Blanket Weed	From: Paul H, UK
	How can I prevent blanket weed in my pond, I am currently trying to use Barley but I would rather not have to use this at all?
	From KoiObcession, UK As you may guess i'm an avid koi keeper. blanket weed is caused by algae, the food source being sunlight and natural pond nutrients. it gets worse when a UV is used, by killing the algae that causes green water you free up a food source for it. 3 effective ways to get rid (1) let your water go green (the fish prefer this, though you wont!) (2) the electronic controllers work, though (a) dont expect instant results if you have a problem & (b) filters need to be cleaned more often as the degraded weed will block them, or (3) a product called KUTSURI ECOPURE, its a bio enhanced clay that starves the weed. can take a while to work, but once on top of it its cheap, clean, natural and helps keep your water in good nick! available from all good aquatic (koi) outlets. From Chris, UK I have found that blanket weed comes intermitantly some years so you may not get it. I don't tend to get it in my pond anymore as I have a biological filter and a UV filter. Although the only way of getting rid of it if you haven't got filters is to use a support cane and wind it round the blanket weed and pull it out of the pond it's laborious work but the only alternative. From Alex M, UK Paul have a look in ; http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/mn_algae.asp and I think you might find what you want. From Mr Clark, UK I think they use carp course fish at the various spas to get rid of it in the natural way! From Shirley HI Paul, I am having an awful problem with this too. There is an electronic device called the Blagdon Electronic Weed Killer and it is about £65 if you get it at a garden centre but I did see it on the web the other day at www.aquatics-online.com. It was only about £45.00 there. Hope this helps. Good luck and let me know if it does. Regards, Shirley..... Learn something new every day Can any other Gardeners Club members help Paul out? Click here if you can help

Bog Garden	From: Gill E, UK
	I wish to create a small bog garden around one side of my fish pond, but I do not know which plants would be ideal. My garden is small so the plants must not be too tall. The pond is half way down my garden.
	From CK, UK Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' grows to approx 8-12" and is an attractive green/gold evergreen with long, strap-like leaves. It seems to be widely available as is a white-variegated one. You could try planting groups of 3 of each. Or how about the exotic looking Arum Lily, Zantedeschia aethiopia, which is also hardy but not evergreen and grows up to 3ft by 3ft. A smaller alternative is the bog Arun, Calla Palustris (h10")The white spathes produced in Spring are followed by red berries. The water forget me not, Myosotis scorpioides 'Mermaid' (h6"). Whatever you go for try to achieve some textural contrast. In the border, Zantedeschia looks fabulous planted next to Crocosmia 'Lucifer' for example. Good luck, CK. From Alex M, UK Hi Gill, I put your specifications into some software I have and it came up with the following list: Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) Carpathian Harebel Bellflower (Campanula carpatica) Carpathian Bellflower 'White Clips' (Campanula carpatica) Double Flowering Marsh Marigold 'Flore Plena' (Caltha palustris) Fairy Slipper (Calypso bulbosa) Carex siderostica 'Variegata' Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) Water Foret-Me-Not (Myosotis scorpioides) Louisiana Hybrid Iris (Iris x louisiana) Bethelem Sage 'Pink Dawn' (Pulmonaria saccharata) Piggy Back Plant 'Taffs Gold' (Tolmiea menziesii) Hope this helps, Alex. From Alan B, UK Hi Gill, you can plant some lovely plants around your pond, eg Astilbe 'sprite pink' 1ft tall, 'lilliput' pink 6in tall, Cardamine Flore Pleno is a good choice. There is also a small Gunnera 'magellanica' which is no more than 3in high with red flowers, as well as Primula, Lobelia and lots of well known plants that put up with wet feet. Hope this helps. Alan B. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Gill out? Click here if you can help

 

Bog Garden	From: Gordon D, UK
	Hi there, any one any suggestions if i can turn a concrete fish pond approx (3mx5m) into a bog garden.
	From Michael Barratt, the Gardeners Club resident gardener The concrete pond can be used as a bog garden provided the screed is broken to drain excess water. A bog garden obviously needs to be wet, but at the same time not flooded. A mix of organic matter and loamy soil will be needed to ensure ideal growing conditions. From Mr Clark, UK Might I suggest you go to your local libray and research your garden from there. Look for hardy, rain forest plants. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Gordon out? Click here if you can help

