In article ,
says...
I need some help with my garden pond. I have been very ill and its got
somewhat ( a lot - I cant see it even) overgrown.

I don't know where to begin. I lost all my frogs/ tadpoles . They did
spawn and I did have tadpoles but they just disappeared altogether.

The pond edges have disappeared under weeds and twitch grass and brambles
but inside is worse. I have an Iris which is now covering over half the
pond. How can I get it out? Its massive!

Obviously I don't want to do too much damage to my "wildlife" - if any is
left. But I have to sort this pond. Help please.


Is it a lined pond? If it were me I would ignore the bit thats supposed
to be water until I had sorted the edges and rest of the garden. then arm
yourself with a load of those flexible plastic buckets. Lay in large
quantities of food and drink and ask your friends around for a clear the
pond day.
So long as you start knowing you are going to make a mess and just get
stuck in it does not take too long, salvage bits you want into the
buckets as you go (and any creatures you find) Kids love this sort of
thing and are less likely to puncture the liner if it is a lined pond.
Good luck!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea