1. Water side and Aquatic plants
Silvinus Clisson Pragash & Sn Azarudeen
2. Waterside plants
• Waterside plants can be broadly defined as the vegetation which thrive in the margins
of any water body such as Rivers, streams, lakes and ponds.
• Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called riparian
vegetation, characterized by hydrophilic plants. Riparian zones are significant
in ecology, environmental management, and civil engineering because of their role
in soil conservation, their habitat biodiversity, and the influence they have
on fauna and aquatic ecosystems, including grassland ,woodland, wetland or even non-
vegetative.
• The assortment of riparian zone trees varies from those of wetlands and typically
consists of plants that either are emergent aquatic
plants, or herbs, trees and shrubs that thrive in proximity to water.
• Riparian zones may be natural or engineered for soil stabilization or restoration. These
zones are important natural bio filters, protecting aquatic environments from
excessive sedimentation, polluted surface runoff and erosion.
• They supply shelter and food for many aquatic animals and shade that is an important
part of stream temperature regulation. When riparian zones are damaged
by construction, agriculture or silviculture, biological restoration can take place, usually
by human intervention in erosion control and re-vegetation.
6. Aquatic plants
• Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments
(saltwater or freshwater). They are also referred to
as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for
living submerged in water, or at the water's surface.
• Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is permanently saturated with
water. They are therefore a common component of wetlands.
• These plants thrive in stagnant water such as lakes, ponds and also in the riverside
wetlands and in rivers blocked with dams.
• Aquatic plants play numerous roles in the ecosystem of a pond. Aquatic plants
consume the same nutrients as algae. They also consume various metals and other
compounds.
• Another advantage of plants is that they provide shade, which deprive algae of direct
sunlight. Blooming aquatic plants such as Lotus and tropical water lilies consume huge
amounts of nitrates from the pond which will also help with reducing algae problems.
• Aquatic plants not only help maintain the health of your pond, but they can also soften
the look of the pond.
• They can help camouflage any rocks around the edges of the pond as well as add
natural beauty and variety of colour to the pond.
7. Aquatic plants
• Aquatic plants are generally divided into four groups for management purposes. These
groups are the Algae, Floating Plants, Submerged Plants, and Emergent Plants.
• Floating Plants are not attached to the bottom. Floating plants come in sizes from very
small (duckweed) to over a foot in diameter (water hyacinth). Most have roots that
hang in the water from the floating green portions.
• Submerged Plants are rooted plants with most of their vegetative mass below the
water surface, although some portions may stick above the water. One discerning
characteristic of submerged plants is their flaccid or soft stems, which is why they do
not usually rise above the water’s surface.
• Emergent Plants are rooted plants often along the shoreline that stand above the
surface of the water (cattails). The stems of emergent plants are somewhat stiff or
firm.
• Many ponds have more than one type of aquatic plant, and care must be taken to
identify all the aquatic plants inhabiting the pond. Some pond plants may be beneficial
to local or migratory wildlife, and therefore, may want to be encouraged or at least not
eliminated. Click on whichever group of aquatic plants that you feel your specimen
may belong to and work through the examples until you find it.
9. Design consideration for water side and aquatic planting
• Having pleasantly diversified the path in relation to the stream, we have to think how best it
may be planted. Some of the plants suited to the running stream edge will be the same as for
the margins of stiller ponds, but some that have a liking for running water will be proper to
the stream itself.
• One should be careful not to crowd too many different plants into my stream-picture. The way
to enjoy these beautiful things is to see one picture at a time ; not to confuse the mind with a
crowded jumble of too many interesting individuals, such as is usually to be seen in a water
garden.
• Care must be taken not to overcrowd the plants, rather group together three to five plants of
the same kind, leave a space, and again plant a clump of subjects of different colour, type, and
height. This irregularity and variety will please the eye, which would tend to become surfeited
by a mass of the same color, size, and form.
10. Design consideration for water side and aquatic planting
• The natural surroundings must also be very carefully considered. If the area is
restricted, greater variety and beauty can be obtained by the use of small growing species;
while among extensive surroundings full rein may be given to the free-growing plants, many
of which are invaluable as a background where space permits. It is always
necessary, however, to bear in mind the size to which the plants will grow in from two to
three years' time, and to arrange them accordingly.
• Knowledge of the habits and rate of growth of the plants introduced and a clear visualization
of the picture one is endeavouring to produce can ensure success in this exceedingly difficult
matter of planting for future effect.
11. Design consideration for water side and aquatic planting
• Marginal plants are typically found along the perimeter of ponds, lakes, wetlands, and
streams. In a man-made pond, these plants soften the hard edges of the rocks, and provide a
smooth transition from the water in the pond to the grass and shrubs beyond.
• Taller marginal plants, placed as a backdrop, would naturally catch the flying seeds of other
plants. The seeds would then drop to the bottom of the pond and at least some of them
would live again as a new plant where they landed.
• Placing taller plants like reeds, cattails, and cannas near the back of a planting cluster works
well. Then, add to the look by placing medium and shorter plants on the viewing side of the
taller ones.
12. Design consideration for water side and aquatic planting
Playing with Colours
• Random placement of plants with different textures and colours will give your pond a
complete, yet unstructured, appearance.
• It’s always a good idea to emphasize primary colours with larger plants, and complete the look
by adding some daring contrasts of texture and other colours around the edge.
• Foliage comes in many other colours besides green. Play the colours and textures of foliage
will help create a lush and inviting look.
• Flowers, and the multitude of colours make easy work of naturalizing the water garden
13. Design consideration for water side and aquatic planting
The Height Factor
• The mature size and habit of the plants should be kept in mind. it’s important to place the
shorter plants in the foreground and gradually work back to the taller ones.
• One of the biggest mistakes that people make when planting a water garden is failing to
realize how large some plants will grow or spread. When this mistake is made, the result is an
overgrown jungle that requires much more work to keep them from taking over the pond.
• If you want to create a truly low-maintenance water garden, its necessary to have a good idea
how large a plant is going to grow before planting it.
• In summary, the more fully all of these factors are taken into consideration when designing
and planting in the water garden, the better the results will be.
• Pond will be fully dressed and will tie naturally into the rest of the landscape and also enhance
the view of the pond with even more features and colours to delight the eye.
14. Bibilography
WALL AND WATER GARDENS by GERTRUDE JEKYLL.
http://thewesternghats.in/sites/default/files/Arulagam_Karthik_KotagiriWorkshop.pdfhttp://ww
w.aquascapeinc.com/aquascape-your-landscape-blog.php.
http://www.naturestouchponds.com/aquatic-plants.html
http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/lake2006/programme/programme/lake2006_Pdf/Keshava%
20H%20Korse.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/design.pdf
http://www.backyardgardener.com/pondlady/submerge.html