Eucalyptus Tree	From: Roy, UK
	I have a pond and my neighbour has planted a eucalyptus tree at the other side of his fence which is a about 2 feet from my pond. Does this pose a threat to it? The pond is lined with butal.
	From Michael, UK The answer to your question is YES!!! I love eucalyptus trees but anyone with any good common sense should know better than to plant them that close to ANY fence regardless if there is a pond in the vicinity. They grow very rapidly and will do two things in future. First, they will probably damage the fence depending on what material it is made of due to the spread of the roots. Second, those spreading roots will surely find their way into the side of your butyl pond liner. As a rule, trees should never be planted near sides of ponds that are made with butyl liner as they will eventually puncture it. Eucalyptus trees grow a lot faster than your ordinary common garden trees. You will also find a problem with the autumn leaves if it decides to shed any into your pond and you have fish. The oil in the leaves will probably leave a slimy substance on the surface of the water and not good for any fish unless you like picking them out with a net every day. Ask your neighbour if they intend on keeping the tree well pruned as it's grow can be prolific in just a couple of seasons. Good luck! Can any other Gardeners Club members help Roy out? Click here if you can help

Fish	From: Carole C, UK
	I have an elderly friend who has moved house and feels he can not cope with a pond in his garden so he has offered me the fish before he fills the pond. My pond is six foot by six foot and 18" to 3 feet deep, does anyone know how many fish this should support.
	From John and Lisa H, UK You need to know what sort of fish they are first, as you can keep twice as many goldfish in any given area as you can koi, for instance. Also, does your pond have a filter, and how big? Your pond is a bit shallow for koi, but you might get away with a few as long as you have good filtration. From Alex M, UK Try looking at this page: http://www.gardenlinks.ndo.co.uk/water.htm. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Carole out? Click here if you can help

Green Water	From: Daniel C, UK
	I have green water and want to know if it is right that barley straw and the wifes tights work! If so where do you place it - near the pump? Or will anywhere do? Also is it placed above the water or below?
	From Keith R, UK Hi. I've had the same problem and I invested in an ultra violet light. Now I have water that is crystal clear. Good Luck Can any other Gardeners Club members help Daniel out? Click here if you can help

Natural Water Garden	From: John R, UK
	I would like to know how to design and populate a natural water garden. Please can anyone advise and help.
	From Alex M, UK Try looking in : http://www.rhs.org.uk/science/horticultural_themes/mn_aquatics.asp - this coupled with the links should get you what you require. Best of luck. Can any other Gardeners Club members help John out? Click here if you can help

Planting Suggestions From: Roz, UK What would you suggest to grow in/around a pond, under a tree which doesn't get a lot of rain? Depending on the level of shade around the pond will determine which plants are suitable, but try these to start with. These will take partial shade: Dicentra exima, Berberis, Iberis sempervirens, Sambucus, Aquilegia, Hydrangea macropylla, Geranium sanguineum, Mahonia aquifolium, Pacysandra, Hamamelis, Vinca minor, Hosta, Astilbe Pond plants: Acorus, Glyceria, Iris pseudocorus, Mentha, Mimulus, Myosotis, Ranunculus Lingua, Scirpus albescens, Veronica beccabunga Can any Gardeners Club members help Roz out? Click here if you can help

Pond Liner	From: John B, UK
	What can I use to repair a small crack in a hard 'plastic' pond liner? Any ideas?
	From Chris, Manchester I found model makers "Lillyput" to be very good sealing around the hole i had made in my pond for the cable to my pump, it's a two part epoxy putty that dries rock solid, no worries!! From Richard L, UK If the liner really is plastic and not fiberglass, then use a heat gun and flat bladed bent (cheap) screwdriver. Heat the area and especially the screwdriver, and use circular movements to flow the cracked areas together. I use this technique all the time to join drain pipes, etc and I have built my ponds sewage system this way to join a header tank to a sewage pipe. Must be a thermo plastic though - most are. Failing that, just put in a cheap (or expensive liner) - problem solved. Richard From Steve P, UK Hi John. In answer to your question about a cracked hard pond liner, if you contact your nearest stockist, they should be able to supply with a special repair kit - similar to a fibreglass and resin kit that you can get to repair car bodywork. Ofcourse the car body repair kits are not suitable for the job, but as I say your stockist will point you in the right direction.Good luck. From Peter C, UK I'm not sure how to repair them... but PVC lorry and trailer sheets can be substantially repaired with strips of PVC, special cement or adhesive... but you need a heat gun and roller to make permanent long lasting repairs From Alex M, UK Most DIY shops will stock 'fibreglass ' repair kits. One piece of advice when using it, ensure the surface you are applying the repair to is thoroughly cleaned & rubbed down otherwise you are wasting your time. Best of luck. Can any other Gardeners Club members help John out? Click here if you can help

