@JohnBoyUK this might not be the most crucial advice you get on the pond, but I bet it's among the cheapest! If you have an old tennis ball laying around, chuck it in the pond before the worst of the winter weather sets in. The water will freeze, but the hole in the water left by the tennis ball will expose the water under the ice to the fresh air, enabling at least a little bit of oxygenation.
@JohnBoyUK this might not be the most crucial advice you get on the pond, but I bet it's among the cheapest! If you have an old tennis ball laying around, chuck it in the pond before the worst of the winter weather sets in. The water will freeze, but the hole in the water left by the tennis ball will expose the water under the ice to the fresh air, enabling at least a little bit of oxygenation.
Good tip, one that I was actually aware of because my Dad reminded me! We've got a couple of balls on standby...
That's a lovely pond @JohnBoyUK, I'd love a pond like that. I think that water really makes a garden.
Thank you. One thing I've noticed is that as it sits directly underneath one of our bedroom windows, we get to listen to the waterfall and its quite hypnotic. I'm doing my first cleaning job on the filter this weekend, hopefully it goes as easy as it has been described to me as I do have a habit of making a complete hash of the simplist of jobs!
I had a similar situation acquiring a pond when I bought my house. The Koi had gone to a new home, the filter too and I was left with the responsibility of caring for 5 random fish which became the bane of my life. £100's was spent working on the water quality and I needed pet-sitters to come in when I was away.
Eventually my local aquatics centre agreed to take the fish and, after almost draining the pond to get the blighters out, I now use the pond for plants/fountains and black ink reflections.
I had a similar situation acquiring a pond when I bought my house. The Koi had gone to a new home, the filter too and I was left with the responsibility of caring for 5 random fish which became the bane of my life. £100's was spent working on the water quality and I needed pet-sitters to come in when I was away.
Eventually my local aquatics centre agreed to take the fish and, after almost draining the pond to get the blighters out, I now use the pond for plants/fountains and black ink reflections.
Get the guy back to take the rest of the fish.
tbh with you, I think both me and my wife were initially thinking about filling it in (well, we do have previous for that!) but I dont think our girls would forgive us, especially as my wife has promised them they can buy two new fish to call their own.
If the old fella has taken the filter and other kit, we would have had no choice to fill it in as I've googled the filter system and I wouldn't be paying money out like that myself!
I had a similar situation acquiring a pond when I bought my house. The Koi had gone to a new home, the filter too and I was left with the responsibility of caring for 5 random fish which became the bane of my life. £100's was spent working on the water quality and I needed pet-sitters to come in when I was away.
Eventually my local aquatics centre agreed to take the fish and, after almost draining the pond to get the blighters out, I now use the pond for plants/fountains and black ink reflections.
Get the guy back to take the rest of the fish.
tbh with you, I think both me and my wife were initially thinking about filling it in (well, we do have previous for that!) but I dont think our girls would forgive us, especially as my wife has promised them they can buy two new fish to call their own.
If the old fella has taken the filter and other kit, we would have had no choice to fill it in as I've googled the filter system and I wouldn't be paying money out like that myself!
Had 10 red comets, 4 passed away then we had a heron swooped in and scoffed the remaining 6. Gutted, will try again next spring and will post a pic of our pond next the house.
Ive finally got a bit more time and will be trying to set up a pond in our garden. I’m thinking of a fibreglass ready-made one so that I don’t have to faff about with pond liners. I’d like to get going with it so it’s ready for and wildlife next Spring. I’ve looked on line at the fibreglass ones but would like to actually see one before I buy one. Any suggestions on a good ‘pond shop’?
Any other suggestion welcome as it’s been years since we had a pond.
I have to net parts of the garden, not cats as we first thought but starlings! Finding at first hollow scraping they went on to develop into holes four to five inches deep in places and young plants unearthed.
