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Pond

patricia24leopatricia24leo Posts: 4
in Problem solving
I’ve had a pond for 24 years. It is a rigid shell. Two meters long. A meter wide at its widest. It has two shelves for shallow plants. At its deepest, it is two and a half feet. Over the years silt has increased. For the last two springs the frogs have been very active and there has been a lot of frogspawn. Gradually the frogspawn has grown murky and green edged and then disappeared completely. 
I need some advice about what to do. The water looks murky and seems to have silt floating on the surface. The level is topped up with rainwater whenever needed.
What am I to do. Very upset about this my favourite part of the garden.
Patricia.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What planting do you have in it to help with water clarity?
    If foliage from trees is allowed to get in during autumn, that will always add to the amount of stuff at the bottom of the pond too. It's the most common reason. 
    A photo would help too, if you can. The icon that looks like a hill is the one for uploading. If you can keep them at around 1MB or less, they load better.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • patricia24leopatricia24leo Posts: 4
    Thank you. I don’t know how to send a photo. There maybe someone here next week who can help me. Progress is being made with the purchase of barley straw and an oxygenator. Will post again soon

  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Have a look at Puddle Plants, for some info on plants what oxygenate ponds well, as they are indispensable.
    FG is absolutely right that you need to clean up falling debris that will add to the murk, as it gives pond weeds like blanketweed nutrients on which to thrive.
    Tip given to me by a lovely lady who works in a pond plant company, as a very cheap and quick fix: buy an ordinary bag of supermarket watercress.
    Make some bunches out of it, tiè with some string loosely and plunge into pond pots (the ones with the holes around the sides) filled with grit or gravel.
    Nothing else.
    Make quite a few pots up and place them in your marginal area, where the plants can protrude from the water.
    In a few days, the watercress will start to take and grow, drawing entirely from the nutrients in the pond (since there is no soil for it to use).
    This clears the water very successfully.
    Once it has started to die back, repeat with a fresh batch.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I use watercress regularly, and have often suggested it on the forum. It's very good for feeding on the excess nutrients. You can just chuck it in loose - it'll root readily around the pond, and cover the surface area too    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    If your pond is 24 years old, it probably needs a clean out.  You mention silt build up.  If it were my pond I would remove some (most) of the silt...a biggish job and you will need to be careful but as it's a rigid pond structure you're unlikely to pierce it. Now is a good time to do it. 
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • patricia24leopatricia24leo Posts: 4
    Fantastic help. I’ll get watercress tomorrow. Will look into removing some silt.
    Not strong enough myself. Will investigate 
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    to remove a lot of the gunge at the bottom of the pond just use a fish net. That will only be small loads so you should manage it. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • WallflowerBryWallflowerBry Posts: 81
    I too have been battling with blanket weed and the chemical 'solution '  isn't working so I'll be purchasing a couple of bags of watercress this weekend too :) 
  • patricia24leopatricia24leo Posts: 4
    Just just been to the shops. No watercress to be had. Will try at the weekend
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