frothy problem advise needed plz x

Okay, Joolz, thanks for the pic of the pool and it's definitely got potential.:D

Right, this is the part where Pete, Watergarden and I will try to give advise and no doubt some of it will clash or contradict because of our different styles of ponds and experience. So what you have to do is pick out the bits you like and go with those!!!

For me, there are several things I would alter to make the pond and plants appearance to be "softer" because I like the more natural style. So firstly I noticed you'd got the marginal plants pots on bricks that placed the top of the pots above the water level. Most marginals are quite happy with the top of the pot an inch or two below the surface or just slightly under and that helps make it look more natural, so try lowering the pots!!! If you can, get rid of the bricks as they stand out out and look out of place in the pond. Think about it, if you went to a Large Estate garden and walking by a lovely pond you would not be happy to see bricks in it!

Again, and Pete and Watergarden might disagree, but I would soften and naturalise the edge of the pond as, as for me, it is too hard and detracts from the pond fitting in with your garden. So I would get some large pebbles, pieces of rock, of a colour that fits with the surrounding area and cover the rim so that it looks more natural. I keep using the word"naturaL" but to me it is important to make your pond blend in with its surroundings. I would extend the pebbles, pieces of rock to cover the edges of the waterfall so that the bottom edge of the waterfall is hidden and fits into the surrounds. Also, try planting a few taller, broader plants to the side and rear of the waterfall which will again soften and make the waterfall seem more natural.

The next to last piece of advice is put some more plants in!, you can put at least two plants into a large pot such as you have in your pond if you think about it, and have patience to let them grow. Oh, and have you thought what you're going to do in the Winter when it's freezing?? Get a pond heater?????

Last piece of advice is don't get overwhelmed by the commercial side of it which introduces a lot of technical advice. Having and keeping a pond is very simple, logical and just needs common sense to keep it clear and clean. Lastly, enjoy it because that's what's it's there for, and just do a little reading on water gardening to give you a better understanding of what goes on and in a pond.

Glad you like the pond, it gives me such pleasure to sit by it and watch all the insects, birds, etc using it. The Ferns were originally tiny in little 3" pots, and they like it in the bog garden, as do the two varieties of Astibles, Irises, Soft Rush, Clematis, Snakehead Fritillas, and Primula. All the sides of the pond are planted heavily with Ferns, Hostas, Bergenia, Campanula, etc, and like I said they look after themselves because they're happy where they are.

 

Hi Joolz,Your second pond which is on the other side of the garden just needs the same treatment when clearing and cleaning it out. Making a stream connecting the two ponds sounds like a very good idea, but again you will need to get a water garden book that will show you the easy way of doing it. You will need a pump that can return the water from the bottom pond to the higher pond thereby keeping the water circulating between the two ponds.
Again, I think Pete and Watergarden would be more knowledgeable and be able to advise you on that particular project, but my advice is to keep it simple and make it look natural........there's that word again!!!:D

As you say, Joolz, there's not enough time in the day to do everything you want, but it is surprising that with a little bit of effort just how much you can do. Don't go rushing with the lower or the higher pond just take your time and enjoy doing it, after all the only pressure to do the job will be coming from you! You described the pond as looking "rough" but I honestly don't think it is, what it does look, at the moment, is "raw" and that is easily softened into looking "natural" by the stones, plants etc. and, of course, time!!
One more piece of advise should you ever want to put your feet into the ponds for, say, maintenance purposes always wear shoes and wash your feet or hands afterwards.
Some years ago I decided to have a wade around my pond without shoes, [being an idiot],
and managed to cut one of my toes slightly. The result was an extremely painful and swollen foot from an infection caused by the microbes in the water, requiring a trip to the Local WitchDoctor and a protracted course of anti-biotics!, so beware!!!! Now on my annual Spring wade around the pond checking all is well I wear my Fishing Chest Waders to to make sure:DOH::D

 

Would there not be a period of "trial and error" where, Watergarden, Joolz, or more probably Darran, in which the flow of water can be adjusted at the pump,:D

 

"Instant" Big Ferns cost, Joolz What you've got to do is make them happy where they're growing and let them grow.:D I know it feels like :fingerdrum::fingerdrum:, but, believe me, you'll appreciate putting reasonably sized plants in and watching them grow.
Those Ferns by the pond are now a few years old but, like I said in the previous post with the pics of the pond, those Ferns were only tiny in 3" pots when planted. So is there an element that you are reluctant to admit is needed?...........time!!
When you, and Darran, have gone through all the effort, ideas, and trauma of carrying out the project you will, in a couple of years, look at the pools and with a sigh of approval say "We did that" and grin at the arguments you had doing it.!!!

For the lining the trench I would use pond liner, which you can get cheapish on the Net, go for one with at least a 30 year life. You don't need one the length of the trench, just cut it into lengths and lay overlapping and seal. You can cover the edges with what you've already got.........grass turf, to make it natural looking, and obviously put pebbles into the stream so that it looks like a stream would.

 

Well ferns like it damp but not soggy, and the one's you see by the pond are in the bog garden fed with water through the gaps in the "dry" brick wall, so why not make a small bog garden where ever you think it will fit. Dig a hole about 12" or more to the width and length you want, line it with pond liner after stabbing holes in it for drainage, [not too many] then fill it with earth and compost, plant it up with your Ferns and water!!! One thing to note, Joolz, Ferns do like a bit of shade so choose your spot, if you can, with that in mind.

Well, if you haven't got a heater for the pond you can float a ball on the surface when it's going to freeze so that you can take it out when iced over which will stop poisonous gases accumulating and killing your fish. If the pond is left to ice over for a long period you run the risk of losing your fish. Also is there enough depth to ensure that the pond doesn't freeze solid, which will also kill the fish!!

The person who dumped the fish into a pond actually broke the law because such fish might introduce diseases into a disease free environment!!!, just a thought:D And, as you say, lost out moneywise because Pet Shops will buy them.

 

Hi, Joolz, I've been thinking about the problem Watergarden posed and Watergarden is correct in it's presentation. But, it's all about Physics and gravity........... so what's being said is that when the pump stops returning the water to the top pond and thereby recirculating it, the water in the top pond will empty into the bottom pond. But that depends on several things, the height difference of the top pond and the bottom pond, gravity would empty water from the top pond to the bottom pond thereby causing it overflow and a loss of water, which is right to a point and in theory.

It would also depend on the depth of the Rill/Stream entrance in the top pond i.e. the water would only drop down to the lip of the Rill/Stream of the top pond and that would be it. Also it would depend on the drop of the Rill/Stream between the top and the bottom ponds which would decide the speed of the gravity flow.

One way of solving the loss would be for the bottom pond to be bigger than the top pond thereby being able to receive and contain any water from the top pond. And once the pump restarted it would return the "lost" water back to the top pond. So the less inclination of slope of the Rill/Stream there is the less water will be subject to gravity and the slower the flow would be. Why has WaterGarden brought this problem to the fore??, well you won't be running the circulating pump all day and every day or nights as that would be really expensive, so at some point you will switch the pump off.

I use the mini heater for my pond as all you need is a small ice free area to release the gases under the ice, again you don't need it on all the time just when the pond has frozen and only for a short time to clear the ice.

Just check the old bog garden, Joolz, to make sure it's still working, if it is the Ferns and other plants should be fine.

The ball in the water is an old trick.:D