Pumps	From: Nick, Avon
	Could anyone tell me the best place to purchase pond pumps in the Avon area?
	From Ian F Hi. By the Avon area, I'm not quite sure where you mean. I live in Wilmcote, very close to Stratford upon Avon. I bought a very good pump at Webbs of Wytchbole. Unfortunately it packed up but they immediately replaced it with the latest model with no grief at all!! The very best customer service I have ever seen. Hope this helps. From Alex M Contact any of the following and ask for local supplier: http://www.budget-aquatics.co.uk/products/pumps4.htm http://www.diamondbygsw.com/fpkits.html http://www.cheappumps.com/ From Carey O Hi. Try the Cadbury Garden Centre in between Congresbury and Yatton. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Nick out? Click here if you can help

Snails	From: Alan, UK
	The snails in my pond disappeared about 3 years ago - the pond takes the overflow from the water-butts. In case this was too acid, I put a lump of concrete in the pond. I put a coffee-jar full of snails in 2 years ago - they also went. The pond is home to many frogs & newts and is covered with duckweed. Any ideas please?
	From Michael, UK Frogs are eating the snails mate..sorry Can any other Gardeners Club members help Alan out? Click here if you can help

Tadpoles	From: Jan & Ben, Northumberland
	We have a 1/3rd acre garden and our latest venture is a pond. We are busy at the moment sorting out planting which is quite a task as the pond measures approx. 7metres x 4metres x 1metre deep with several ledges under water. As it is so big we would like to introduce some fish, but this we year we had several hundred tadpoles of which quite a few have turned into frogs, obviously we want fish in the pond that will not eat the tadpoles in future as we do expect them to return - can you suggest any? We also have a cat and would like to know if she is likely to try and eat the fish - if she does she will get very wet, but are there any preventative measures which we should take - we live in Northumberland. Thanking you in anticipation
	From Fiona, UK Basically the tadpoles are an instant food supply for any fish. If the pond is big enough then both will survive alongside each other as the numbers of each adjust naturally to their surroundings. If you do not introduce fish then they will come into the pond anyway(!). Small fish such as minnows and sticklebacks can be introduced if you take a bucket of sediment (plus some water) from a local pond. I am sure if you contact the Northumberland Wildlife Trust they might be able to tell you of a suitable pond that is being "managed" - this could help you out. If it's exotic fish you're after then a Grey Heron will more likely or not pinch them at some point anyway! Can any other Gardeners Club members help Jan & Ben out? Click here if you can help

Waterfall design	From: Derrick D, UK
	I am looking to build a pond and waterfall in my garden. Has anyone got any good designs they would like to share, although I am quite happy to pay a small fee. Also, where can I buy a rock waterfall instead of an imitation one? Many thanks
	From Shirley D, UK Hi Derrick, I have a waterfall stream and pond in my garden and can send photos if we can correspond through email addresses. Let me know if this helps. Getting rock shouldn't be a problem, just expensive. I can also let you know what not to use from my own experience. Cheers Can any other Gardeners Club members help Derrick out? Click here if you can help

Waterfall & Sump	From: Ian, UK
	Hi, I would like to construct a cascading (3 pools and sump) water feature. I am unsure as what to use to seal the rocks between the pools to stop unwanted leaks and the sump overflowing. Many thanks in advance.
	From Rick, UK I have done this with my own pool and waterfall and sealed between the stones with normal cement, made up with a waterproofing liquid additive from my local DIY store. It has lasted 4 years of Scottish winters so far...! Can any other Gardeners Club members help Ian out? Click here if you can help

Water Lillies	From: Nick P, UK
	Hi, do you know of any websites where I can buy a dwarf hardy water lily. Probably a daft question - but if you can help I would be very grateful. Thanks
	From Alex M, UK Hi Nick, look in ; http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder2.asp?crit=Nymphaea&Genus=Nymphaea I think you should find what you want there..........A Can any other Gardeners Club members help Nick out? Click here if you can help