Why have most things died in my pond?

[jpscloud]

I'm also doubtful about lobelia being the cause of poisoning - it doesn't bother the slugs that happily chomp on mine in pots! It does contain toxins, but so do very many plants we live side by side with all the time.

You mentioned that sparrows have been bathing in your pond - are there overhanging bushes that they sit in as well? I had overhanging bamboo which sparrows spent the day in, and also roosted in directly over the pond. My pond went really bad after the severe winter, everything seemed to rot and it smelled dreadful. I thought it must be the ice cover, but opinions are divided about that, as many small ponds freeze entirely over winter but don't go "bad" like that.

I now believe it was down to the amount of sparrow droppings getting into the pond, as I cut back the bamboo (they can still use it, but not directly over the pond any more) and the pond is now doing great.

[Kreacha]

Originally Posted by jpscloud

I'm also doubtful about lobelia being the cause of poisoning - it doesn't bother the slugs that happily chomp on mine in pots! It does contain toxins, but so do very many plants we live side by side with all the time.

You mentioned that sparrows have been bathing in your pond - are there overhanging bushes that they sit in as well? I had overhanging bamboo which sparrows spent the day in, and also roosted in directly over the pond. My pond went really bad after the severe winter, everything seemed to rot and it smelled dreadful. I thought it must be the ice cover, but opinions are divided about that, as many small ponds freeze entirely over winter but don't go "bad" like that.

I now believe it was down to the amount of sparrow droppings getting into the pond, as I cut back the bamboo (they can still use it, but not directly over the pond any more) and the pond is now doing great.

There is a laurel hedge next to the pond where the birds hide in but it is not overhanging pond directly so I don't think it gets much sparrow poo in it. Glad your pond has recovered

[Kayleigh]

I did a pond dip in my pond the other day and there was absolutely nothing in there apart from a few water slaters no young newts like there was last year no young frogs or toads but most of the oxygenating plants had died and the water was black it was also choked with pennywort so now its empty and the fish I thought were dead are very alive and the kids paddling pool until I can remove the yellow flag irises that have out grown my small pond I will save one or two in pots..
So hope your pond is doing well and re-establishing..

[Kreacha]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I did a pond dip in my pond the other day and there was absolutely nothing in there apart from a few water slaters no young newts like there was last year no young frogs or toads but most of the oxygenating plants had died and the water was black it was also choked with pennywort so now its empty and the fish I thought were dead are very alive and the kids paddling pool until I can remove the yellow flag irises that have out grown my small pond I will save one or two in pots..
So hope your pond is doing well and re-establishing..

My pond is starting to look healthy again. I had been nuturing some hatched pondsnails in my shed so have reintroduced them and they are growing quite nicely. My two frogs have returned and there are quite a lot of mosquito larvae. On Wednesday night I put my mothtrap out (didn't catch much in the way of moths) but found a whirligig beetle in it! Was well pleased so he is now happily 'whirling' about on pond surface

Hope your pond sorts itself out once you have thinned out those irises.

[Kayleigh]

The heavy rain has half filled it and it looking like a muddy hole but the plants on the outside are still looking OK so when the yellow flags are removed the plants will go back in the fish are history I am not putting them back I am going to see if my neighbour will take them of take them back to the shop I think they will take them..
I did suggest to my hubby they would look quite tasty on the bbq..

He said a stern..NO...

[Billabong Karen]

What kind of fish are they? Are they tench? I thought they were quite useful in a well-established pond, but perhaps I am wrong?

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

What kind of fish are they? Are they tench? I thought they were quite useful in a well-established pond, but perhaps I am wrong?

They were tench and they have gone to my neighbour he 3 ponds one for fish one for wildlife and another that has silted up so is a bog garden..
Any fish will eat wildlife and reduce it so no fish is better but its a personal choice I know whatever breeds in there from now on will stand a chance of survival and not be eaten by fish..
I never had dragonflies or damsels maybe the fish ate them but now they stand a chance.
My pond is looking good now.