July: Topping Up the Pond

Topping up the Pond

One thing often overlooked during the hot summer months is the pond. As the heat warms the pond, much of the water evaporates causing the water level to drop. The reduced level of water can cause many problems for the inhabitants of the pond as there are lower levels of oxygen available in this state.

Remember to top up your pond with water if you find the level has dropped. It is best to use rain water if you have been collecting this in your water butts. If you do not have rain water stored you can use water from your hose pipe but try to introduce it slowly and not all at once. The colder water fresh from the tap could potentially harm the fish in your pond due to the sudden change in temperature.

When the evenings become hot and humid it is also a good idea to spray the pond with water. The movement caused by this on the surface of the pond will improve oxygen levels in the pond. Alternatively, you could install a water feature. There are many no hassle pond features you can get from us, some even powered by solar panel. If you are after something more decorative, we have a larger selection in store and on our website.

Lastly for your pond, you will need to clear floating weeds like blanket weed which will grow rapidly through the early summer and eventually cover the surface of the pond. To ensure you are not removing with it any pond life, take the weeds from the pond using a net or gardening cane and rinse it through a bucket of pond water re-introducing the water back in to the pond. These weeds often have small pond life within them which are vital inhabitants of your pond. You can compost the weeds after, perhaps, leaving it near the pond for a while first in case there are still creatures displaced within.

This month is all about keeping plants watered and happy, but don’t forget to spend some time enjoying the sun yourself! We hope our advice keeps your garden looking perfect this Summer and more importantly that the weather stays good!