We invested in a wildlife camera and found a couple of starlings every morning would arrive between six and seven (ironically before the dogs go out😂) and set about having a party, obviously with the soil being quite dry the beds were left a mess. We tried all the humane distractions but only the four foot netting works, any lower they fly under the plants. 🤷♂️
Costing me a fortune in shade loving ground cover plants 🤬
I had a similar situation acquiring a pond when I bought my house. The Koi had gone to a new home, the filter too and I was left with the responsibility of caring for 5 random fish which became the bane of my life. £100's was spent working on the water quality and I needed pet-sitters to come in when I was away.
Eventually my local aquatics centre agreed to take the fish and, after almost draining the pond to get the blighters out, I now use the pond for plants/fountains and black ink reflections.
Get the guy back to take the rest of the fish.
tbh with you, I think both me and my wife were initially thinking about filling it in (well, we do have previous for that!) but I dont think our girls would forgive us, especially as my wife has promised them they can buy two new fish to call their own.
If the old fella has taken the filter and other kit, we would have had no choice to fill it in as I've googled the filter system and I wouldn't be paying money out like that myself!
I know I guy in West Wickham, not to far from you, has an amazing pond with all the kit. He even has a room full of aquariums of tropical fish. Happily put you in contact with him for any advice
There is a monster thistle that grows in my son's garden.
I kid you not it must be nine feet tall and the flower heads are as large as a mans fist - and pretty deadly looking! In fact I think with a bit of imagination they could be used to make up a medieval flail weapon.
Anyway, I 'stole' a few seeds from it a couple of weeks ago. I put some in an envelope for next year and planted some in a pot expecting them to lie dormant until spring. Those seeds are now over an inch tall and growing fast - I fear I may have unleashed some Triffids. With my garden being so small there is little room for them, but I'd like to make space for one (should they survive winter) for the novelty factor - plus the bees absolutely adore them.
There is a monster thistle that grows in my son's garden.
I kid you not it must be nine feet tall and the flower heads are as large as a mans fist - and pretty deadly looking! In fact I think with a bit of imagination they could be used to make up a medieval flail weapon.
Anyway, I 'stole' a few seeds from it a couple of weeks ago. I put some in an envelope for next year and planted some in a pot expecting them to lie dormant until spring. Those seeds are now over an inch tall and growing fast - I fear I may have unleashed some Triffids. With my garden being so small there is little room for them, but I'd like to make space for one (should they survive winter) for the novelty factor - plus the bees absolutely adore them.
Difficult to tell from photos alone but could that be a cardoon (artichoke thistle)? I believe parts of it are edible...but I'd check first!
Comments
(erm, get your minds out the pond!)
Eventually my local aquatics centre agreed to take the fish and, after almost draining the pond to get the blighters out, I now use the pond for plants/fountains and black ink reflections.
Get the guy back to take the rest of the fish.
If the old fella has taken the filter and other kit, we would have had no choice to fill it in as I've googled the filter system and I wouldn't be paying money out like that myself!
I’ve looked on line at the fibreglass ones but would like to actually see one before I buy one. Any suggestions on a good ‘pond shop’?
Finding at first hollow scraping they went on to develop into holes four to five inches deep in places and young plants unearthed.
We tried all the humane distractions but only the four foot netting works, any lower they fly under the plants. 🤷♂️
Happily put you in contact with him for any advice
I kid you not it must be nine feet tall and the flower heads are as large as a mans fist - and pretty deadly looking! In fact I think with a bit of imagination they could be used to make up a medieval flail weapon.
Anyway, I 'stole' a few seeds from it a couple of weeks ago. I put some in an envelope for next year and planted some in a pot expecting them to lie dormant until spring. Those seeds are now over an inch tall and growing fast - I fear I may have unleashed some Triffids. With my garden being so small there is little room for them, but I'd like to make space for one (should they survive winter) for the novelty factor - plus the bees absolutely adore them.
Difficult to tell from photos alone but could that be a cardoon (artichoke thistle)? I believe parts of it are edible...but I'd check first!
https://www.dutchgrown.co.uk/blogs/the-dutchgrown-blog/growing-guide-how-to-grow-cardoon-artichoke-thistle