Just get ordinary Pond Snails they're the easiest - you'll soon have plenty. I have also got some ramshorn snails that arrived independently, but there are far fewer of them. I tried to introduce some to my koi pond (with only 1 koi) but never saw them again. I guess the koi ate them.
I just use a bamboo cane to twiddle out blanketweed, It slides off the cane easily onto the side of the pond.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Just come back to this thread and there is lots of good advice from others. The thing that strikes me about your reading is the ph is quite high at 7. I think therein lies the problem. Perhaps try growing only alkaline loving plants. Think chalk pools. I can't advise on that; my pond is pretty neutral but there must be a list somewhere.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
Just come back to this thread and there is lots of good advice from others. The thing that strikes me about your reading is the ph is quite high at 7. I think therein lies the problem. Perhaps try growing only alkaline loving plants. Think chalk pools. I can't advise on that; my pond is pretty neutral but there must be a list somewhere.
pH 7 is neutral - not acidic, not alkaline. My little pond has a pH of around 9 most of the time (always topped up with rainwater). The pH rises during the day as plants absorb CO2 and falls over night, so worth testing early morning and again at dusk. There's sometimes quite a difference.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Here’s my pond, the water level dropping noticeably in the virtual absence of rain for the past while. Propped on the far bench are my blanket weed tools.
pH 7 is neutral - not acidic, not alkaline. My little pond has a pH of around 9 most of the time (always topped up with rainwater). The pH rises during the day as plants absorb CO2 and falls over night, so worth testing early morning and again at dusk. There's sometimes quite a difference.
7 is the high end of neutral. Interesting about your pond being around 9, @Pete.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
I followed the instructions from this man, Alex Sally, a good book for wildlife pond. I have lots of snails but never bought any, where do they come from?
The little bit of blanket weed that is there in the winter/spring disappears once the plants get going and the sun gets hot.
Edit to ad, if you read reviews, don’t take any notice of the 1 & 2 star, they’re from the pedantic society, read between that, the first 5* review is mine.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Posts
Just get ordinary Pond Snails they're the easiest - you'll soon have plenty.
I have also got some ramshorn snails that arrived independently, but there are far fewer of them.
I tried to introduce some to my koi pond (with only 1 koi) but never saw them again. I guess the koi ate them.
I just use a bamboo cane to twiddle out blanketweed, It slides off the cane easily onto the side of the pond.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
https://wandlenews.com/what-are-chalk-streams/#:~:text=Other%20plants%20often%20found%20by%20chalk%20rivers%20include%3A,Fern-leaved%20Hook-moss%208%20Pellia%20endiviifolia%20%28liverwort%29%20More%20items
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My little pond has a pH of around 9 most of the time (always topped up with rainwater).
The pH rises during the day as plants absorb CO2 and falls over night, so worth testing early morning and again at dusk. There's sometimes quite a difference.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
pH 1 - 6.999 =acid
pH 7 = precisely neutral
pH 7.111 - 14 = alkaline
My pond has been pH 9ish for years
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I have lots of snails but never bought any, where do they come from?