akpwell.blogg.se - Pond dredge silt disposal

If you find your pond water smelling unpleasant, the harmful byproducts that create when organic matter decomposes have reached a critical level. Such dirty water negatively affects the fish as well as the surrounding areas. When the water takes longer than usual to clear after a heavy rain, it’s a sure sign that the pond needs dredging. Brown pond water is a sign of low water depth in the pond Low Water Transparencyĭirty or murky water is another sign that the sediment at the bottom of the pond needs to be removed. The increased phosphate levels that are created when organic matter starts decaying will start a chain reaction of plant and algae growth that cannot be reversed by any other means effectively other than dredging. When the entire pond starts to grow more weed, it’s time to dredge it. You can clearly see excessive aquatic weed growth in the shallow area. Emergent pond plants are a clear sign of shallow depth. If too many emergent pondweed growths are noticeable then it is a clear sign that the pond has lost its depth. If your pond needs dredging, then you will see the following signs – Excessive Weed Growth

Are There Any Disadvantages of Dredging A Pond.

Little and often is the motto with pond maintenance.

You will be able to avoid a total clear out of the pond water for many years.

Regularly remove leaves and vegetation from your pond and do not allow a compost heap to build up on the base.

To avoid the need for a major upheaval and removal of all the pond water.

Too much sludge and silt can cause a reduction in oxygen in the pond over Winter.

To stop this layer building up to a number of inches thick and becoming a smelly area.Some silt will be a source of nutrient for waterlilies next year.See our Tips and Advice page for more details: Winter in the wildlife pond.Do not be paranoid - you do not need to remove all the silt - some overwintering creatures like Great Diving Beetles will bury into it.Check carefully for dragonfly larvae that remain in ponds for years.Most wildlife will have left the pond for a Winter on land.Check the net for creatures and replace them in the water.Drag a fine mesh dipping net across the bottom and lift the silt out.If you have had Frogbit - Hydrocharis morsus ranae in your pond this Summer please check back to our recent post and make sure you rescue some before carrying on with this task.It has been caused by plant debris dropping to the pond floor and accumulating there.Autumn is the best time of year to remove some of the silt or sludge at the bottom of the pond.

Pond silt and sludge Clearing pond silt and sludge: