Aqua-Flora® mats

Aqua-Flora® mats in short

Aqua-Flora® mats are embankment mats, or vegetation mats, consisting of a coconut fibre mat (5x1m) in which various waterside plants and marsh plants have been pre-grown. In day-to-day practice they are also called aquatic plants. Planting the coconut fibre mats either takes place here in Heiloo, or with our partners in Germany (various locations). After having been provided with plants, the mats are placed in the basins, where they will in any case remain for one entire growing season, in order to acquire an optimal mass of roots and rhizomes. This pre-growth period, in combination with the high density of 16-20 plants per m2, is one of the aspects that makes our Aqua-Flora® products so unique. The carefully selected species of vegetation combined with the unmistakable advantages for the environment, truly make our Aqua-Flora® mats unique.

The whole story

Aqua-Flora® mats, are particularly suitable to be used in lake banks and gentle bank slopes. The Aqua-Flora® mats are attached using untreated wooden pegs. On bank slopes 50% of the Aqua-Flora® mats is placed above the waterline and 50% is placed below the water line. The ideal water depth for using the Aqua-Flora® mats in lake banks is 10cm. Aqua-Flora® mats are usually used in the realization of ecological connection zones, for having the banks on new-builds grown with plants quickly and in general for embellishing (urban) water bodies.

For greening up the banks of larger water bodies, the Aqua-Flora® mats are easy to combine with gabions or gabion mattresses. The Aqua-Flora® mats can also be used as helophyte filters, among other things for small-scale water purification in the outback where connection to the sewer system is very costly.

Ecology

Building with nature is not only a trend that has become increasingly popular over the past years, it is also an integral part of corporate social responsibility. We believe the future lies in building in sync with nature, rather than working against it. This belief was the basis on which our Aqua-Flora® products were created over two decades ago.

Aqua-Flora® products provide a gradual, transitional environment between land and water, which is important to aquatic and amphibian biotic communities. To waterbirds Aqua-Flora® provides a popular nesting place where they can also find building materials for their nests. To insects Aqua-Flora® products provide suitable foraging and breeding areas. The plants in the Aqua-Flora® products also contribute positively to the purification of water. They are capable of absorbing and storing nitrogen and phosphate compounds, which can be removed from the above-ground areas in the autumn by mowing and the subsequent disposal of it. The basis of coconut fibre material, from which the Aqua-Flora® products have been manufactured, provides purchase to the pre-grown aquatic and waterside plants while they develop in the banks and immediately offers protection against erosion of the bank as well. By the time the coconut fibres have decomposed, the rhizomes and the roots of the plants have taken over the function of protecting the bank (this only happens on the wind-waterline).

That is how we do our bit.

Planting schemes

We offer various standard planting schemes. We currently have a range of nine schemes. Eight of which contain various waterside and aquatic plants with many colourful flowering species; number nine is a mat containing mono-culture phragmites (reed). Reed is known for its overrunning characteristics, for which reason we don’t combine this plant with other species. In the schemes we’ve included a handy overview stating which scheme is most suitable in which situation/field of application. Naturally, we’d be more than happy to give you an advice on this point that is tailored to your needs.

The plants that we pre-grow in our Aqua-Flora® mats are all indigenous.

Customer-specific

But what if you, or your client, want to come up with your own planting scheme, or already have? No problem at all! Anything is possible (well, nearly anything). You can always make a selection from the plants we’re already using, but for instance in the proportions you want. Please note that this may affect the delivery period! Do you have other species in mind? In that case we will examine together whether those species are suitable to be pre-grown in our mats. Please note that in addition to a longer delivery period, additional costs may also be involved, depending on the selected plant species.

Example

  • You would like a mat that is fully pre-grown with the beautiful yellow iris, can this be done? Yes this can be done, and it won’t even cost anything extra. It does involve a longer delivery period, however.
  • You want two different standard schemes, for instance “Alysha” and “Chantal” blended in one Aqua-Flora® mat, can this be done? Yes of course! Again at no additional costs, only the delivery period will be longer.
  • You want an entirely customer-specific planting scheme including arrowhead and common rush. Also possible! However, as in this case the plants are not part of our standard range, it may involve additional charges. A longer delivery period also applies here.

Maintenance

Good news! All our Aqua-Flora® products require little maintenance. At the bottom of this page you can download our maintenance advice. If you don’t have green fingers after all, we’d be more than happy to take the maintenance off your hands. For each project we can offer a maintenance contract.