Pond Maintenance

[moocho]

Hi,
My small wildlife pond needs some pond maintenance as it is full of needles and other debris.
The pond has newts, a couple of frogs and lots of waterlice and water snails.
When i remove some of the debris, the water turns black and stinks, it has built up so much now that i can see it clearly, last year i couldnt see it.
There are plants in the pond and it is covered in duck weed, when i remove the duck weed it is teeming with waterlice, think there are more waterlice than anything else in the pond.
Sorry back to the question, i want to move the pond,when is the best time to move it?
Dont want to disturb the wildlife, especially the newts.
Thank you.
Sarah

[Kayleigh]

Hi moocho and welcome to the site.

Sept/Oct is the best time to sort out the pond.
What do you mean exactly when you say "move it".

If you just make a new pond in a different location the adult newts,toads,frogs will make their own way there.
Then in Autumn when the new pond is established it will be ready for the arrival of the rest of the wildlife to overwinter in there.

[moocho]

Hi Kayleigh,
Thank you for your reply. I feel really silly not thinking about just putting a new pond in a different place and leave the old pond where it is
My old pond is a black one brought from fish place, it has three different levels, I think I shall get another one as i have young children and don't want a big one.
Where i plan to have the new pond is away from the trees so should be ok, the only problem with the new location is there are baby newts in the long grass.
Found a couple yesterday in the grass, they were so tiny, so i guess some females have laid their eggs in the long grass, which i have kept long for the wildlife.
Well guess i shall have to be very carefull when i dig the hole!
Thank you again for your help.
Sarah

[Dan Salter]

Good luck moocho...nice to hear about a long grass patch doing its job for wildlife with the baby newts.

Your old pond like you say was badly sighted below trees and i should think with all the needles the water will be very acidic?...be careful disturbing the thick sludge/sediment which can harbour harmul gasses. if you did not have the option to move or build a new pond then a full excevation and de silting of the pond would be in order and re filling with water....if the trees are yours then you could lopp off any overhanging branches.

we have a black rank stagnent hole of a pond at uni/college which we thought would have no oxygen and harbour no life..but in restoring it and de silting we discovered many newts including the infamous great crested...seems they can put up with dire conditions!

Send us pics of your new and old projects and be sure to add plenty of oxygenating plants to stop it going green and stagnant again...or a simple (even solar) pump and trickle...a large fountain is not needed but just movement of water to keep it oxygenated.

[moocho]

Hi Dan,
Thank you for your reply.
The pond has clear water its only when i move the debris that makes it black, once the debris is settled the water is clear again. There is lots of life in the pond.
Wow Great Crested Newts thats great. Think mine are only Smooth Newts or common newts, think there might be Palmate Newts as well.
Must get a new camera!
Would it be ok to dig up the long grass to put the new pond in? just worry about the baby newts.
Thanks again for your advice.
Sarah

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by moocho

Hi Dan,
Thank you for your reply.
The pond has clear water its only when i move the debris that makes it black, once the debris is settled the water is clear again. There is lots of life in the pond.
Wow Great Crested Newts thats great. Think mine are only Smooth Newts or common newts, think there might be Palmate Newts as well.
Must get a new camera!
Would it be ok to dig up the long grass to put the new pond in? just worry about the baby newts.
Thanks again for your advice.
Sarah

how big is the patch/new pond? you could spend an hour or so careful translocating the babies to the old pond while you dig the new one?...they will soon get out of the way with all the noise and movement anyway but maybe a helping had is a good idea?

[moocho]

Its not a big area, I had a look today and couldnt see any. They are there just so small to spot.
I will tread and dig very carefully. The pump and trickle sounds like a good idea, will have a look into them esp the solar pumps.
My garden does look a bit untidy as i also leave the grass long at the edges of the fences/walls to help any frogs/wildlife.
Thanks again for your help.
Sarah

[Dan Salter]

Sounds like you know what your doing, good luck and keep us posted with the progress and any pics

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by moocho

Its not a big area, I had a look today and couldnt see any. They are there just so small to spot.
I will tread and dig very carefully. The pump and trickle sounds like a good idea, will have a look into them esp the solar pumps.
My garden does look a bit untidy as i also leave the grass long at the edges of the fences/walls to help any frogs/wildlife.
Thanks again for your help.
Sarah

We had a solar panel and pump for a water feature.
It gave up the ghost after only a season..
I only have oxygenating plants in my pond they keep the water clean and the wildlife is happy