Pond care in autumn

Cut back plants and keep water healthy, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

PONDS are still busy with life in early autumn, though some things are starting to die back and slow down so you do need to carry out some ongoing maintenance.

Just as terrestrial garden plants start to fade as summer ends, so aquatic plants reach the end of their annual cycle.

It is important to cut back any dead and dying material to keep plants tidy and also stop old plant material from falling into the water where it will decompose, absorbing oxygen and releasing toxic gasses.

When you cut back marginal plants, take care not to reduce stems below the waterline as they will start to rot, which will eventually kill them.