Frequently Asked Questions
Siting and Design
Careful pond siting and design will maximise the pool’s value to wildlife. There are various approaches, but the ones considered most appropriate from the experience of Aquapic include:
- Siting where the pool will obtain a fair amount of summer sunshine
- Not too much shading from overhanging trees or shrubs; just a little shade from poolside plants
- A relatively deep centre to help stabilise pond temperature
- Shelved contours to enable planting, and a section of shallows or a beach area to facilitate accesscom
- Plants in baskets/containers to restrict excessive plant growth and limit loose soil
- A link with the rest of the garden; at minimum a planted corridor
- Provide perches and shelter (log/stone piles) nearby for e.g. birds and amphibians
Stocking
Take care when adding plants to avoid introducing unwanted weeds. Amphibians generally turn up of their own accord. Don’t move spawn from other places as this can sometimes spread disease.
- Aim for a good balance of plants: underwater, marginal, floating
- Avoid invasive plants (exotic or native)
- Don’t add many fish, if any at all
- Avoid large messy fish like koi/carp © www.aquapic.com
Management
The pond may be wild, but it will still benefit from some routine maintenance.
- Avoid feeding too much fish food or using plant fertilizers
- Avoid using stronger pond treatments or pesticides around the pond
- Trim back dead plant growth and net over in the autumn to keep out excess leaves
- Ensure some of the water surface (ideally at least 50%) is kept free of plants
- Remove and compost excessive plant growth and prevent surrounding soil from washing into the pool
- Top up with clean rainwater when possible, or use tapwater with an appropriate conditioner
- Save as much pond water as possible when the pond finally requires cleaning
Aquapic designed wildlife-pools incorporate the best varieties of water plants to balance both being attractive to wildlife and being attractive to owners. By using native plants where appropriate, and avoiding invasive plants (link), balanced conditions can be obtained that are most beneficial to wildlife.
Contact Us to discuss your requirements.
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How can I attract wildlife to my pond
The benefits
Adding a pond to your garden is recommended by many of the wildlife organisations as one of the best ways to attract wildlife to your garden. Garden ponds are also considered to be some of our country’s most valuable wildlife habitats, all the more important as ponds in the wild become encroached by building or polluted by run-off from roads. © www.aquapic.com
In most cases, wildlife will turn up at your pond of its own accord. Birds drinking and bathing at the edge. Amphibians spawning. Damselflies and/or dragonflies dancing over the water surface. Pond-skaters and whirly-gig beetles, and a plethora of underwater life.
