Questions answered
Garden pond knowledge base
Short, sourced answers to common UK garden pond questions. For step-by-step instructions, use the planning guides and the other guide sections.
Frogs, newts and wildlife
Frogs, newts and wildlife
Do not move frogspawn between ponds. Froglife advises natural colonisation because moving spawn can spread disease and invasive plants.
Fish and wildlifeCan I put fish in a wildlife pond?It is better not to. Fish eat spawn and larvae, compete for food and add nutrients, so Froglife recommends keeping them separately.
Feeding tadpolesShould I feed tadpoles in a garden pond?Usually no. An established pond normally provides enough algae and decaying material; extra food can pollute the water.
Newts and tadpolesShould I stop newts eating tadpoles?No. Newts are natural tadpole predators; Froglife advises leaving the pond food web to settle rather than removing them.
No frogsWhy are there no frogs in my pond?A pond may take time to be found, and local amphibian routes or populations may be limited; improve habitat and let frogs arrive naturally.
Water and maintenance
Water and maintenance
Use rainwater where possible. Tap water can add nutrients that encourage algae, and standing it does not remove those nutrients.
BlanketweedHow do I remove blanketweed from a pond?Lift excessive blanketweed out carefully, leave it beside the pond briefly so animals can return, and reduce the nutrient conditions behind it.
Pond cleaningShould I clean out my pond?Usually not completely. Remove problem growth and debris in stages; a full clean can remove the wildlife and balance you want to keep.
Frozen pondWhat should I do if my pond freezes?Do not smash the ice. Wildlife ponds often need no intervention; fish ponds may need a gently maintained opening and working aeration.
Drying pondWhat should I do if my wildlife pond is drying out?A wildlife pond can be left to fluctuate or dry naturally; if you top it up, use collected rainwater where possible.
Pond maintenanceWhen is the best time to maintain a wildlife pond?Late September or October is usually the least disruptive period, but check for animals and work in sections rather than clearing everything.
Green waterWhy is my pond water green?Pea-soup green water is usually suspended algae encouraged by light and excess nutrients from sources such as tap water, soil or fish.
Pumps, filters and electrics
Pumps, filters and electrics
Usually yes. The RHS says a thriving fish population is likely to need filtration to remove debris and algae and maintain water quality.
Wildlife filterDoes a wildlife pond need a filter?No. A wildlife pond without fish normally needs plants, varied habitat and low nutrient inputs rather than mechanical filtration.
Wildlife pumpDoes a wildlife pond need a pump?No. A wildlife pond without fish does not normally need a pump; plants and a varied, lightly managed pond provide the habitat.
Planning and setup
Planning and setup
A wildlife pond can be mostly shallow; varied depths and gently shelving edges matter more than one universal depth.
Pond litresHow do I calculate pond volume in litres?Multiply average length, width and depth in metres, then multiply cubic metres by 1,000; irregular ponds need averaged measurements.
Plants and algae
Plants and algae
Keep every fragment out of the wild and follow the current GOV.UK route for the identified species; do not move it to another pond or watercourse.
DuckweedIs duckweed bad for a pond?A little duckweed is not usually a problem, but a dense cover can block light from submerged plants and reduce oxygen production.
Wildlife plantsWhich plants should I add to a wildlife pond?Combine submerged cover, emergent stems, floating leaves and flowering marginals, choosing plants that suit the pond's depth and size.
Technical wording is explained in the garden pond glossary.