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16
MANAGING
YOUR
POND
THE POND CALENDAR
SPRING: MARCH-MAY
Wildlife
• Frogspawn is laid from January
onwards, starting in the west/south west
of England and Wales.
• Newts (Smooth, Palmate or, for the lucky
few, Great Crested) and Common Toads
laying eggs from early Spring onwards.
• On warmer days backswimmers, water
beetles, pond skaters and lesser water
boatmen will be flying to the pond.
• Shrimps, water slaters, pond snails and
other animals start to breed as the water
warms up; Pond Olive mayflies begin
to emerge.
• Brightly coloured yellow and black
hoverflies will visit the pond: their rat-tailed
larvae which live in the water are the
ultimate ugly ducklings!
• Marginal and underwater plants start
to grow.
Management
• New plants grow quickly at this time,
plant them in inert sand and gravel.
• Marginal plant thinning/dividing: you can
trim plants back to keep things tidy, but for
wildlife don’t remove more than 25% of
plant cover.
• You can remove some submerged
plants and dispose of them on the
compost heap – but remember they may
be the only animal habitat in the pond.
• If you want to control duckweed, start now.
SUMMER: JUNE-AUGUST
Wildlife
• Damselflies start to emerge: the Large
Red comes first followed by the blues. Adult
frogs may be lurking to catch them.
• Frog tadpoles metamorphose and leave
the pond.
• Alderflies visit the pond to lay eggs on
rushes and reeds in May.
• Pipistrelle Bats may be hunting over
larger garden ponds.
• Dragonflies emerge in June.
• Adult damselflies and dragonflies lay
eggs all summer. The Common Darter
could still be laying into plants, at, or just
below, the water line into September.
• Caddisflies skim over the water at dusk
in mating swarms.
Management
• Water levels fall during the warm
weather. Tadpoles, and other animals
enjoy the warm shallow water (however,
if it becomes too hot/dry, then consider
moving them to ‘mini-ponds’ in more
shaded areas).
• If you want to top up, use rain water, and
do not reach for the hose.
• Skim off unwanted duckweed: this will
also help reduce nutrient levels, but don’t
leave it on the edge of the pond – put it on
your compost heap.
• Plants can be thinned in the summer,
if they’re not providing essential cover for
animal life. Remember to dispose of them
on the compost heap.