First, we have a pre-formed black 'water fall' that my husband wants to put in, but I hate it and would like to know if anyone here has any experience with them and is there a way to make it more natural and realistic in appearance? I've thought of maybe putting pebbles and stones in it and keeping the flow rate kind of slow and putting in a few plants to help mask the edges but I'm still worried all that will be noticable is that black ugly thing.

Next, the pond has been filled, and we've got quite a few plants from that we've been collecting for the past couple of years and they are now in the pond and looking great with lots of new growth. The problem is that the water has turned (yep, you guessed it) green. I haven't used normal compost to plant them, I've used the aquatic stuff, and as well as for the plants, we did put some at the bottom of the pond and along the various shelves. We have no fish in the pond and I am hoping to get a lot more wild-life into the garden with the pond and bog. But what do I need to do to get rid of the green water. We are in Scotland in I think we've had maybe 3 days where the sun was out, the rest has been raining so I'm amazed that any algae can grow LOL We have no fish in there and so have no rotting fish food at the bottom.

I have a few oxygenators in the pond, and have some more due to arrive sometime this week. Is it possible that I don't have enough and that's what's causing the green water? Is there an average amount of oxygenators that are required or is it possible to have too many? As I mentioned, we don't have any fish in the pond and we are not going to be introducing any koi...I'd like to be able to have fish and other creatures that are native to the area and are found in natural ponds, etc but I've no idea how to go about getting them...but that's for later when the pond is going a bit better I think. *grin*

I was told at Dobies that the barley-straw mats that people use are worthless and they suggested a couple of chemicals. But, I'm hesitant to just begin throwing chemicals at the pond, I don't use them in my garden and so find it difficult to do. Have any of you used the straw to help and did you find it worked? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Finally, a more enjoyable (I hope) question. I've got a few of the more 'pretty' plants and so now I'm starting to look for some more wildlife friendly plants. Although we are in the country and already have lots of wildlife in the garden, I'd like to be able to encourage dragonflies, butterflies, frogs, newts and so on into the garden and I'd appreciate any advice on which plants would be best for attracting them and keep them coming back. I've started picking up a few of the wildflowers such as Ragged Robin, Cotton Grass, and a few others to put in the bog area but when I've become overwhelmed with what's out there.

Ok, I've probably bombarded you with more than enough questions. Thank you all so much for any ideas or advice you can give me and I look forward to learning lots more and sharing what's happening.

Kind Regards,
Shelley

I started my wild life pond in autumn 2003, last year I grew blanket weed and azolla for the whole of the UK this year now the proper plants are established I dont have any to speak of. Oh I used normal garden soil, you will probably have a shorter algae bloom than meEmail me your address and I will send you a load of hornwort and any other oxygenators I find and think suitable, I wont send elodea canadensis. I pulled a load of hornwort etc from my fish pond before the spawning season started so it should be fry free, you would probably get snails in there as well. If you want an armful I would be grateful if you would return the postage, the last big lot, a 9" cube, I sent was £5 postage. BTW I dont want owt for the plants just the postage if it is significant, dont send a cheque it isnt cost effective for me to go into town to bank, it paper cash would be best.

Re green water, if this is to be a wild life pond then live with it, it wont last too long and if the plants get established before next year I doubt you will have any next year. I would also sprinkle an inch or so of soil on the floor of the pond and plant your rooted oxygenators directly in that. Dont use the 'lead' weights, if they wont stay down as a new planting, form a small ball of clay around their base or start them in pots and once they have a root system de-pot them with their soil onto the pond floor.
Dragon flies etc like vertical stems so yellow flag iris, reeds and rushes are good. Caltha palustris Marsh marigold (not the double which is small for me so far), bog bean, greater and lesser spearwort, flowering rush, are all good but take a few years to see the full benefit unless you buy huge amount to start of with. Water hawthorn is a good deep water aquatic and would take the place of a lily in a wildlife pond. Lilies may not like the early in the year competition for light, waterhawthorn seems able to cope. Floating heart, frogbit, water violet are other useful plants. Arrowheads and pickeral from B&Q are £3.71 for 2 at the moment, I think the offer finishes today, normal price £4.98 they also sell flowering rush and iris at that price, I am not sure is yellow flag is available cheaper. DO NOT buy their arum lily I have yet to get one to grow
Fish, stickle backs and minnow.
Also have a look at http://www.puddleplants.co.uk/ I have just bought from there and was well pleased, have a look at page 4 of the thread "Plant suggestion please" in the pond and water garden section of the forum fishcrazy.
I started my wild life pond in autumn 2003, last year I/it grew blanket weed and azolla for the whole of the UK this year now the proper plants are established I dont have any to speak of. Oh I used normal garden soil, you will probably have a shorter algae bloom than me.
If you would like a load of hornwort and any other oxygenators I find and think suitable email me your address, I wont send elodea canadensis??. I pulled a load of hornwort etc from my fish pond before the spawning season started so it should be fry free, you would probably get snails in there as well. You might get some blanket weed and azolla mixed in sorry, you wont be able to get rid of all the BW but if you dont want azolla push everything underwater, agitate it and hopefully the azolla will float to the surface, then net it ALL off and COMPOST it, do NOT through it into a natural waterway. If you want an armful I would be grateful if you would return the postage, the last big lot, a 9" cube, I sent was £5 postage. BTW I dont want owt for the plants just the postage if it is significant, dont send a cheque it isnt cost effective for me to go into town to bank, it paper cash would be best.

DO NOT buy Tillaea-recurva/swamp-stonecrop/Crassula-helsii, if it takes off it can form big clumps and it is invasive. Although it spread well in my wild life pond it took a year for it to take off, the main clump now grows 1ft plus stems and 'smothers' one corner of the pond, its easy to uproot and compost so it isnt really a problem and I will keep it under control, I hope. If you want something that looks like it try Starwort Callitriche verna.
Starwort and water violet may be hard to find in a garden centre but they may occur in the wild. Neither are probably worth buying in small pots or singley in plugs etc certainly water violet doesnt seem to like a small start. I have just bought 6" square pots of water violet and starwort and the water violet is fairng a lot better than the small pot I got hold of last year. This is the first time I have seen starwort in a garden centre so I am just guessing at its behaviour. Both of these originated from Beaver water plants down south, if your garden centre deals with them they may be able to order you some.

By the way, WELCOME! :)

Phil

I can't remember who, but someone on the site suggested the postcode database, and it is excellent for finding native flora for your area. Not to mention the great old fashioned names!

As for the green water, just think how it shows how 'green' you are!