Planting a Guild Fact Sheet What is a Guild? a Garden Pond Fact Sheet Building Guild planting, like all gardening, is a way of recreating nature taking advantage of some of nature’s processes.
A garden pond is a beautiful addition to any garden, whether it is filled with just plants or fish as well. ecosystems Here is our are simple guideofto whatand youanimals, need torather knowthan about garden ponds. Most mixtures plants vastbuilding monocultures. eachthe species usesPond slightly different resources (the 'ecological niche') Choosing Garden
each species has slightly different outputs, which are used by other elements in the system taller plants tendertoyoung plants weather The first thing thatshelter you need consider is from whatextremes type of of pond that you want to build – one with not all species are susceptible to the same pests and diseases plants only, or one with fish and plants. This is because each pond needs to take into some species shelter that pest itpredators consideration the features has. Be careful that you don’t choose a pond that is too small as potential exists for symbiotic relationships it will limit the amount of fish and plants that
you can use.
A guild is a mixture of species organised to provide similar benefits. It is often designed around a central element- such as a fruit tree. In a typical vegetable patch, plants are lined up in rows by cultivar. In a You also need to consider the location. You mixed planting, it's harder for pests to see or smell the plants they prefer, so there should be less pest will enjoy the pond more if it is closer to the damage.
home – make sure it is somewhere where you are easily able to see it. Be careful that the pond does not getguild any runoff as chemicals and Designing your organic matter may get into the pond, disrupting its ecology. Ensure the 1. Select a site that best suits the that variety of plants fruit tree you want to grow, taking into consideration climatic get sunlight if you want to grow plants. Also be conditions, micro climate and space available. aware that generally speaking, the larger the pond is, the it is toplants maintain. 2. Choose theeasier companion for your fruit tree. Choose a range of climbers, ground covers and herbs. Make sure they are good companions for the tree and have similar requirements- examine shape, size, soil requirements Types of Pond and climatic needs. Ensure all of your plants chosen are compatible with each other.
3. Whenbuilding you have chosen thethere companions, design and plant your guild, of the size When your pond, are many options to choose frombeing whenmindful it comes tomature materials. and shape of each plant and the space and sunlight it will need. One of the most popular is the lined pond. This is where you dig the hole to any shape that you See Hornsby Shire Council Fact Sheet on Companion Planting for more information.