BBC Gardening offers pond tips

Ponds make a beautiful addition to any garden but when spring arrives and the number of algae and foliage starts to increase in response to the temperature, it can become quite a chore to maintain a pond's upkeep.

That's why the BBC's gardening experts have plotted together to produce a number of hints and tips to help gardeners make the most of their aquatic feature.

Many gardeners find that the water level within their pond has dropped over the winter months. While this could be due to the weather, gardeners are warned to be on the look-out for any potential leaks in the liner.

If the gardener does suspect a leak, the water should be drained from the pond, making sure that the plants and any fish in the pond are first transported to a shaded container.

Doubled-sided adhesive tape can be used to repair most punctures, though cracks in concrete or fibre glass bottomed ponds will require more specialist repair materials.

Finally, the BBC offers a few pointers on how to keep the water quality high in your feature and simple tasks like removing dead foliage and plants from the bottom and removing blanketweed periodically will help to keep the water clean.

© Adfero Ltd

Related Stories

Kids to transform pond in Runcorn

How to dig your own pond

How to grow water lilies in Britain

Lack of ponds threatening newt in Scotland

Gardeners urged not to move frogspawn