Frequently Asked Questions
I'm new to pond planting - how do I choose the plants to start my pond?
To help customers new to ponds we offer prepared Pond Planting schemes (or Starter Kits) – these are available on Planting Schemes page. These are in size according to the surface area of your pond.
Find the right Scheme for your size of pond and we do the choosing of the various pond plants for you. The number of plants of each type you receive is standard in a scheme but you can pick either ‘Mainly British Native’ or ‘Any plant’ or ‘British Native plants only’ from our range.
We make sure you get a balanced scheme for pond areas of assorted shelves with interest across the seasons and for various wildlife to start your pond going.
Can I arrange a set delivery day in advance when I place my order?
Yes. Add a specific delivery date of your choice in General Comments as you go through Checkout. This can either be a day of choice in the week to follow or a date weeks in advance. We will manually override the date of dispatch that will be automated onto your email confirmation.
Which of the sheld pond plants you stock are rafting and which are upright?
Rafting plants are grown and sold in 9cm baskets, upright plants are grown and sold in 11cm baskets.
Do you send out plants all year round?
We send pond plants at any time of year except when there is ice on our ponds. You can plant anytime when there is no ice on your pond.
Our plants come rooted into their baskets so they are ‘moving home’ and easily relocate to your pond.
Use our ‘Email when available’ system to give you a notification when a plant you want becomes available again if it is not available during Winter.
How does my order arrive?
Plants will be sent out Monday – Thursday after the order is received to avoid plants being kept wrapped whilst in transit over a weekend.
They should be delivered to you in 24 hours following dispatch by APC (Highlands and Islands 48 hours) and can be tracked using the code sent to you by email.
For details on how we Pick and Pack your order see our Blog post – Packing your parcels
Container ponds will be sent by the manufacturer within 6 weeks of receipt of the order dependent on the size and colour ordered as some of these are made to order. Plants and support rings will be delivered with or after the pond is delivered.
How do my plants arrive and what information is included?
Shelf pond plants and waterlilies are sent ready rooted in aquatic compost in the size basket quoted. Oxygenating plants are sent as bareroot portions or bunches.
All plants are wrapped in newspaper and a plastic bag to keep them damp in transit.
Each plant or group of 3 plants in a bag will have a ticket in it with the details:
- Plant name in Latin and the Common English name
- Planting instructions – depth of water over the top of the basket
- Height & flowering season
- Spread of growth for waterlilies
- Plant Passport Number
Do you deliver to Ireland?
We are sorry but from 2021 we will no longer be able to send to either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland following the change in the EU situation.
What do the symbols w, Shelf 0, Shelf 1, Shelf 2, Shelf 3 mean?
w is an area of wet mud where water will stay (especially in Winter) on a stream edge or a wet bog garden
is a shelf in a pond 13-15cm(5-6″) deep where water will just cover the top of the pond plant basket by 0-5cm (0-2″).
is a shelf in a pond 15-22cm(6-9″) deep where water will cover the top of a pond plant basket by between 5-10cm (2-4″)
is a shelf in a pond 23-44cm(10-17″) deep where water will cover the top of a planted basket by between 15-25cm (6-10″)
is either a shelf or the pond floor which is deeper than 45cm(18″) deep above the top of a planted basket
For more information go to Build a Pond page