TOP TIPS FOR A THRIVING POND

Minimise your maintenance in the summer months to allow insects and amphibians to establish their territory
Top up water levels and thin out overcrowded plants in dry, hot summers to encourage oxygenation
Remove small amounts of silt continually rather than having a once a year big clean out
Visit your pond after dark with a torch to witness some exciting scenes. Many creatures hide during the daytime so you can often learn more about your pond with a torch than you can with a pond net
Avoid adding any chemicals to your pond, a well-planted pond should provide all the nutrients and oxygen a pond needs
Don't clear your pond out completely in autumn, many invertebrates overwinter hidden by decaying vegetation
Leave an area of grass adjacent to the pond unmown until October as the grass offers shelter to young amphibians and other creatures
If a summer drought threatens, fill up the pond little and often rather than letting it become shallow then adding lots of water in one go. A sudden change in temperature may be lethal to some creatures

Table for plants: Plants for your pond Choose from:
Damp soil at edge of pond: ragged robin, soft rush, cuckoo flower
Shallow area of pond: marsh marigold, purple loosestrife, yellow iris, water mint, water forget-me-not, brooklime, frogbit, amphibious bistort, arrowhead, marsh cinquefoil
Deeper area of pond: common hornwort, curled pondweed, willow moss, white waterlilly, common water starwort, water soldier

Table for plants:	Plants for your pond Choose from:
Damp soil at edge of pond:	ragged robin, soft rush, cuckoo flower
Shallow area of pond:	marsh marigold, purple loosestrife, yellow iris, water mint, water forget-me-not, brooklime, frogbit, amphibious bistort, arrowhead, marsh cinquefoil
Deeper area of pond:	common hornwort, curled pondweed, willow moss, white waterlilly, common water starwort, water soldier

TROUBLESHOOTING

If your pond is continually freezing over in winter, check to see if it's deep enough. Keep a hole clear of ice to stop animals getting caught up under the ice and also allow the pond to breathe. This can be done by placing a hot pan of water on the surface or keeping a football in the pond, don't use a hammer - you may cause hibernating organisms to die from shock or rip the liner.

Having too many nutrients in your water can cause murkiness and algal blooms. The best way to combat this is to have a high density of large leaved plants such as white water lily, water plantain and yellow flag iris to absorb the nutrients.

If your pond is continually suffering form a nutrient imbalance; make sure you have removed leaves from the surface in autumn.

Consider your source of water as a problem if problems persist - is there a chemical in your water butt that may affect the pond?

A red hue that persists for more than a few days may be due to nutrient imbalances. Again large leaved or flowering plants can cure this.

Many exotic plants take over ponds as they have few natural enemies. Look out for native species that are just as colourful and won't require control.

If your pond does not attract any larger animals such as frogs, observe the habits of nearby cats and dogs you may need a cunning plan to keep them at bay. Most animals hunt at night so perhaps you could ask your neighbours to keep their animals in from dusk 'til dawn.

We have 50 free copies of Tom Langton's excellent booklet 'Pond Heaven', which compliments the details, supplied in this leaflet. Please send an SAE to the UWP for your copy today!

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