One of the best habitats that a gardener can create is one containing water. Ponds, bog gardens, streams or just a bird bath, all forms of water do their bit for the green gardener. ‘….ponds are one of the most appealing and vibrant small-scale wildlife habitats. Almost one in ten British gardens actually have a pond…’ according to Wildlife Trusts in their Wildlife Pond Handbook by Louise Bardsley

Who Uses a Pond Habitat

• Frogs, toads and newts use ponds to breed.
• Insects and worms use ponds for food and as dwelling places.
• Birds like a drink of water and an occasional bath and butterflies like a drink too.
• Fish add to the charm of a pond but unfortunately provide food for visiting herons in my garden.

Type of Pond Habitat

• The larger the expanse of water the better in terms of environmental impact.
• Preformed ponds are popular for the smaller garden. Made from rigid plastic or rubber they are long lasting and easy to install.
• You can make your own pond and shape it with butyl liner.
• Ensure your pond has an area where the depth is two feet or more to prevent a total freeze up.
• The pond should have at least one gentle slope or beach area where wildlife can access the pond.
• Fill the pond and let it stand for two weeks before adding fish and plants

Plants for your Pond

• Oxygenators such as Myriophyllum spicatum use up excess nutrients and supply oxygen to the pond.
• Floating plants can drift on the surface and curb the growth of unwanted algae. Try frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae.
• Avoid balnket weed and invasive Myriophyllum aquaticum
• The choice of ornamental plants is large from Water lilies through to Iris

Organic Tips for your Pond

• Submerge a bag containing barley straw in the pond in early spring. This contains a natural algicide and will help control blanket weed which grows in the sun.
• Use a rake to remove excess blanket weed but leave it on the side of the pond so creatures can return to the water rather than ending up on the compost heap.
• A balanced pond without too many fish will not need any extra additional chemicals or food supply.
• Rocks and rounded pebbles can enhance the surrounding area and build island habitats. Use local and ‘found’ stone.

Other Interesting Pond Related matters

Frog Spawn hints and tips
More Tips on growing Water Lilies
Ecology of water in the garden
Dealing with weeds in ponds
Pond plants and pond care
Gardening with water features

Credits Garden Pond with fish by pnt103 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

A juicy tip for good fertiliser. Collect the liquid from a wormery, dilute it and use as a foliar feed.

Why have a Worm Bin

• Worms can efficiently convert kitchen waste in to compost.
• A free, liquid, organic fertiliser is also produced. Dilute it 10 fold and use on crops and flower beds.
• Worms bins should be treated as fun. The tiger or brandling worms need feeding and looking after like other pets.
• A three tier worm bin allows access to finished compost without disturbing the worms good work
• Read and be enthralled by The Worm Book

Make your Own Worm Bin

• To avoid buying a wormery or worm bin you can modify an old water butt or similar plastic container.
• If the bin has a tap you can drain off the liquid fertilizer.
• If there is no tap drill a dozen half inch drainage holes at the base and stand the bin in a deep saucer to collect the juice.
• Drill air holes at the top near the lid for ventilation.
• Add a 4″ layer of grit, gravel or coarse sand to keep the drain holes clear.
• Cut to shape a piece of old carpet or wood as a divider. Make sure it has holes so liquid can drain through to the grit level.
• Add 4″ of bedding material (partly rotted garden compost will do). You need plenty of worms (circa100) in the compost, more the merrier
• After a week gradually start adding kitchen waste including egg shells tea bags, pasta, bread rice, fruit and veg peelings etc.
• Cover the kitchen waste with damp newspaper at all times to discourage fruit flies and keep worms moist
• Cover with a tight lid

Operating Your Own Worm Bin

• When the bin is full spread the contents on a large plastic sheet.
• To coax the worms from the compost place damp newspaper over some of the compost where the worms will then congregate and you can collect them to start a new wormery.
• Unpleasant smells or dead worms could be caused by over feeding too much waste in one go. Lack of ventilation may be another cause.
• Small black fly infestations can happen if the bin is left uncovered.
• Worm bins can become acidic so each month you can add a handful of ground limestone. Do not compost too much citrus peel.
• Worms have a diet of Dairy Products, Fats, Meat, Feces and Oil.
• Red worms live and eat in the top six to eight inches of material.

Oils

Photo credits
Wormery Top Level, Mid Level and Lower level: Food Waste by London Permaculture CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Tyre Wormery by London Permaculture CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

For more help read Lorene Nancarrows book.

The Tiger Wormery: Easy Access Composter, includes Worms available from Amazon