Shoreline Buffer Plants

Whether you consider them attractive features or annoying obstacles, pond plants are a fundamental part of aquatic ecosystems. While lake and pond management is often centered around removing nuisance and invasive plants, it also involves maintaining healthy, beneficial vegetation that help the waterbody thrive. As part of a proactive management approach, Aquatic Experts carefully select native, flowering pond plants to cultivate into a natural buffer around the land, bank, and littoral areas of the shoreline. Vegetative buffers of aquatic pond plants extending 3-5 feet out from the shoreline can provide many functional and aesthetic benefits to homeowners communities, golf courses, and private properties:

Choosing a shoreline pond plant that is native to your region will help ensure your beneficial shoreline plant buffer thrives. Pond plants that are considered beneficial in some parts of the U.S. may be invasive or become a nuisance in others. Invasive species disrupt the balance of ecosystems by crowding out native species and making environments inhospitable to desirable plants and wildlife. 

Given the complexities of plant selection, it’s crucial to consult with an expert who specializes in aquatic plant identification and is knowledgeable about the appropriate species based on your region and desired outcomes. In some cases, it is necessary to remove invasive weeds before introducing beneficial shoreline pond plants using solutions like mechanical hydro-raking, harvesting, or EPA-registered herbicides. 

The following are just a few of many popular native aquatic pond plants that can be safely cultivated around waterbodies in each region:

For many golf courses and community associations, there is a preference for waterbodies with a clean, unobstructed appearance and it can be challenging to get others on board with purposefully introducing plants. Fortunately, with the right aquatic pond plant selection, stakeholders can strike a perfect balance between functional and aesthetic benefits. Now is an excellent time to start discussing aquatic shoreline plants for your waterbody. Contact the Aquatic Experts at SOLitude to help choose the right plants to help your waterbody thrive.