Creating a small pond.

Worth finding a piece of a tree branch or similar and lay it diagonally into the pond as anything like a hedgehog or even the frogs have something to grab onto and climb out of as the sides offer little grip.

If you need to add water to it, as we have had to do at least weekly this summer, you can either leave a large watering can full of tap water for 24/48 hrs to de-chlorinate or you can buy small bottles that will treat the water almost instantly.

Eg API tap water conditioner Pets at Home £5.99

 

I forgot to suggest Caltha too @Plantminded . It can be vigorous, but perhaps the minitaure one will be better. I grow the white one on the surrounds. I don't mind the yellow one, but I have lots of yellows.
The forget me not.... It seeds everywhere, including in the surrounds, but it flowers for ages so I don't mind. I expect you might find the same with the blue one

Be careful with that rush too. It's very invasive here - grows everywhere, and not just contained in a basket in the water. It might not be so bad with you, especially if you don't have it in the ground, and if you don't have other rushes. I got a dwarf bullrush a few years ago, and that one has totally taken over. I took it out last year and tried to remove all the rush, but it's affected the bullrush's growth. I don't know if it was already in with the bullrush, or if it's seeded in from nearby, but I'll have to do it again next year.
There's a huge clump just outside the neighbour's garage [along with all the other weeds from her site that I have to keep at bay ] so it may have come from there.

Looks like a great wee bundle though, and that ring suggested by @ricky101 should be a really handy little gadget for plants to keep them at the right level.
Look forward to seeing photos next year once it's all settled and growing away.

 

Thank you @fairygirl. I'll keep an eye on that pesky rush . Just one more questions if I may. As the plants will mostly be dormant now, can I leave adding an oxygenator until spring? Watercress is hardy so I could easily add some of that now.

 

Probably wouldn't matter @Plantminded . Some of those are dormant at this time of year anyway - the hornwort is anyway. Cooler temps mean it isn't really a problem.

I meant to say earlier- you can just fill new ponds from the tap and within a few days, the water's fine as the chemicals dissipate. It would be no problem for any wildlife that takes up residence, or is already on/in plants. I'd think yours will be ok by now.

 

I only added water to my pond once this summer. It went down to about half full at one point, now it's overflowing again.

 

@Plantminded while WaterCress may grow in your pond, trust you are not intending to eat it ?
They say a pond is not "clean" enough for it to be used for human consumption.

If you can get some easily, we would add some oxygenators now, they grow and all but very cold conditions.

We also have one of the cheapo little solar pumps just to give the pond surface a bit of visual movement, though as you can see the surface is rather full.

 

Thank you @ricky101. I have been out walking today and found some good fallen branches, plus a couple of old brick to aid access. I'm not planning to eat the watercress, just any excess from the initial bag . Your pond looks well established and a good healthy green. Thank you for the idea about the solar pump .

 

The plants arrived today while I was out and have now been safely unpacked. Excellent service from the supplier, ordered on Tuesday, arrived today, top quality plants, meticulously packed, with comprehensive labelling and care instructions. Only one looks in resting phase, the marsh marigold. Photo below, I have since filled the tray with water. I'll get planting tomorrow.

 

Really nice looking plants for this time of year .

The Marsh Marigold , once established will keep some of its leaves over winter if not too cold.
In a small pond you may have to divide it each year as its a strong grower.
The buttercup yellow flowers are a joy in spring.

 

Thank you @ricky101. They do look better than I expected .

 

They look excellent @Plantminded
Isn't it funny how quickly a project can suddenly happen, and look as if it's been there for ages? Once those plants are in and you get a few other bits and pieces in place, it'll look like it's been there for years. Lovely jubbly!
Watercress for consumption is grown in running water. I tried growing some in a shallow container - rainwater kept refreshing it, and when we didn't have any, I added some tap water. It didn't work. Hey ho.
My Caltha [white variety] stays almost evergreen, even in proper winters, but it can get a bit manky so I remove anything hanging over other plants, especially as it's not in the pond itself, but on the edge where I have other planting like Saxifrages etc. which would be affected by soggy foliage lying on it. It may behave differently in water but I've never had it directly in water - only in the ground.

 

Thank you @fairygirl, I just needed that nudge from you . I think using those sandstone blocks has helped it to blend in. I'll add the plants and make some refinements this afternoon. I'm going to have a look for some saxifrages for the border close by this morning and move some of my grasses around. Watch this space .

 

I really hope you enjoy it @Plantminded - I'm sure you will. The activity from birds and various insects etc is just such a delight.
I've had a pond in every garden I've had, and they've been all sorts of sizes, and sites, but always had lots of activity and it's given me a huge amount of pleasure. I also feel that I'm doing my small bit for wildlife by giving them a site they can use.
A really useful saxifrage is London Pride - S. urbium. Evergreen and copes with almost any site except really, really sunny/dry long term, and I only know that because a poster in London had mentioned it dries out for them. It's very good for really shady sites.
I use it for all those places when you need easy groundcover. I've planted up the border under my front window, and because there's a lot of deciduous perennials/shrubs, I'll be shifting some of that in there. It's almost invasive for me here, but so easy to pull out. Would be handy for pot displays too, although I've never done that.

 

I've got water cress in my pond and it gets flattened by the first frost, it even completely died one winter.
It's also very rampant, in mid to late summer and into autumn it needs cutting back or some of it removing every week.

It does however keep the water clear and blanket weed free a lot better than other plants I've tried.

 

Thank you @pete. I think I'll keep the watercress out in view of your experience. I called in at a local aquarium centre this morning. They had Elodea for sale (which I thought was banned ), but as you've got some in your pond @fairygirl, I went for it. A nice weighted bunch for just £2.99. The staff very kindly let me in before they opened and gave very precise advice "Just chuck it in" . No saxifrages available in the garden centre next door but I got some thymes and some small ferns as well as a bag of logs from the local garage to make a log pile nearby. 5 star luxury awaits .