Which aquatic plants to choose for your natural swimming pool?

Which aquatic plants to choose for your natural swimming pool?

Aquatic plants for ponds and natural pools are not just decorative elements. These play an important role in water treatment. But for them to flourish, it is essential to choose and plant the perfect aquatic plants for YOUR natural pool! Read on to pick yours.

How to choose your aquatic plants?

When choosing aquatic plants, various factors must be taken into account such as sunshine, soil quality, the association of plants. We 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 areas. Moreover, all groups of plants play specific roles in the natural pool. Let’s see this in detail…

How to choose your aquatic plants according to the location?

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

• Mentha aquatica (water mint);
• Iris pseudacorus (swamp iris);
• Lythrum salicaria (loose loosestrife).

In wet areas that do not need permanent flooding, grasses (species of Carex) and various rushes will work well for your natural pool.

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

• Typha species;
• Acorus calamus (calamus);
• acute bulrush;
• Butome in umbel (flowering rush).

These varieties of plants play an important role in a pond. This is because plants consume nutrients in shallow waters and the riparian zone. Their aerial tissues (aerenchyma) bring oxygen to the bottom substrate and provide better living conditions for the fish populations that inhabit them.

Which plant species to plant for natural swimming pools intended for swimming?

If the depth of your pool is more than 50 centimeters, plan a sufficiently large regeneration zone. In this zone of oxygenation, place shiny pondweeds, water milfoils and water buttercups. These aquatic plant species will provide all the oxygen your pond water needs. Feel free to add different varieties of submerged plants to ensure optimal water quality.

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

• Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil);
• Ranunculus aquatilis (water buttercup);
• Elodea canadensis (Canada waterweed);
• Pondweed species (eg Potamogeton coloratus).

All these varieties are able to absorb the nutrients present in the water thanks to their fine leaves. They then compete with algae, in particular with filamentous green algae.

What's more, this high nutrient consumption often results in strong plant growth. Regular maintenance of a swimming pond therefore includes pruning the underwater plants, which allows the nutrients fixed in the green mass to be extracted from the aquatic system on a sustainable basis.

How to plant your underwater plants?

Small ponds or large natural pools, underwater plants will find their place in their environment. But to make sure, here is a tutorial for planting your underwater plants in the rules of the art.

Install your aquatic plants from May to September. Water that is too cold could hinder the proper development of vegetation. Then, use a planting basket! It will prevent soiling the water and control the anarchic development of stumps. There are various baskets suitable for the size of the pots. Then take aquatic soil enriched with organic elements. It promotes the development of aquatic plants.

Manual :

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 compost;
4. Pack everything down;
5. Place the plant where it should grow (in the substrate or on the edge of your water point).

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

As you will have understood, aquatic plants will come to structure your entire water point. And, whatever the size of your pond, there is always a plant for each type of depth.

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

We hope you have found an answer to your question. And for more tips on maintaining and decorating your natural swimming pool, keep reading! This guide is the result of a partnership with the blog, monbassin.com, specializing in advice for pools & ponds .