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Choosing the right aquatic plants for your lakefront home

Beautiful and colorful lupine herds in the garden

Being surrounded by trees and vegetation is one of the perks of owning a lake house. At some point, however, you might want to consider adding a few aquatic plants, perhaps for aesthetic purposes. This sounds simple enough, but it doesn’t merely involve choosing whichever plant looks pretty or frames the view perfectly. As the owner of the lakefront property, you have a responsibility not just to your home, but also to help maintain the health and beauty of the lake. After all, keeping the waters pristine increases your enjoyment and appreciation of the area, and ensures that the lake remains safe for the wildlife around you.

Adding aquatic plants to your lakefront home has several benefits. The guidelines set by the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggest growing native plants and trees along the lakeshore, as these can protect lakes from pollution, reduce erosion, reduce the likelihood of algae, provide a habitat for local fish, and improve the overall appearance of the area. Moreover, planting aquatic vegetation can help create a buffer that will protect your property.

Here are some reminders when it comes to choosing aquatic plants for your lakefront home:

  1. Select native species for planting
  2. You may find certain plants pretty to look at, but they may end up becoming invasive, affecting the soil quality and possibly killing off native plants. Native species will not disrupt the ecosystem because they are already well adapted to the local environment.

  3. Do your research
  4. It helps to tap local resources, such as information from the Master Gardener Program of Washington State University and the Native Plant Directory of the Washington Native Plant Society. These resources will be useful even if you’re planning a garden that is not located near the water.

  5. Choose plants that won’t grow too high
  6. You will still want to retain a clear view of the water, so avoid aquatic plants that will end up obscuring the landscape.

  7. Map out the area where you will be planting
  8. For the greatest benefits to the water, add aquatic plants close to your shoreline. A mini-garden full of local aquatic plants will create a good buffer zone between your property and the water. You don’t want your lawn to be located right along the shoreline in the first place, as it will be more susceptible to erosion.

And while you’re at it, consider adding more plants to your backyard as well, especially “pollinator pockets,” which add beauty to your grounds and provide a refuge for beneficial insects such as honeybees. These keep the local ecosystem thriving.

Plants are definitely a crucial addition to a lakefront home, and the right aquatic plants will go a long way toward maintaining the water quality and keeping the area beautiful in years to come. By taking the time to carefully choose the right plants, you are also investing effort in keeping your property attractive without contributing to the degradation of the local environment.

Find the lakefront home of your dreams in Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, or Lake Chelan with the help of Coldwell Banker Cascade Real Estate. Call them at 509.888.8887 or contact us here.