Once a pond a summer time
NO matter how many channels you have, there are always those evenings when there’s nothing on.
The solution is simple: build yourself a garden pond.
Nowadays, most folk seem to go for water features rather than a full-blown pond.
But they don’t offer much sustenance to wildlife – dig a pond and frogs will spawn there, birds will come to drink, dragonflies and damselflies will skim the surface and you can even introduce goldfish for a spot of exotic colour.
Even in a tiny pond, water boatmen and pond skaters will appear almost before it has been filled.
As far as siting goes, make your pond in the open – not under trees where it will fill with leaves. Make it as large as you can, and no smaller than 183cm by 122cm.
As far as depth goes, 46cm at the deepest point is fine for a small pond, and even on a massive one, 92cm is ample.
Step
Around the edge, construct a step arrangement to act as a shelf for marginal aquatics that like to live in shallow water. Once the hole is dug to the right depth you’ll need to stretch a pond liner underlay over it. Over this lay a butyl pond liner – the most durable type – which should last a good 20 years.
As the pond is filling, ease out the creases in the liner and fold it neatly where necessary. Only when the pond is full should you do the edge. The water will turn green at first, but if you have sufficient oxygenators it will eventually clear and you will have a decent programme of events to watch every day.
START buying any new aquatic plants you might want for your pond. If they are sold in small net-sided pots, repot them into larger plastic planting baskets filled with pond compost. Thin out early-sown spring onions, radishes and lettuce.
Feed the garden, as long as the weather is mild and spring-like. Delay spring feeding by two to three weeks if the weather is cold. Feed trees, shrubs, perennials, fruit trees, bushes and canes. Feed the lawn with a spring/ summer formulation lawn feed. Apply evenly by hand or using a lawn feed spreader.