appropriate native plants for cecil co pond - Ask Extension
i have a very long standing pond on my property that has long had some algea overgrowth. i have recently become more interested in native plants and h...
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appropriate native plants for cecil co pond #932460
Asked May 21, 2026, 7:23 AM EDT
i have a very long standing pond on my property that has long had some algea overgrowth. i have recently become more interested in native plants and have researched many that may help block some sun from the bottom algae plants and feed off the rest to keep it manageable; however, i have yet to come across one not described as an aggressive grower in these conditions. i am brave enough to try aggressive natives on much of the land, but too nervous to hurt the fish, who have successfully maintained their own colony longer than ive been alive. i wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize them and am not confident on keeping aquatic plants under control, especially once they're out of reach. could you suggest a native plant that may be suitable? thank you!
Cecil County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello and thank you for your question. I can appreciate your apprehension, and I've included numerous pond and watershed resources here for your perusal.
The first step to reducing algae would be to reduce nutrient runoff into the pond. This can be done by not mowing up to the pond edge and/or creating a buffer of plants around the pond that will slow run off and use up excess nutrients before they settle into the pond to feed the algae.
Is your pond deep in the center or shallow throughout? That will determine whether one species of native aquatic plant will "take over" your pond, or stick to the depth it is happiest at. Cattail, for example, are great for shallow edges, but don't grow in deep water. A pond that is all shallow will be trickier to introduce potentially aggressive native plants to.
Some aggressive native plants are worthwhile to try even if you know it will require partial removal in future years. American elodea, for example, will form thick mats and will need thinning every few years in spots, but are worthwhile as prolific producers of oxygen and absorbers of both nitrogen and phosphorous, which is in direct competition with algae. Unlike algae, elodea is evergreen and provides crucial winter cover for fish, in addition to the oxygen they provide.
In short, much of your pond maintenance will be reduced with a healthy ecosystem, so if you're apprehensive about introducing aggressive natives to your pond, start with the plant buffer around it and making sure you stick to the MD fertilizer law if you apply fertilizer to your lawn. Give those steps a few years and determine whether the algae has reduced or not. If you are still battling blooms -- which may be the case with our more extreme weather patterns, including drought and heat waves -- then try introducing a native aquatic plant that is appropriate to your pond depth and salinity. If your pond has differing depths, you can start with one, give that a few years, then reevaluate before adding another. As you can see, this isn't a short term fix, especially if you want to make sure you don't get in over your head.
The first step to reducing algae would be to reduce nutrient runoff into the pond. This can be done by not mowing up to the pond edge and/or creating a buffer of plants around the pond that will slow run off and use up excess nutrients before they settle into the pond to feed the algae.
Is your pond deep in the center or shallow throughout? That will determine whether one species of native aquatic plant will "take over" your pond, or stick to the depth it is happiest at. Cattail, for example, are great for shallow edges, but don't grow in deep water. A pond that is all shallow will be trickier to introduce potentially aggressive native plants to.
Some aggressive native plants are worthwhile to try even if you know it will require partial removal in future years. American elodea, for example, will form thick mats and will need thinning every few years in spots, but are worthwhile as prolific producers of oxygen and absorbers of both nitrogen and phosphorous, which is in direct competition with algae. Unlike algae, elodea is evergreen and provides crucial winter cover for fish, in addition to the oxygen they provide.
In short, much of your pond maintenance will be reduced with a healthy ecosystem, so if you're apprehensive about introducing aggressive natives to your pond, start with the plant buffer around it and making sure you stick to the MD fertilizer law if you apply fertilizer to your lawn. Give those steps a few years and determine whether the algae has reduced or not. If you are still battling blooms -- which may be the case with our more extreme weather patterns, including drought and heat waves -- then try introducing a native aquatic plant that is appropriate to your pond depth and salinity. If your pond has differing depths, you can start with one, give that a few years, then reevaluate before adding another. As you can see, this isn't a short term fix, especially if you want to make sure you don't get in over your head.
