Twine time to stop predators feeding on fish
Never say never, particularly when it comes to gardening.
The garden is a moveable feast – there are no fixed dates to undertake certain tasks because every garden is different; some are warmer, some are damper, some are even vertically challenged. So what fits one garden may not fit another.
And if you have a pond, you’ll understand the logic. And if you don’t have a pond, then consider getting one – even if it’s only to attract wildlife.
Even in mid-winter, there’s something about a pond. True, it may be frozen solid but it won’t stay that way; a few days of sunshine and warmth, and the shadow of winter has faded.
Early April should be the time when spring really announces itself; when fish start to emerge from their slumbers and when frogs do what frogs have to do.
So that’s normally the time to wake up the pond. The fish and the aquatic plants don’t really like disturbing after months of winter, but that doesn’t mean you should leave well alone. Filters will need cleaning and restarting and the water quality will have to be checked for nitrate levels.
When the temperature rises, the warmth will encourage algae to sprout; in a well-tended pond, that should be no problem because aquatic plants should also start to grow and suppress any unwanted vegetation.
But there’s no set-in-stone month to get to grips with ponds – nature does not follow a human diary.
So, now it’s May. If there are fish in your
pond, stop garden visitors from getting a free meal at your expense.
String lines of twine across the pond, or else net it. It’s not the most attractive thing, but if it saves a few expensive fish, then it’s worth it.
If the pond is just a pond – fishless and tadpoleless but still an integral part of the garden – simply clean it. Rake out all the decaying vegetation, remove pondweed, top up the water level and tidy up the marginal plants.
Frogs will love it, insects will be drawn to it, birds will drink from it.
And if you haven’t got a pond but would like one (even a small, shallow one to start with), think about the plants – the likes of Primula vialii, Lysichiton americanus, Iris laevigata and perhaps even Acorus calamus – but be aware that some prefer shallow water, some deeper, and some are invasive.