If you’re a pond owner, you’ve most likely questioned, “can you have too many plants in a garden pond?”
Plants are good for a pond overall, but too many can be bad (even fish kill bad).
So how many plants is ok, and what plants are good in a pond?
And, what do you do if you have too many plants in your pond?
Let’s take a look!
Always Remember that any pond that has fish living in, should always include an oxygenator plant or a pump. You can build a wildlife pond but that wouldn’t have fish living and feeding in it, it would instead be full of insects, frogs, and other wild species!
How Many Plants Can I Have In My Pond?
You’ve probably heard lots of benefits of having aquatic vegetation in the pond. There are countless types of aquatic plants to choose from, and you may find yourself asking, “Could I have too many plants in my garden pond?”
This is a legitimate and wise question, as plants do consume valuable resources, including water, O2, and nutrients, to thrive. And if there are too many plants, the pond critters may not have enough of each to survive.
So how many plants should you have in your pond?
In order to have enough nutrients to go around, we recommend approximately 60% of your pond be made up of plants, especially if you have fish and/or other pond critters that you want to thrive and survive.
So what if you think you have too many plants in your pond?
Now it could be time to remove some of them, and most plants you can easily follow roots into pulling them up roots-first.
You do not want to leave any roots behind when you pull them out, or most of them will grow back again and again.
So the only exception are wildlife ponds with no live fish. Wildlife ponds have relatively less water surface area and can be made up of as much as 70% plants.
What Plants Are the Best For Ponds?
Check out these pond plants that are fairly easy to maintain, and – in the right amounts – are perfect for a pond or around a pond.
They provide beauty and habitat for our pond critters (if you have any) as well! So let’s take a look!
Creeping Jenny
If you want a pond plant that will not take over your pond, Creeping Jenny is your best bet! This is a beautiful plant that grows along the edges of ponds in a sprawling manner.
Because it takes root in the soil, it does not take as many nutrients from the water, like some plants. It is aesthetically beautiful and practical; instead of overtaking your pond, it will be a decorative edging.
It also is known to be a lovely accompaniment to a waterfall, since it will cascade along the water!
Blue Iris
Blue iris grows on the shallow edges of ponds and even plays a role in preventing some predators (mainly birds that may prey on your fish frogs, etc.)
It’s a great plant for just about any pond with its colors and beauty. Not only that, but if you want plants to help keep your pond clean, blue irises can do this as well!
They will provide a backdrop that is utilitarian and lovely to look at. Not to mention, they do not tend to take over, so you don’t have to worry about too many plants in your garden pond.
They are a good choice for any nature lover!
Mosaic Plant
Mosaic plants (also called “water mosaic plants”) are aptly named because of their distinctly beautiful character: the leaves form patterns that look just like a mosaic.
These are lovely plants that do not take up much space while providing many benefits!
They are also very effective at helping to process waste and keep the pond clean in general.
Water Lettuce
Water lettuce is a favorite of pond-owners, for an excellent reason. It offers stunning foliage, floating on the water surface; long, feathery roots do all the hard work of purifying the water.
Water lettuce also helps limit excess algae and provides shade and shelter for fish. If you are looking for a great pond plant that is easy to maintain, water lettuce is it!
Cardinal Flower
If you already have an abundance of plants in your pond but still want to add more, you can always give cardinal flowers a try.
These come from the soil and are pond edging (rather than growing right inside the pond). These have beautiful flowers that are sure to attract both butterflies and hummingbirds (some people have even said they are sure they have hummingbirds living in their pond because they spent so much time there).
To many pond owners, these flowers have been a true winner!
Sweet Flag
Sweet flag is a very slow growing plant, so you don’t have to worry about having too much in your garden pond. It will slowly extend from its pot.
It is best placed into the soil along the edge of your pond, or submerged in a pot about 4 inches.
From there, it will create a beautiful groundcover!
Hornwort
A somewhat facet of the problem with the croweded pond it can be very dirty water. Hornwort will help keep your pond nice and clean.
This is a nice green plant, which will not just beautify the pond, but it will also be better for the health of your pond!
Conclusion
So, if you were wondering, ‘can you have too many plants in a garden pond?’ your answer is yes. Sometimes, plants do overcrowd a pond.
Fortunately, as long as you stick to no more than 60% plants, you shouldn’t run into this issue. There are also specific plants that take up less room/grow slower than others (such as the ones above).