Post by parker002 on Jul 28, 2011 21:18:32 GMT -5
We live in zone 4b/5a. My mother-in-law traditionally had cannas, elephants ears, and lillies. The pond is on the south side of the house (unfortunately) and there are no terrestrial tress to provide shade.
Since the cannas and elephant ears had to be brought in during the winter and the lillies take a while to "wake up" after being in freezing water all winter, she has developed a routine of buying a dozen water hyacinths in the early spring to help prevent algae blooms.
I honestly HATE the hyacinths. Yesterday we removed TWENTY FIVE POUNDS of them (if you're not familiar with water hyacinths, it's a pile about 4 feet across and 3 feet high!) and by this afternoon, they cover nearly 90% of the surface of the pond!
Beyond their invasiveness, I think they're actually stunting some of my other plants, especially the lilly, by blocking out the sun completely.
Is there a better way to shade the pond without resorting to these water weeds?
Since the cannas and elephant ears had to be brought in during the winter and the lillies take a while to "wake up" after being in freezing water all winter, she has developed a routine of buying a dozen water hyacinths in the early spring to help prevent algae blooms.
I honestly HATE the hyacinths. Yesterday we removed TWENTY FIVE POUNDS of them (if you're not familiar with water hyacinths, it's a pile about 4 feet across and 3 feet high!) and by this afternoon, they cover nearly 90% of the surface of the pond!
Beyond their invasiveness, I think they're actually stunting some of my other plants, especially the lilly, by blocking out the sun completely.
Is there a better way to shade the pond without resorting to these water weeds?
....what about building something to hold shade then remove it once the Lillies wake up?...sorry my only suggestion...I don't know anything about pond plants 
