Pond cleaning and pristine gardening accessories
One day we will replace the edging of the pond to get rid of the paving stones and replace them with more sympathetic materials. This was going to be the year when we would also re-line it, but yet again plans have gone awry and we have run out of time. The Digger takes the lead in pond cleaning (somehow he got landed with the job instead of me – how could that be?). It is not a pleasant job and at this time of year the water is icy cold. Not as cold as in early February when there was still ice on the surface but even so hands go numb fairly quickly.
As you can see a spot of tidying up was necessary. Reluctantly the Digger put on his long rubber gloves and got started.
Pond in February
I was there in an advisory capacity and as repotter of plants. The idea was to get rid of two plants that were overwhelming the pond. One is a Waterlily that was producing huge leaves and no flowers. At the moment it is dormant. Most of the dead vegetation you can see in the centre and foreground belongs to a Pontederia cordata (Pickerel Weed). It has lovely flowers but has simply grown too big. Now is the time to remove it and perhaps we can visit a water garden nursery to buy something different. Yahoo…a planting buying opportunity!
Pond cleared on March 1st
You can see how much material was removed. I found three frogs too. It looks bare at the moment but the plants will soon increase in size.There are now five plants in place, including a replacement Waterlily plus a floating oxygenating plant.
- Caltha palustris ‘Flora Pleno’ (Double Marsh Marigold)
- Iris laevigata ‘Variegata’
- Equisetum hyemale (Horsetail)
- Waterlily (name unknown)
- Grass (name unknown)
- Ceratophyllum demersum (floating oxygenating plant)
Finally I must show you these. It was my birthday earlier this week and look what I got. Gloves, kneeling pads and Felco secateurs. Don’t they look crispy and new. I just had to take a picture because they will never look this good again (lol).
Crocus tommasinianus and Scilla mischtschenkoana ‘Tubergeniana’ are in the background.
Gloves, kneeling pads and Felco secateur
By the way I’m off to Brussels for a few days tomorrow so I won’t be blogging or commenting till the middle of next week.
12 comments
Wish I had a pond. It will be lovely later in the year, you will have to keep us posted. Enjoy your break.
Judith: Thanks. I need to buy a few new plants too now that there is more space.
I like the shape of your pond. I think that your role of advisor/repotter was the best option given the job in question. Wishing you a belated happy birthday. I have always yearned for a pair of Felcos – what a great present ! Enjoy your trip to Brussels whether it be for work or pleasure.
Anna: Thanks for the birthday wishes. The Felcos are rather nice and extremely sharp. Here’s hoping I don’t lose them!
A very Happy but Belated Birthday wish to you! Your pond looks so different now that it is clean. Looks like its ready for spring.
Tina: Thanks. It was worth all the effort and I’m sure the frogs appreciate it!
Hi EG, happy birthday! Those are wonderful gifts, especially the felcos, use them in good health. As the official pond cleaner, I can vouch for the coldness of the water and the numbing of the fingers, no matter what you are wearing. I have started wearing my son’s fishing waders, neoprene, that I can barely fit into, but it’s worth it, they do the job. If only something could be done for the hands. I usually just wear gardening gloves to protect against scratches. Nothing helps the cold. Watch out for that horsetail, it can take over quickly!
Frances
Frances: Perhaps someone has invented heated rubber gloves (lol)
Love your pond! Sorry it is a chore to take care of, but maybe only once per year for all the enjoyment you get out of it is worth it? Especially if you get to do just the plants part instead of the freezing cold dirty work for once. :) Lovely presents, happy birthday and have fun in Belgium!
Karen: Yes it is worth the work. It is making the effort to tidy it regularly which is the chore – uupleasant jobs are always the ones put off till last!
Well, happy birthday to you! What lovely gifts those are.
The pond looks a lot tidier, but having owned/managed/herded a couple of them myself, I don’t envy the cleaning job. Stinky.
I finally gave up on them. Sigh.
Susan: Thank you. Luckily the Digger does most of the work but as you say ponds need a fair bit of maintenance, which is not always pleasant to do. Even worse if you do nothing for a few years!
Happy birthday! Nice gift for a gardener
:)
I also buy kneeling pads last week (for first time) and I’m very happy about this but yours have beautiful color.
CityGarden: Thanks. My pads are almost too nice to use!
Looks fabulous! The thing i love about this time of year is the fact that everything looks great and you can actually SEE it! Keep up the good work.
Vegmonkey: Yes the ground is so bare that everything shows to good effect. Even so I can’t wait for the rest of the plants to get going.
Hope you had a good time away.
Lovely Birthday gift.
Brave Digger to tackle the pond – I just look at ours and think it is too cold.
K
Karen: Yes thanks it was a nice break. It is always too cold to do the pond. The Digger was indeed very hardy but took it quite a while before he regained feeling in his arms!
White Gardening Gloves!
Esther: No, tasteful lavender – white would be downright odd (lol)
Just had to tell you this. I did a search on green tomato chutney and there are lots of recipes out there but guess who’s I found and its just right. Will let you know how it turns out.
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