Soil for wildlife pond

[heliart]

So, I've build a wildlife pond this past few months, and have had water in it for about 4 weeks. All planted in baskets etc to help with plant control.
I was never sure whether to put soil into the pond to cover the liner somewhat, and give all the invertebrates places to live.
The problem I had, and still do is what type of soil to use.

Most guides talk about subsoil as it's low in nutrients, but it seems impossibly to buy this. Then, most aquatic soils (for use in baskets) are not suitable for open use in the pond.

I don't want to upset the pond too much, there's a lot of life going on in there, but I do want to give a better base for all the larvae that's starting to appear.

Anyone have any good suggestions?

Patricia

[Kayleigh]

Hi heliart,

When you dug the pond out there would have been subsoil but you should only use heavy clay..So I heard..
I put a bag of aquatic compost from the pond/fish shop in mine.
That was 3 years ago and everything is ok in mine.

[Dan Salter]

I agree the subsoil you would have dug out yourself!...heavy clay would be better but im not sure its totally necessary....lots of books just say an inch covering of poor but stoneless subsoil?...

[bigwig]

I have 2 small ponds that have gravel and pebbles in. I have heard others talking of soil in bottom of ponds, but was unsure what this really means. If you add soil to the pond do the soil particles just hang suspended in the water making water black and very muddy or will it all eventually sink to the bottom ?

[Kayleigh]

Hi bigwig,

Yes, the soil sinks and settles but if you have fish they tend to disturb the bottom causing the water to cloud.

[galanthus]

You'll find that the aquatic soil you've planted your baskets with will naturally filter out and make a layer on the pond bottom eventually, along with odd decaying leaf or 3

My weeny critters love this and as long as you keep removing dead leaves etc it shouldn't become offensive. I wouldn't use any other soil if I were you you, will be too many nutrients.

[bigwig]

Originally Posted by galanthus

You'll find that the aquatic soil you've planted your baskets with will naturally filter out and make a layer on the pond bottom eventually, along with odd decaying leaf or 3

My weeny critters love this and as long as you keep removing dead leaves etc it shouldn't become offensive. I wouldn't use any other soil if I were you you, will be too many nutrients.

.

Thank you. I asked because there is a Swann Mussel in one of the ponds and although it seems ok at moment I worry about its long term survival as our pond must seem quite alien to its natural environment.

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Hi bigwig,

Yes, the soil sinks and settles but if you have fish they tend to disturb the bottom causing the water to cloud.

Hi there are no fish, just the snails and a few blood worms and lots of mozzie larvae I daresay that if we added fish they would eat the larvae, but they would also eat all the baby snails, too.

[pete the pond]

hi heliart what most people have told you is just right if this pond is for wildlife then only no fish then if you have clay soll from when you dug your pond this would be fine i would sudjest you add a little at a time i put in soil on my ponds a hand full at a time over a few days and let it settle out you will find it does go mucky a bit but soon clears as it settles the same with some old leafs great for hog louse , and other larvae

it is better to use old sub soils then buying aquatic soil which costs
native ponds in the wild have mainly mud , silt bottoms
and if you get the balance right they keep them sleves clean too.
pete

[shei111]

Yes its a bit of a money getting game when you are charged for soil for your pond, I use my own soil it settles and I always use my own pea shingle for pond plants I always wash it through with running water I never buy pond plant baskets I use the ones you get from garden centres get a nice big one to transplant any plant to why spend when you already have the items in your garden. shei.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by shei111

Yes its a bit of a money getting game when you are charged for soil for your pond, I use my own soil it settles and I always use my own pea shingle for pond plants I always wash it through with running water I never buy pond plant baskets I use the ones you get from garden centres get a nice big one to transplant any plant to why spend when you already have the items in your garden. shei.

Of course you will only have a garden centre basket in your garden if your a thief !