I have recently bought a 300 year old cottage. In the overgrown, neglected garden are two ponds. I had a good look at the ponds yesterday and don't know were to start.
The first pond is rectangular, about 6' by 3', sunken with a black plastic liner. It has loads of water lillies, iris and red hot pokers(?) in and around it. I can't see any fish although there are loads of frogs, snails etc. The water is smelly with lots of rotten leaves in it. The base is thick with mud. There is a raised stone area, covered in ivy, with a lions mouth fountain where I expect a pump resides as in the murk I have found a hose and an electric cable. The builders renovating the house have unfortunately emtied some water used for concreting in the pond (!!)
The second pond is very small, circular and with hardly any water in it. It is again muddy and full of rotten leaves. There are what looks like bullrushes growing out of it. It also appears to be lined with black plastic. Both ponds are partially shaded. I would love to renovate the ponds but have not got a clue where to start. I don't have much spare cash to spend on the garden. Any advice gratefully recived, thank you.
Hi there and welcome.You have certainly got your work cut out.How i would love to roll up my sleeves and help.just the sort of thing i love!!I wouldn't be too sure there are no fish in there,but any sign of concrete and they would probably be killed anyway.The poor old frogs are so desperate these days for any water they will tolerate poor conditions.It worries me that it sounds as if there is no shallow slope for them to get out.i would make that your first priority so that they can get out if they want.They will soon be breeding so some better quality water is fairly urgent also.If they are already in this pond you may as well concentrate on this one first.
You are lucky that you have another to put the plants into whilst you empty the bigger one.If you do not intend to keep fish,and can adapt this pond for the frogs,then you do not need a pump or filter.
Clean out the smaller pond,fill with water and stand for 2 days,or use rainwater if you have it.Then transfer the plants,washing off the muck as best you can.Cut them down,and cut off all dead leaves .
Clean the bigger pond out completely.It will be too far gone to save anything except the frogs and snails,and any other water insects so do take care to net out these creatures first.Place them into the other pond,or buckets and any receptacle you can find!!Then make sure the liner is up to being reused,if not, replace it.If it is not a concrete pond,this is where you may be able to dig a gentle slope into the shape.It will pay dividends later,and the edges can be hidden with grass or other marginal plants very easily.
Refill half full and then put some good earth into the bottom,but not any treated or mixed with manure.Then put in your thinned out plants,NOT the bullrushes!!Do not overdo the amount you put back.You could also put in oxygenating weed which will root itself.Finally after a couple of days you can put back the snails and other insects you find.The frogs you cannot control!! they will probably leap in fairly quickly anyway.
Even if you intend keeping fish in the future,it sounds as if you have a lot of frogs who you will not persuade to go elsewhere and you will then always have the problem,as the species do not mix well.
The smaller pond could be used for excess plants/weed and can be redone at a later date if you require.
Good luck!! Any further queries i would gladly help with.
Just a couple of things to add to Margaret's comments. (Welcome back btw Margaret I've missed you)
1) If you do need to re-line either of the ponds then there is a company on e-bay currently selling .75mm Butly liner very cheaply (Probably half shop prices) - I'll try and get more details if interested.
2) I know Margret mentioned about leaving the water to stand for a couple of days before putting anything into it, but frogs being frogs they will probably be in there before you can put the "keep out" signs up. Thus instead of leaving the water standing you could add a Watersafe type product which will remove flouride/chlorine which is harmfull to most wildlife/fish.
Good Luck
Tony
Thanks Tony for your comments.I didn't mention the water treatment,i thought the poor chap had enough to think about without me adding to it! but you are right.However the chlorine does not affect frogs as badly as fish,they seem to be pretty tough.I suppose they have to be.
How are you? i have been reading your posts.When can we expect the olympic sized pool for your fish then?
Thank you both for your help - roll on the weekend so I can get stuck in, just one more question : if I come across frog spawn will it survive moving to the small pond (temporarily)? thank you both again, sam