Spring pond care tips

Spring is here, and with it, a new year of life returning to your pond. Soon you’ll see the start of spawning season as frogs, toads, and newts emerge to find their mates. To protect frog and toad spawn from predators, you can use low-growing plant shelter or netting.

You may also spot the courtship dance of newts, who wrap their eggs individually in the leaves of aquatic plants. Encouraging plants for this behaviour include brooklime, lesser spearwort, and water forget-me-not.

Before spawn and eggs evolve into tadpoles and efts, now is the time to remove heavy debris and sludge from your pond. Some light leafy debris will serve as good food and shelter, so you don't have to be too meticulous!

Please remember to check any removed material for life and leave it beside the pond for a day or two to allow insects to return to the water. 

Additionally, any semi-evergreen foliage left through the winter, such as sedge grasses or reeds, should be cut back this month to make way for fresh growth and avoid a "thatchy" appearance later in the summer.

To support your pond's ecosystem, I recommend adding beneficial bacteria now to kick-start the bioculture. While natural systems activate fully at temperatures above 10°C, algae often gets a head start, so early prevention is key.

Finally, consider setting up water capture systems from your downpipes. Following last year's drought, capturing rainwater is far better for your pond's balance than using tap water, which contains chemicals and nutrients that can disrupt the water chemistry.

I hope you’re looking forward to seeing your garden pond become a hub of activity once again.