Another thing to bear in mind with aquatic plantings is the annual fluctuation of the water level in your pond. I have a well and pump where I can keep mine reasonably stable(within a 1-2 feet of pool level except during extreme droughts and heat waves. One additional advantage of starting with containized water lilies or lotuses or even some of the marginal plants is that you can move them into deeper water if needed. I attach rope handles to my chemical drums (which are sawed in half lengthwise for greatest cross sectional area). It is pretty easy to move them into the water due to the buoyancy somewhat neutralizing the weight of the soil. After getting used to the chemistry/environmentof your pond, the lilies will multiply to fill the drum,normally in one season. You can then just dig up big hunks of soil containing lily roots and dump them into spots where you want them to grow. Also if you have any interest in marginals such as pickerel rush, or thalia, you get such shrimpy plants from suppliers for a considerable price, that it is more effective as well as cheaper multiply your own in a container and then transplant later in the season or the next year. The larger,more robust and acclimated potted acquisitions will fare much better against the native plant competition.
