plants / soil in stream?

[bean6924]

Hi,

I'm rebuilding a stream and pond, and wondering whether soil and plants are ok in the stream. I have these little areas that "pool up" along the stream, and I would love to plant some lotus plants, but I'm worried about nasty stuff building up in this area.

I just started to clean out the area, and found some sort of nasty rotting leaves, etc caught under rocks. I've attached a pic of the area. I don't really want to have remove rocks around this and clean every year.

Anyway, I guess I'm asking whether this is ok. No fish in the stream, and the water is running fairly strong through this area. My pond will have no rocks, goldfish and a bottom drain.

thanks!

 

[addy1]

I don't think lotus would grow in your stream. They need to have their tuber under water by about 6 inches plus, mine are about 10 inches down. The lotus floats leaves then sends ones above water. The water movement might bother them too. You might be able to put in one of the small variety of lotus, but not sure.

You could put in some pea gravel and plants like blueforgetmenot , creeping jenny, grasses etc. I have areas in my stream that are planted, shallow amount of pea gravel, then some small plants.

 

[bean6924]

thanks. I actually have creeping jenny near that spot on the bank. It's flowering now. really pretty.

I know this is a construction forum, so I do have one construction related follow up - Do you think the pea gravel and smaller plants in the stream is something I would need to clean out every year? Or will just leaving it be ok. I'm wondering if it would negatively affect water quality, or act as a mini bog filter. I'm assuming soil is out of the question.

Thanks!

 

[addy1]

Our forum threads are not hard fast, we wander a lot.

I have pea gravel and plants in the stream, I have not cleaned anything out in the last 3 years except some dead leaves that get blown in.

 

[bean6924]

thanks. I'll plant away!

 

[addy1]

Enjoy, show some pics when you get it done