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 You can water garden all year round - but what are your best options? About early-Spring - tidy up aquatic plants if you haven't already done so but don't buy anything new yet.
You can build a pond at this time but don't touch an existing one - leave it be. Don't turn water features back on yet - a sudden frost will ice pumps and piping solid causing severe damage.
In a few weeks time (late April/early May) you can clear out your pond or water feature (or you can wait until autumn).
Lower the water down and bucket out the dregs carefully removing wildlife and fish as you go. Trim the plants, split any that need it and replant. Never do this in warm weather as fish, animals and plants may suffer.
By May you can be buying and planting new emerse and bog garden plants, and if you haven't already done it, splitting and repotting older plants. This can carry on through the summer as can weeding among marginal plants or in bog gardens.
If you're keeping or want a pond with fish, choose a pump, filter and UV clarifier.
From May onwards you may be feeding fish and their wastes need removing. The water in ponds (and water features) may turn green as the sun activates suspended algae. The right UV and filter will keep them clear or on a non-stocked water feature you may choose to use chemicals.
 New fish are best added in May but don't overdo it - add a few fish at a time.
Bog gardens are best built early in the year as they must be kept moist while plants take root - perhaps not a problem with recent wet English summers.
High summer
High summer is probably the best time to build a pond. The ground should be workable, the weather bearable and you can dress comfortably and wade about in the filling pond - which is often very useful. You may have to wait to stock fish and plants until next year, but adding a few fish isn't out of the question.
Sadly few ponds are built in high summer - the garden is too demanding in terms of day to day maintenance - and enjoying it and relaxing in it too tempting.
Autumn
End of season plant bargains are often available in Autumn - and if you're planning a pond or new water feature next year, look out for pump, filter and other bargains too. |
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