Autumn maintenance

[iona]

Hi all,

Have inherited a pond 5m x 5m, around 1m deep with waterfall, pump and filter (what a pain!), also 15-20 fish.

1) I have bought some netting - when do I need to put this on to prevent heron feeding on fish? Would it be better just to let nature take its course and have a fishfree pond?

2) do I leave the pump going through winter, what aboout the separate filter?

3) I have been told that a football is good for preventing icestress on fish, is this true?

4) Pond is used by many birds, particularly large flock of sparrows and pigeons, have dragonflies and waterskaters what happens to these when/if I net it, will they know not to go on the nets?

5) Most important at present, I have decking up to the ponds edge, I need to paint/waterproof this but don't want to contaminate the pond, any ideas.

Sorry to be so needy! Thanks to anyone who can help, I ordered a book from Amazon but it is tied up with a new Terry Pratchett order so I wont get it until November!

Regards
Iona };{

ps buddleia is fantastic, covered in butterflies, moths and bees even now

[Paul mabbott]

1 yes, feed the heron and go for a natural pond - if you have fish, you'll have nothing else of interest.
2 don't know - isn't important if you don't have fish!
3 yes
4 no, they're quite likely to get tangled up and blue
5 I've heard rumours of environmentally friendly preservatives but have no experience (and not much faith).
Good luck, Paul

Originally Posted by iona

1) I have bought some netting - when do I need to put this on to prevent heron feeding on fish? Would it be better just to let nature take its course and have a fishfree pond?
2) do I leave the pump going through winter, what aboout the separate filter?
3) I have been told that a football is good for preventing icestress on fish, is this true?
4) Pond is used by many birds, particularly large flock of sparrows and pigeons, have dragonflies and waterskaters what happens to these when/if I net it, will they know not to go on the nets?
5) Most important at present, I have decking up to the ponds edge, I need to paint/waterproof this but don't want to contaminate the pond, any ideas.
Iona };{

[DL]

Cant confirm this myself but I have been told that if you leave a section of large bore pipe in the bottom of the pond that the fish can bolt into it and hide when threatened.