New Stour & Avon, September 24, 2021 31
Home & Garden
Gardening...
...with botanist Dr Dave Aplin
POND LIFE: A liner of some kind is essential
Pictures: DAVE APLIN
Develop a passion for ‘pond-peering’ One of my favourite places to unwind is peering over the edge of our pond to observe what is happening... there is always something new to fascinate. Water is a vital element for humans and wildlife, so having some in the garden can be rewarding on many fronts. When our decade-old pond liner sprung a leak, I re-dug the pond, increasing its size before replacing the liner. Within weeks newts and pond skaters, absent before, colonised these waters. Key to creating a wildlife haven is to avoid the temptation to add fish, because they predate on most aquatic insect larvae. In a fish-free pond, animal visitors both big and small will find their way drawn by primitive instincts.
The plants will take much longer and require your assistance. When digging a new pond, it is important to provide variation in depth. This provides different habitats increasing the diversity of plants and animals living in the pond. Ideally, the deepest spot should be at least 46cm (18 inches) with a range of shallow, underwater shelves at varying depths. The pond should include a gradual slope to one edge, allowing larger animals that fall in an opportunity to clamber out, because there is a limit to how long a hedgehog can perform breaststroke. After excavating the pond, ensure the sides are level. Place a board with a spiritlevel across the pond and
raise or lower the sides accordingly. Then, cover the area with soft sand, old carpets or similar, to prevent sharp stones puncturing the pond liner from the weight of water. Pond liners come in various qualities, materials and thicknesses, with prices that match. I tend to opt for a ‘middleof-the-range’ sheet. Sizing the liner is important to get right, and there are various calculators on the internet to guide you. Place the liner over the area (above the sand or old carpet) and add water. Practically, tap water is used to fill ponds, then left to stand for a few days to allow the chlorine to dissipate. As it fills, gently fold creases neatly as levels rise.
Once full, trim generously around the edges, cut a vertical slot into the soil around the pond’s edge then push the cut end of the liner into it to hold. If a lawn surrounds part or all of the pond, lay turf so that it just dips into the water. This will create a naturallooking edge to the pond in next to no time. Finally, place a layer of subsoil at the bottom of the pond. Subsoil has less nutrients than topsoil and therefore, less likely to turn your water green. The plants will grow into this layer, while insect larvae seek shelter there. Finally, the pond is ready to plant, a subject we will continue next time. n soilvalues.com
