maintenance of a swimming pond therefore includes pruning subaquatic plants, which allows for the sustainable extraction of the nutrients fixed in the green mass from the aquatic system.

How to plant your subaquatic plants?

Whether for small ponds or large natural swimming pools, subaquatic plants will find their place in their environment. But to ensure this, here is a tutorial on how to plant your subaquatic plants properly.

Install your aquatic plants from May to September. Water that is too cold could hinder the proper development of the vegetation. Then, use a planting basket! It will prevent the water from becoming soiled and will control the unruly growth of the rootstocks. There are various baskets adapted to the size of the pots. Then, obtain aquatic potting soil enriched with organic elements. It promotes the development of aquatic plants.

Instructions:

1. Remove the plant from its pot and loosen the roots;
2. Place the plant in the center of the basket;
3. Fill the empty spaces with the aquatic potting soil;
4. Pack everything down;
5. Place the plant where it is to grow (in the substrate or on the edge of your water feature).

Conclusion: choose your aquatic plants according to the depth of your natural swimming pool!

As you will have understood, aquatic plants will structure your entire water feature. And, regardless of the size of your pool, there is always a plant for every type of depth.

Some are intended to be submerged, others to be planted at the edge or near the bank. Still others, like water lilies, are floating plant varieties. Finally, note that the months of May and June are the best months to add new aquatic plants to your natural swimming pool.

We hope you have found an answer to your question. And for more advice on the maintenance and decoration of your natural swimming pool, continue reading! This guide is the result of a partnership with the blog, monbassin.com, which specializes in advice for basins & ponds.