With all the fantastic weather we have been having in July it is worth talking about how the heat and light can affect your pond. The first thing it does is increase the chances that the pond water goes bright green with a phytoplankton bloom. If...
This is part of a big wildlife pond Stuart has just finished near Linlithgow. The beach, large stones, timber and heavy planting with big native plants (marsh marigold, flag iris, water forget me not, water mint etc.) all provide different structures for invertebrates and amphibians...
Here are some photos of one of our recent habitat creation jobs for Froglife. These two pools have Bentomat liners under them, not our usual EPDM liner. Another unusual element for us is that they are not planted. In some ways this is the ideal...
These are my favourite ornamental fish, golden orfe - long lived and beautiful. Try not to feed your pond fish too much. The more you feed them the more nutrients end up in the water and the more likely you are to have problems with green...
Build ponds under big trees or in deep shade, they never warm up and become anaerobic as leaves decompose. Clean ponds out too thoroughly or often. An established pond has a balance that youwreck when you strip it. Use concrete blocks or slabs in...
April’s pond tips are about the various types of material you can use to make a pond with. The commonest means of retaining water for a pond is a flexible liner. This has lots of advantages – it is relatively cheap and will take pretty...
March's pond tips concern the complicated subject of pond filtration. The first thing to say is that about 90% of the pools and water features we build have no filtration on them at all. The best way to keep water clear and oxygenated is to...
If the springlike weather in February is making you think about building a pond this year here are some basic tips. If it's a wildlife pond you want a third of it to be very shallow - 10 cms or so - and none of...
One of the common problems that people have with ponds over the winter (and at other times of year) is herons taking the fish. Despite information to the contrary herons are not particularly territorial and can tell the difference between a real heron and a...
One of the jobs for autumn/winter is to cut back the dead growth on the marginal plants surrounding your pond. However this dead growth is quite important for both invertebrates and amphibians as an overwintering area. If possible then, leave cutting it back until the...