"sweetheart" wrote

Hi,

I have tried googling the internet without much real help.
Long story (as short as possible). But if you cannot be bothered, jump to
the end on (g).

a) I have a small pond. Its been in the garden before my time - 20 odd
years maybe? Its a pre formed pond around 10ft by 5ft?

b) it used to be home to a colony of newts and many frogs ( I counted 15
at its height).

c) around five years ago, frogs seemed to disappear - just like that ,no
apparent reason.

d) I cleaned pond and found I still had newts, so retained it. I have frogs
in the garden but none in the pond.

e) I put in a marginal buttercup a couple of years ago. There is a small
water hawthorn in there (or was) and I bunged a bunch of that floating
oxygenator in each year. Thats all I did.

f) from nowhere this last year, a plant has emerged which I have googled
and identified as "parrot feather" - its some ind of swamp weed it seems.
Its covered the pond in a thick mat over nearly all the water. I did not
buy this plant. I am clueless as to how it got there, hence itstaken me so
long to realise I had an invader.

I have taken it out this morning (pulled it out wholesale - and lost all my
little water hawthorn etc. with it).

f) I was going to get rid of the pond as I had clearly killed it somehow
although I did not try, and given the matted weed I just thought all was
dead. However, asI was about to stick a hole in it and let it drain, a frog
popped up. So clearly life is still there.

g) So, what can I do now to help Mr Frog (and any froggie friends and
newts - I assume they are there still). I will not evict them. The pond is
half full of dirty water. Its dark , muddy and murky and there are no
plants in it anymore ( no cover, no food etc.)

(I have left the matted weed out of the pond but beside it so any creepy
crawlies can get back if they can ..... how can I dispose of said weed once
I have allowed the life to move out?)

Thanks for reading. Advice would be welcome.

I am in Cornwall by the way in case that makes a difference to pond life or
advice.


Marginal buttercup can be invasive and water hawthorn has taken over some of
the lake edges in the Lake District although personally it's not a real
problem. Although I have never had a wildlife pond I would see how deep the
mud is on the bottom first. Ponds by their very nature try to fill
themselves in. If it's a significant proportion of the depth then you need
to remove some, it's good manure but very strong, be careful with it and
make sure you don't throw out those newts etc. Then top up with tap water.
I would then invest in a good Water Lily or two ( they do need sun to
flower) and that will help to remove some of the nutrients that build up and
shade the pond in summer to help it stay clear and compete against any
Parrots Feather that you may have left. Try to check and remove any PF you
see growing to the Council Tip or your own compost heap, it's illegal to let
in infest another waterway.
Having to put more oxygenating plants in every year is strange as they
usually take over once introduced, no fish in the pond? Could be the water
is almost toxic with waste, too rich.

Buy a decent named water lily, it's so worth it....but get one for your
depth of pond..... if you go to a local place and they just have them marked
red, white and yellow lilies walk away. You wouldn't buy a rose like that.

http://www.lilieswatergardens.co.uk/...ies-c-114.html (They do a few
shows so might be at one near you)
http://latour-marliac.com/en/12-hardy-water-lilies ( A pilgrimage to
this French water lily nursery is a must for anyone interested in hardy
water lilies and their history, it's where they were invented)

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK