I managed to put a thermometer in @geoffs1953. It didn't get higher than about 18 degrees . I had it in a bit of water that's around 1 to 2 inches depth, and during the middle hours of the day. Just to the left of where I have the pot with the dahlia sitting in that 2nd pic. It's only there so that the slugs can't get to it...
Certainly wasn't very sunny here yesterday, but it was very mild and warm. Air temp got to about 20 in the afternoon. Perhaps your pond is just in a much hotter site. I have lots of snails in there and they're always in the shallows so the warm water doesn't seem to bother them. I still get blanket weed in the shallow bits, but I just use a stick to twizzle it out now and again, or my hand
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you dig out the centre of your pond to 4 ft min. that will help keep the water temperature down. I am guessing that is your main problem. Removing one of the shelves will also help. As Fairygirl says, although pygmy waterlilies are much smaller than regular waterlilies, they still grow quite large spreads of leaves, but do not need deep water to grow in. My pond is much smaller than yours so I do not have a fountain etc. but water lilies do not like moving water.
Thanks for taking the temperature. I don't think the water temperature would change dramatically, and 18degrees would seem about right. Our pond is very exposed and in full sunlight all day until about 18h. The shallow depth, black liner and exposure is leading to higher temperatures I think.
I now need to find the right time to start moving plants and exposing the soil under the liner. Quite complex as I need to build a temporary pond in which to put the lilies and the other surviving plants for a few days. I can't wait to get started but my garden help is now away on holiday until mid-September. Not sure if I can be patient enough to wait!
The lilies will survive in a bucket of water, or if it’s going to take you a very long time you could get a cheap kiddies paddling pool.
We’ve just done the same thing, I was fed up with the lack of rain each summer and the top ledge always drying out, and the next one almost. We’ve done what I suggested to you and got rid of the next ledge and make the first one a bit deeper and narrower. Mainland Europe has been very hot this year, if this is the way it’s going you’d do well to sort it out from the beginning, ours had been there for 9 years and was very congested, it took us days to get everything out.
Good to hear you liked our area, I’m near Tavistock, not far from Brentor and almost the same height.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I was brought up in Tavistock! - went to both primary and secondary schools. I was not born in Devon but consider Devon to be my "home". So I do know Brentor quite well. Not far away, I used to do summer work at Endsleigh garden nurseries whence came my love of plants and gardening.
If you are at the height of Brentor then no wonder you have a windy plot! But surprised that you had not enough rain! I could understand it the other side of the moor. ;-)
Not a bad idea to use a child's paddling pool if it is deep enough. 40cm should do it. Hopefully it will be just a few days so they really just need to remain submerged.
I would be reluctant to remove the liner and then dig out the pond further; that will be a huge amount of work. I think your pond needs some shade. You say you want to preserve the view but could you not plant some leafy shrubs on the south and west sides? Not a shrub but yellow loostrife would work around the edge and is good for wildlife too. You could also try some pond plants with some height that would cast some shade; pontideria might be good thought it can be a thug. Also creeping plants like water forget-me-not is good for surface cover in shallow areas.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
@geoffs1953 it is very unusual not to have the rain, but has been so for the past couple of years. We look out to the top of the church on Brentor. Fantastic views.
Trouble with planting anything tall around the edge, is that we will be experiencing more hot weather and drought in the future and the edges dry up very quickly. Ponds are best in full sun, it’s shady ponds that get green water/ blanket weed.
All you need is the top surface three quarters covered with plants.
It’s up to you though, please keep us updated in what you choose to do, it’s always interesting to see ponds mature over the years.
They take off very quickly if you get the balance right. The water lilies are just thrown in, not in pots. The pond is in full sun all day.
June 14.
June 16.
June 18
June 23. Renovation work desperately needed 😀
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Thanks Lyn, that looks great, it is the effect that I wish to achieve. This is the 4th pond I have built and the first to really give me problems!
@Redwing, it was my first thought but if outside the pond, it needs to be a tree to have sufficient height. Then to put more plants into the pond is what I have tried this year but many have just died and none have thrived.
It is tempting to try again with new plants in place early next spring to have a chance to grow and so regulate the temperature. If the problem is caused by the blanketweed then this approach would have a fighting chance to succeed. But is it a question of nutrients or temperatures? I think I risk ongoing problems if I leave the pond profile as it is so will almost certainly embark on what, as you say, will be a "huge amount of work".
With help I believe that it is manageable.
Thanks for all your comments, I'll keep you all updated if/as work proceeds ;-)
I agree that the shelves are too wide. As previously suggested they only need to be about 9 to 12 inches wide but it will be a mammoth amount of work to change thing now. I disagree with the comment about all water lillies growing very big. They come in all sizes and have differing depth requirements. It is important to get ones which are suited to the pond or you can end up with a pond clogged with them.
The picture shows the excavations and I estimate that the water volume is increased by 20% (5,000litres to 6,000l).
I managed to leave the lilies in the middle and just roll back the liner to expose the soil. Now some 80% of the pond is at least 45cm deep and around 20% is 1m deep.
The picture also shows our dog inspecting the works. Later on she managed to slip into the middle and so took a swimming lesson!
Posts
Certainly wasn't very sunny here yesterday, but it was very mild and warm. Air temp got to about 20 in the afternoon. Perhaps your pond is just in a much hotter site.
I have lots of snails in there and they're always in the shallows so the warm water doesn't seem to bother them. I still get blanket weed in the shallow bits, but I just use a stick to twizzle it out now and again, or my hand
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My pond is much smaller than yours so I do not have a fountain etc. but water lilies do not like moving water.
We’ve just done the same thing, I was fed up with the lack of rain each summer and the top ledge always drying out, and the next one almost.
We’ve done what I suggested to you and got rid of the next ledge and make the first one a bit deeper and narrower.
Mainland Europe has been very hot this year, if this is the way it’s going you’d do well to sort it out from the beginning, ours had been there for 9 years and was very congested, it took us days to get everything out.
Good to hear you liked our area, I’m near Tavistock, not far from Brentor and almost the same height.
Ponds are best in full sun, it’s shady ponds that get green water/ blanket weed.
June 14.