Has anyone ever actually successfully made a micro-pond?

[FreezerBird]

Or have I been fooled into doing something that looks like a great idea but will always be doomed to failure?

Last year we put a tiny pond in the garden, following the sort of instructions found here: www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/garden-activities/createaminipond/

We put in oxygenators which we knew would sink down over the winter but they only started to pop back up again at the beginning of August, by which time the 'pond' was just an unpleasant tub of water with mosquito larvae in it and nothing else.

It's looking better now as the oxygenators are starting to do their thing but apart from some of the sparrow fledglings enjoying it there is nothing in terms of wildlife to be seen.

It might be that it's not in the best place (a shrub near it which is evergreen does actually lose more leaves than I'd realised through the year which isn't helping), but I suspect it's actually just too small to really get established with any sort of life in it and I need to start again with something bigger (and possibly better situated).

Any experiences?

A friend has one which looks really lovely and they have birds using it, dragonflies, other insects...she's inspired me to have a go. Her garden is quite shady but it's in one of the brighter spots but not full sun.

I make them every year. I do them primarily for visual appeal, to be a change from potted bedding plants. Not sure what you are expecting, but there’s plenty of bird and insect life visiting. Did you use rainwater to fill them?

@Trethew do they die out every year then, or are they more permanent?

How tiny is it - can you post a photo? Could frogs easily get in? We have a small but quite deep pond and get lots of frogspawn every spring. Maybe next spring you'll get some once it's matured a bit?

Those are lovely Trethew

@GeorgeMichael. The little floating plant with fingernail-sized leaves Salvinia) dies at the first sign of frost, but apart from that I leave them alone all winter. Generally have a revamp in spring when things start to grow, and maybe move plants around a bit if there have been deaths. They are all in aquatic plastic pots. The water lily is always v slow to start growing. You will need to be sure your pots are frost-proof though.

If you want frogs and newts you’ll probably need your pot sunk into the ground so they can get in and out

I’ve just dug my hole and have ordered a container, I’m eyeing up which dwarf plants to buy. I just assumed I’d stick it all in & it would be fine!

Yes- we did earlier this year for some frogspawn.
We sunk a tub into the ground, kitted it out with rocks and a lily- and it has thrived.

We have a few little frogs and some water snails in it at the moment. Plus a few tadpoles left. Dragon flies have been visiting too.

I have a tiny pond. The oxygenators didn't last long and the "dwarf" water lily wants to take over the world but the pond is thriving. We get lots of newts.

The sludge/weed needs clearing our regularly, I leave it in a heap next tonthe po d for a few days so any wildlife can find it's way back. In hot weather it needs topping up often, but I just use the hose and everything seems OK.

To answer some questions -

Yes, pond filled with rainwater.

Pond sunk into ground, about the size of a washing up bowl (is actually made from the reservoir bit of a water feature which was here when we moved in and we didn't want to keep.)

No wildlife other than birds using it.

I am inspired by your photos and possibly just need to give it an overhaul.

I was surprised when the oxygenators popped back up a few weeks ago though - is that very late in the year? I was expecting them in spring and assumed they'd all died.

We've just put in a small preformed pond (50l). It's very early days for us, but I'll be watching with great interest

I have a small pond.
It is inhabited by lots of newts so I suppose it is a success but it’s a bit of an eye sore.

It looks lovely first glance because of the plants around it but the water always has lots of thick, lumpy, slimy green algae over the surface and loads of brown dusty mulm when the water is disturbed.
Have tried those anti mulm bacteria’s to no effect.
I clear the algae regularly but it’s back within days.

Oh and I never get birds.
Unless it’s blackbirds coming to take out my newts in the spring.
DH deliberately built it to be really shallow all the way around with a small deeper area in the centre, perfect for birds to bath but no.

Aside from newts the only animals I see are the local cats who much appreciate it and visit several times a day for a drink

Thanks @Trethew they're lovely. Do you mean the plants are in pots, in the water? I'm considering making one for my Mum now

Those are fab @Trethew. What are the very upright plants in the third photo (this one which is more obviously a plant pot sun into the ground)?

@George Michael. Most of the plants are in their own individual pots in the water standing on the bottom, or on a brick to get the right height. The floating plants just float. Aquatic pots have mesh sides, and special compost that is supposed to stay put and not disperse into the water.

@freezerbird. I think its a manky specimen of Equisetum hyemale. Very structural and prehistoric-looking but whatever you do, don’t plant it in the ground. You will never get rid of it. Relative of marestail.

Yes, it's lovely. Cobbles that we're dug up when new fence posts were put in cover the plastic liner and there's a beachy bit and some boggy edges. We dug it where we'd seem hedgehogs walking through the front garden and the birds love it. I top it up from the water butt as needed, it's very windy here and water evaporates quickly.

Cloverleaf is very good for blanket weed.

I love this thread, thank you. I so want to do it so am going to read it all again carefully. I've had so many bees and other pollinators this year, loads of ladybird larvae too. It makes gardening so much more rewarding when you encourage wildlife.

My container is in, rocks arranged, filled with water & plants arriving by Friday.
Nothings been near it yet. I hope something likes it soon, I can’t wait to watch the birds enjoying it & seeing signs of hedgehog visitors.

Well now I feel awful.
There have been fatalities-despite my rocks so that things can clamber out.
I don’t suppose the poor little caterpillar had much of a chance but there is also a massive dead spider at the bottom of my container.
What if the bees can’t manage to get to the clamber out rocks?