Tips on Restoring a Pond

Ponds provide a habitat for wildlife and create beautiful scenery. Having said that, it is crucial to maintain and restore a pond to provide a valuable wildlife sanctuary. Restoring a pond is no massive task if the right procedure is followed.

Dredging the Pond Bottom

Silt may accumulate at the bottom of the pond to become a habitat for naturally occurring substances, which may cause pollution or prevent the establishment of the right aquatic vegetation. The silt at the bottom of a garden pond may also lower water quality. De-silting should be done in the right way, taking care not to damage aquatic wildlife and the surrounding habitat.

Remove Excess Duckweed/Algae

Algae and duckweed often come and go, without necessarily having to remove them. And this is because other aquatic plants establish to out-compete and replace the algae. But some algae may get worse over time and absorb phosphates from the pond water. Removing the algae when there is heavy wind is more leisurely, given that the wind tends to sweep them to one side of the pond. Net duckweed removes algae the best.

Manage Trees, Shrubs, and Aquatic Vegetation

The size of a pond determines the amount of vegetation to be left in and around the pond. Ponds should be kept open and sunny to help with the growth of water mint and other wildlife. Reducing aquatic vegetation may help with the balance of nitrates and phosphates. A pond should always be kept clean, so all dead leaves must be removed from the surface of the water. Not all trees and shrubs around the pond should be removed; otherwise, there will be erosion and silt will quickly deposit at the bottom of the pond.

Going natural when cleaning ponds is highly recommended because most chemicals are poisonous to wildlife. The ideal time to restore a pond is from November to January, and not in winter when frogs and other wildlife are hibernating.