My Belfast sink pond is now set up. I was able to fill it with it with rainwater. So far I have one marginal in pot ( water mint ), several oxygenators planted into sand and several floating plants. I've noticed that the water looks ' slimy ' as if its gone stagnant already. I could take some water out and refill with fresh but don't have enough clean rainwater stored so would have to use tap. What would be the best thing to do ?
I did see a small black insect crawling about underwater in there, so hopeful more wildlife will come
I've got barley straw in my pond, early days, but seems to be doing the trick, the main test will be the summer...
Cheers Philippa, i do scoop the pellets out if they are not eaten, just wished they would hurry up and eat, it was bogof on the feed pellets, think we have a lifetimes supply...
Sorry for late reply, been a manic week with work and interviews.
Im enjoying reading reading all of our updates. I have newt and now slow worm envy! Lol
I noticed today that my pond is overrun with duckweed again but the barley straw seems to be stopping the blanket weed which is good.
Good news on the wasp nest front- the rain seems to have put a stop to their underground building. Fingers crossed they don't return! It is very damp now by the pond so maybe they don't like getting their feet wet!
How does this barley straw work ? I tried it in my pond down south and didn't notice any change. I had blanket weed in that pond and have it in my raised pond up here.
I have some blanketweed and was really worried. But the tadpoles just love it. Although I think they are turning carnivorous because one was munching its way down a bloodworm yesterday.
Happy for you Dove, glad the amphibians have turned up to make your pond complete, i so prefer a wildlife pond to a fish pond, but what can i do, she who must be obeyed wants fish, you enjoy your milk tonight you deserve it...
Philippa your French Marbled Newts sound like me on a beach holiday, "a joy to watch" i am missing my wildlife pond already, the only solution i can think of is a second pond for wildlife mmmm now that's an idea....
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My Belfast sink pond is now set up. I was able to fill it with it with rainwater. So far I have one marginal in pot ( water mint ), several oxygenators planted into sand and several floating plants. I've noticed that the water looks ' slimy ' as if its gone stagnant already. I could take some water out and refill with fresh but don't have enough clean rainwater stored so would have to use tap. What would be the best thing to do ?
I did see a small black insect crawling about underwater in there, so hopeful more wildlife will come
Balance is achieved in time hh. If you take water out and put new in you'll be taking a step back
In the sticks near Peterborough
So should I just leave it alone then?
I wouldn't change the water, you could try the barley straw thing. I've never used it but other people say it works
In the sticks near Peterborough
I've got barley straw in my pond, early days, but seems to be doing the trick, the main test will be the summer...
Cheers Philippa, i do scoop the pellets out if they are not eaten, just wished they would hurry up and eat, it was bogof on the feed pellets, think we have a lifetimes supply...
Sorry for late reply, been a manic week with work and interviews.
Im enjoying reading reading all of our updates. I have newt and now slow worm envy! Lol
I noticed today that my pond is overrun with duckweed again but the barley straw seems to be stopping the blanket weed which is good.
Good news on the wasp nest front- the rain seems to have put a stop to their underground building. Fingers crossed they don't return! It is very damp now by the pond so maybe they don't like getting their feet wet!
How does this barley straw work ? I tried it in my pond down south and didn't notice any change. I had blanket weed in that pond and have it in my raised pond up here.
I use the barley straw extract - it cleared our pond of blanket weed in a few hours and it's stayed clear so far.
And I'm VERY EXCITED!!!
Laying down to gaze into the pond (as is my wont on a sunny afternoon) I heard a Plop! and there amongst the Brooklime was a lovely frog
and then, as I was sitting gazing at him something else in the water caught my eye, and swimming along in the shallows was a Smooth Newt
Two amphibians have moved into our new pond on the same day - we shall celebrate with a bottle of something white and chilled this evening
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have some blanketweed and was really worried. But the tadpoles just love it. Although I think they are turning carnivorous because one was munching its way down a bloodworm yesterday.
Happy for you Dove, glad the amphibians have turned up to make your pond complete, i so prefer a wildlife pond to a fish pond, but what can i do, she who must be obeyed wants fish, you enjoy your milk tonight you deserve it...
Philippa your French Marbled Newts sound like me on a beach holiday, "a joy to watch"
i am missing my wildlife pond already, the only solution i can think of is a second pond for wildlife mmmm now that's an idea....