Pond
January
Repair damaged pond liners
Action time: 16/01 - 17/01
If you have a wildlife pond and your pond liner is damaged or ripped, clean and repair it now to limit any disturbance of the pond's natural balance.
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February
Stop your pond freezing over
Action time: 04/02 - 06/02
It's not too late for a hard frost so make sure you keep a small area of open water in your pond to prevent it from cracking and for the health of any fish. Read our guide on pond care.
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Repair damaged pond liners
Action time: 13/02 - 14/02
If your pond liner is damaged or ripped, repair it now to limit any disturbance of the pond's natural balance.
Read more
March
Clean and repair pond liners
Action time: 13/03 - 14/03
If your pond liner is damaged or ripped, repair it now to limit any disturbance of the pond's natural balance.
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Spring clean your pond
Action time: 17/03 - 21/03
Clear away plant debris from around the margins of ponds and scoop out any leaves in the water.
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April
Divide water lilies
Action time: 06/04 - 06/04
Water lilies need dividing every few years to keep them healthy. Use a sharp knife to cut off a piece of rhizome with a vigorous growing tip and pot up individually.
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Clean and repair small ponds
Action time: 25/04 - 27/04
Late spring is the best time to clean and repair container and smaller ponds. This also provides the opportunity to plant, repot or divide plants.
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May
Maintain your pond's water quality
Action time: 01/05 - 02/05
Algae depend on sunlight to thrive so add oxygenating plants and waterlilies so that their leaves cover more than half the pond's surface. This will help starve out the algae. Read our guide for details.
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Divide water lilies
Action time: 08/05 - 15/05
Divide water lilies before their leaves have fully developed. You will need a sharp knife to split apart the shoots on the rhizomes to make new plants.
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June
Keep ponds free from blanketweed
Action time: 01/06 - 02/06
Blanketweed can take over and if left unchecked can choke plants and restrict the movement of fish. Make sure to remove the weed from ponds as soon as it appears.
Read moreJuly
Build a pond
Action time: 07/07 - 07/07
Attract wildlife and add interest to your garden by adding a water feature.
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Keep your pond clean
Action time: 10/07 - 17/07
Lift out blanketweed regularly with a garden rake to stop this form of algae from spreading and choking plants. Remove any rotting leaves and flowers to keep the pond healthy.
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September
Create a mini pond
Action time: 17/09 - 17/09
You don't need a lot of space to have a water feature in the garden. Follow our simple guide to creating a small pond.
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Prepare ponds for autumn
Action time: 23/09 - 30/09
Keep your pond healthy by removing any dead leaves on the surface, and cut back any plants which have grown too vigorously.
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October
Create a mini pond
Action time: 17/10 - 17/10
You don't need a lot of space to have a water feature in the garden. Follow our simple guide to creating a small pond.
Read moreKeep pond free of leaves and debris
Action time: 23/10 - 27/10
Remove dead and dying foliage. If autumn leaves are a particular problem, place netting over the pond to prevent debris from falling in and fouling the water.
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November
Add a water feature
Action time: 03/11 - 03/11
Even if you've not got the time or space for a pond, you can still incorporate a water feature in your garden.
Read more
Build a pond
Action time: 21/11 - 21/11
Add interest and wildlife to your garden by creating a pond. Our guide will show you the basics on building a problem-free pond.
Read moreGet ponds ready for winter
Action time: 23/11 - 27/11
Remove the last of pond debris before there's a risk of ponds freezing over. Submerged decaying vegetation releases methane gas, which, if trapped under ice, can be toxic to fish.
Read more
Check for damaged pond liners
Action time: 30/11 - 07/12
This is a good time to check if your pond has been losing water due to damage rather than evaporation.
Read moreDecember
Maintain ponds over winter
Action time: 24/12 - 27/12
An area of open water is essential for ponds over winter. Float a ball on the surface of the pond, or use an electric pool heater to stop it from freezing over.
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Tips calendar
Your gardening year
If you want to see all of our gardening tips for the year, try out our new year planner.
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