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Pond enlargement

Rosemarie AdamsRosemarie Adams Posts: 9
in Wildlife gardening
Pond too small. Trees to one side shedding leaves into water continuously. Frogs at all stages of development + plant oxygenators in situ. Liner in place. How can I enlarge and when best to do so?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What size is the pond?
    It's relatively easy to enlarge a small pond by decanting the contents into large basins/trugs/buckets etc, and then digging to the size and shape you want. Be sure to have the new liner/underlay etc ready before you start, to save any delays.
    It's usually best to wait until autumn, when the frogs/froglets will have done their thing, and plants are dormant. Any plants can be kept in buckets too, until ready for replacing.
    If you can retain one container of water which the wildlife can access, that will also be beneficial. Place some rocks, bricks, logs or similar for them to get in and out, or alternatively, sink a container into ground a bit, with the rocks etc. 

    A piece of netting placed over the pond in early autumn will help catch the leaves, and prevent them filling up the pond.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Or dig another bigger and better situated pond somewhere else. The tree you complain of will still be a problem with a bigger pond in the same situation. Decant all the 'stuff' from the smaller pond and then fill it in or turn it into a bog garden - punch holes in the liner first if you are leaving it in place for a bog garden.
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
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