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I have a very small pond not much bigger that 18" suare by 12" deep. It attracts a variety of life including frogs, toads, newts and various bugs and beatles. Over a period of two years,sediment builds up to quite a depth reducing the depth of water. Lost amongst the sediment is small lead strip weights off oxygenator plants which have become detached. I therefore feel the need to remove the sediment but could anyone please advise me on when is the best time? I can still see the odd tadpole left over from the spring, not to mention snails and i am worried that they would get lost in the sediment.
Hi Brian,
There's a series of web pages on ponds on our website, one of which says September/October is the best time of year to clean out a pond - hope this answers your question...
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/pondsforwildlife/pond_management.aspx
Regards,
Colin
Hello Colin. My apologies for not getting back sooner but I did not get an email notification of your posting. Anyway, thankyou for the link, I will take a good look at it. Regards. Brian
No problem, Brian. Rather you than me though now temperatures are beginning to fall. Brrrr!
As it happens Colin I did it last week on a sunny quite warm day and rather than empty the pond completely, I used a scoop to lift the mud out and leave the water with all its wrigglies, then sifted through the mud for any life to put back in. I thought that worked quite well apart from the cloudyness of the water which soon cleared. As well, it was a good oportunity to gather together the oxygenating plant strands that had separated.
I am a bit late cleaning my pond this year and hope to do it next week (time and weather permitting!) does anyone think this is a bit late?
I am on the Isle of Wight so probably still a bit warmer than the mainland even though we did have a light frost last week.
Rachel
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
You should be fine Rachel - there's a small chance that the odd amphibian is already tucked up in the mud but temperatures haven't yet fallen low enough for them to have gone into real dormancy. Just proceed with care and leave any muck and vegetation to drain at the pond edge for a day or so to allow any small animals a chance to make their way back into the pond.
ATB
Have now cleaned out both my main and wildlife ponds.
No frogs in either but it is still quite mild down here on the isle of Wight.
Did find a solitary tadpole though.
Got nice and mucky while cleaning.Its a job I love once I get round to it!!
I need to clean my pond but I will need to wade out into it as it is quite large. Is there any way to avoid treading on submerged wildlife?