Planting your pond

Big, lush pond plants are one of the pleasures of owning a pond: they never need watering, grow like topsy and have masses of spectacular flowers to boot.

Aim to create a natural ecosystem within your pond by creating 'layers' of different types of planting. All these are available in our garden centre, so pick a few from each category for a perfectly-balanced pond.

Oxygenators grow under water and introduce air, creating a great environment for wildlife. They include Canadian pondweed (Elodea crispa) and buttercup-like water crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis).

Floating plants: aim to cover a third of the pond's surface as shelter for wildlife and to keep algae away. Try curious water hyacinths floating on sacs filled with air, or spiky water soldiers with white flowers in summer.

Marginal plants grow in shallow water around the edges, making great wildlife habitats. They include water irises, marsh marigold with brilliant yellow flowers in spring, and white-flowered arrowroot (Sagittaria sagittifolia).

Deep water plants rise from the bottom of the pond and include some of our favourite plants: waterlilies are deep-water aquatics. Others to look out for include pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) with blue flower spikes.

Please ask the staff in our Newcastle upon Tyne garden centre for more information and advice about building ponds.