Category: The Dynamic Landscape

Water birds and fish

Both water birds—such as coots, ducks, geese and swans—and fish have a negative influence on water and marsh plants. This does not mean that a single Carp (Cyprinus carpio) does any harm, but larger numbers may stir up the bottom to such an extent that vegetation cannot develop or existing valuable ones are destroyed. Owing […]

Maintenance

Maintenance of the more subtle, highly detailed marsh vegetations is none too easy. Unwanted species are weeded out. Depending on the soil, more or fewer weeds will come up. Peat soils always have an abundant weed seed bank, ranging from Typha to Salix. In order to reduce disturbance, the unwanted species are weeded when they […]

A subtle balance

Yearly maintenance activities, such as the removal of thread algae, Lemna and detritus, in addition to periodical dredging, keep ponds and waterways and their vegetations in reasonable shape. One must, however, be very careful. Reducing vigorous, abundant populations of Stratiotes aloides, Menyanthes trifoliata, Calla palustris or Potentilla palustris may cause a sudden decrease in vitality […]

Flower meadows without grasses

A flower meadow without grasses might be regarded as a semi-natural wildflower border. With this type of meadow, the restrictions posed by highly fertile soils are greatly reduced, since species with a great competitive power, such as grasses (and also potentially dominat forbs such as Rumex species, and Taraxacum officinale), are removed by weeding. It […]