We recommend that, for ease of maintenance, all marginal plants should be contained in mesh planting baskets or crates.
	On the whole, because they will compete, it is best to avoid planting more than one variety of plant in a single basket.
	Use ordinary heavy garden loam. If you can squeeze a handful of soil into a ball, throw it up and catch it without it breaking up, the soil is the right consistency.
	Plant into a heavy loam, free from chemicals. Neither light, sandy soil, chalk nor raw clay is suitable. NEVER add peat or compost to the soil.
	Marginal plants form clumps and will grow to the size of the basket; the bigger the basket the bigger the clump.
	Fill the basket ½full of soil, pressed well down to make it really firm.
	Position the plant so that the base of the stem is about 1-2cms below the rim of the basket.
	Fill with soil, again really firmly pressed into place, so that the soil reaches to the base of the stem.
	Top dress with 1-2cms washed pea gravel.

	Ideally your pond should contain one marginal for every 18ins(45cm) of shelf space.
	Remember that tall plants and grasses need to be planted into a basket of a size that is not constantly going to be blown over.
	All marginal plants, unless otherwise indicated, should be positioned at a depth where there is no more than 2-5cms water over the soil.
	Many marginal plants are unhappy in moving water.
	NEVER put marginal plants directly beneath a fountain, they hate being constantly splashed and it can even kill them!

	Aponogeton Dystachios (Water hawthorn) Plant as a water lily.  Likes cooler water, so will tolerate some shade or movement of water.
	Thalia dealbata.  Plant as a marginal but in a 10ltr crate and in water up to 50cms deep.

	Fill an ordinary garden flowerpot with soil, pressed well down to make it really firm.
	Plant three bunches of oxygenator in each pot.
	Push the cut ends of the plants into the soil.
	Top dress with 1-2cms washed pea gravel.
	Ensure that the plants are fully submerged.

N.B. Ceratophylum demersum (Hornwort) need not be planted, but simply dropped into the water, where it will sink to the bottom and start growing 

	In a new pond, the stocking rate should be three bunches per m².
	Oxygenating plants are submersed plants that grow quickly. Through photosynthesis they breathe oxygen into the water during daylight, especially when they are in active growth.
	Oxygenators also provide a safe breeding ground and cover for fish, newts and invertebrates.
	Because they grow quickly, these plants should be thinned out from time to time.