[hubballi]

As you can see by my earlier photos the pond is new this year hence the post "My New Pond"   The date of the post will indicate how old it is. I think marsh marigolds are planted in ordinary garden soil that is well weathered but they still grow lush year after year.

Where the liner ends to the right is covered with stones and after that the comfry is planted in a pot, dug into the soil so it has no contact with the pond whatsoever. The corner has grown considerably and we now have very lush tall nettles for cover as well as foxgloves and more logs. I will get an update pic ASAP.

As we have had a bit of rain in the North West I will do what you suggested. Great advice  

[Alastair-I]

The garden soil the marsh marigolds are in is not advised, even well-weathered soil will provide enough nutrients to fuel algae growth.  If you want aquatic compost on the cheap, googling "mineralised substrate" will yield some DIY tips.

It wasn't clear from the photographs where the comfrey was sitting in relation to the water, and your earlier mention of frogs returning to the pond from last year muddled me up whether or not it was brand new.

Skim off the top, remove any debris that's fallen in ("decaying organic matter" is dead leaves and bugs) and give it a good aeration as you add the top-up of fresh rainwater (stagnant is just a lack of oxygen).  I'd be tempted to repot the existing plants in the pond, removing the garden soil and using an aquatic compost.

There's a couple of non-chemical products you can add that help get the friendly bacteria established that help a pond deal with breaking down leaves, etc that fall in.  I can't remember the names but they're made by Microbe Lift.. basically they're Yakult for ponds.  And get a request in on Freegle for some oxygenators..

[ANHBUC]

As we have had a bit of rain in the North West I will do what you suggested. Great advice  
[/quote]

I must have been doing the wrong rain dance, will have to look up the one for the North East!! 

[ANHBUC]

As we have had a bit of rain in the North West I will do what you suggested. Great advice  

I must have been doing the wrong rain dance, will have to look up the one for the North East!! 
[/quote]

It worked but look what we have had to resort to because we haven't had any significant rain for ages.   

[hubballi]

It has since cleared and looking very healthy 

[hubballi]

Here it is now and all the green surface growth has gone. The balance seems to be right now as half covered by weed and half clear.

[Aunt Sally]

That looks lovely

[Alastair-I]

That's looking much better.  The duckweed will help with nutrient export if you let it multiply up until it covers about two-thirds of the surface.. and then net out back to 1/3rd and compost what you've removed.. let the colony multiply up again.. repeat all season.

[hubballi]

Thanks :-)

[ANHBUC]

That is looking great now.  How are you keeping the level high, have you had to top it up as ours is still about 3 inches below its fill level?  This is despite plenty of rain unfortunately the wrong type, drizzly persistent but not pond filling!

[evie2]

Your pond looks very inviting hubballi

[hubballi]

It's now August and still no pond skaters 

[hubballi]

Update, never had any pond skaters but found some water boatmen. Will I ever get pond skaters ?

[evie2]

Give it time, they'll come

[hubballi]

Looking at my pond, will that size attract them ?