It will take a few months before the pond starts working as an ecosystem.
Algae
The water will turn murky, and in warm weather, there may be an algal ‘bloom’ caused by the high nutrient level in the water. The algal population will decline as the nutrients are used up, and as other plants begin to grow. Do not change the water in an attempt to short-cut the clearing process, as the same problem will recur.
Algal blooms can be prevented by a simple method using barley straw. Waterlogged, decomposing barley straw gives off a substance which inhibits algal growth, but does not damage other pond organisms. The effect starts about one month after application, and lasts about 6 months.
Only about 10g per square metre is required, which for many wildlife ponds will amount to a few handfuls. Put the straw loosely into a mesh sack, such as an onion sack, with a plastic bottle in it to act as a float, and anchor it in the deeper water so it floats just below the surface. The following timetable is suggested:
Feb-April 1st application
Sept-Nov 2nd application
Feb-April 3rd application and remove 1st
Sept-Nov 4th application and remove 2nd, etc.
Barley straw is available in small amounts from pet shops, or from farms for larger quantities. For further advice on the use of barley straw, contact the Centre for Aquatic Plant Management.
Leaks
The water level will drop slightly due to evaporation. A large drop in level may indicate a leak. If you have used a geotextile liner to help protect the waterproof butyl layer from physical damage, make sure than no geotextile is exposed at the surface. The geotextile acts like a wick, drawing up the water and allowing it to evaporate.
If problems persist, you will have to pump out the pond and check the liner for leaks. Repair butyl liners according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cracked areas in puddled clay must be dug out, and the area carefully repuddled, whilst keeping the whole lining damp.
Ducks
Particularly in the early stages, when the pond has a lot of open water, ducks may be tempted to alight. They look very appealing, but will rapidly destroy any new plantings and are not compatible with a typical-size wildlife pond. Do not feed them, but drive them away, and stretch brightly coloured tape or similar across the pond for a few weeks to discourage them from returning.
Pond plants
These should establish without difficulty. If they get disturbed by people or animals, re-plant what remains, and protect with wire mesh. If vandalism or theft is a problem, you may have to take greater protection measures, or allow the pond to vegetate naturally. It will still be a useful habitat, even if the planting is not as attractive or varied as you would like.
Depending on the planting density, and the success of establishment, no control should be needed for the first two or three years. Leave the dead stems and leaves over winter, as they provide a habitat for hibernating organisms. The vegetation can then be managed in rotation in autumn as necessary. Do a little each year, rather than a lot every few years.
The free-floating and floating leaved plants will slowly spread. The pond is not necessarily ‘overgrown’ even if there is no open water in mid summer. As necessary, remove some of the growth in late summer as it begins to die down to prevent it enriching the pond.
Rubbish, leaves and silt
Remove rubbish from the pond as soon as you notice it, before it attracts any more.
Leaves and twigs floating on the surface will sink down and add to the nutrient level, so rake off any that accumulate in autumn.
If the pond appears to be silting up quickly, try and prevent silt washing in by diverting any overland flow, or installing a silt trap in piped or ditched supplies. Shovel out some of the silt each autumn, but do not disturb more than one third of the pond in any year.
Grass and buffer zone
Keep mown any paths or areas of short grass which are needed for access.Avoid mowing during the few days in late spring when the froglets are emerging from the pond.
Mow or scythe areas of long grass in late summer, to prevent them getting overgrown with woody plants.
Check the plantings of trees or shrubs. If the first summer after planting is very dry, watering may be beneficial, but you will need to apply at least a bucketful to each plant on a fairly regular basis if it is to have any effect. keep the surrounds to the new plants weed free, and re-apply mulch as necessary to help conserve moisture.
