New to Ponds - Plant Maintenance

[Parkanvas]

Hey folks!

I purchased a home in June with an existing pond. It seems to be doing fairly well, as I have half a dozen or more resident frogs, maybe 20-30 small pumpkinseed sunfish and a gazillion dragon flies and water striders. The pond has been stocked for 4 years with zero human feeding. The ecosystem seems to be surviving on its own. I caught a fish “hunting” the other day.

The entire pond is full of what appears to be pondweed (potamogeton lucens). In some areas it looks healthy and in some locations it seems to be rotting and is full of cloudy algae(?). Any recommendations on cleaning it up/pruning some out? Perhaps adding more variety of submerged plants? Maybe the dieback is seasonal?

Im going to be cleaning up and re-landscaping the perimeter over the next month or two. That will be fun to share! I do not plan on messing with the aquatic life however. I hope to allow them to continue on their own.

Thanks as always! I’m loving getting your help and feedback.

 

[Mmathis]

Do you have any water movement through a pump, fountain, filter?

 

[Parkanvas]

Do you have any water movement through a pump, fountain, filter?

No moving water yet. I plan on installing a medium sized waterfall feature on one end but no filter. You can see it’s placement in the photos attached.

 

[Mmathis]

What a lovely setting — gorgeous!

 

[addy1]

Welcome to our forum!

Lovely pond set up you have!

 

[Lodger]

That is a beautiful pond in a lovely setting

 

[Rhonddaponda]

I wish I had that lovely big pond, my husband just loves wildlife ponds, he's always watching out for dragonflies newts and frogs. He'd have his chair out there 24\7 Lovely!

 

[Parkanvas]

Thanks everyone! I wish I can claim it was all my doing but I’ll be changing some plantings and adding a small natural sitting area on the center island to make it a little more my own!

 

[Lisak1]

What a beautiful pond and gorgeous setting! I must have done something wrong - all I got with my house was a big mortgage!

If I were you I would reduce the in-pond plant growth considerably. That's a lot of organic material in a small pond. Some plants growing underwater are great; too much can be a problem. Even if you get rid of most of it, it will come back. We have it removed almost completely from our natural ponds about every other year here and it always manages to bounce back.

 

[James Foster]

Looks magnificent! Be aware that water movement can effect the waterlillies that you currently have - they prefer still water.