There are two approaches to stocking your garden pond: the slow, inexpensive, and natural way or the quicker, more costly method.
The slow method involves taking a bucket of water from an established pond and adding it to your pond. From there, you simply let nature take its course. Within a month, insects and other small creatures will begin to discover your pond, and seeds will start to germinate. Over the course of a year, you’ll have a thriving wetland ecosystem, all developed naturally.
To help kickstart the process you can add a small amount of decaying organic material to the pond. This can feed microorganisms and support the base of the food chain.
The quicker option is to stock your pond with a variety of suitable plants. Late winter or early spring is the best time to do this. Opt for native species, as exotic plants can quickly outcompete and overrun native varieties. A balanced mix of submerged, floating, and emergent plants will ensure a healthy and diverse habitat.
Here are some examples of plants you can choose:
Submerged plants like water-milfoil, curled pondweed, hornwort, and water starwort are essential for maintaining water quality. These oxygenating plants provide valuable cover for tadpoles and other larvae, helping them hide from predators.
Floating plants such as water-lily, ivy-leaved duckweed, and water hawthorn shade to the water to keep it cool on hot days and provide resting spots for pondlife.
Emergent plants like iris, meadowsweet, loosestrife, rushes, sedges, greater spearwort, water mint, and water forget-me-not are vital for supporting insect life. Larvae of damselflies and dragonflies rely on their stems to climb out of the water when they are ready to transform into adults.
Avoid collecting from the wild: Never remove plants from the wild, no matter how abundant they seem, as this can harm natural ecosystems.
Artificial aerators: Avoid artificial aerators as they may disturb the natural balance of the pond.
Optional pump: While a wildlife pond doesn’t require a filter, you might choose to add a pump for a cascade or fountain. If you do, ensure the pump has a ‘wildlife protection system’ to prevent tadpoles and other small creatures from being sucked in.
In smaller ponds, aquatic plants thrive when grown in baskets or containers filled with a loam-based or aquatic compost. If using garden soil, ensure it is free from fertilisers and herbicides; otherwise, opt for a proprietary aquatic compost. Pre-planted coir logs or mats are another good option, particularly for securing plants at the margins of new wildlife ponds.
Stability: Use large rocks or stones at the base of containers to stabilise taller plants.
Planting depth: Ensure plants are planted at the same depth as in their original containers.
Rhizome plants: For plants with rhizomes, position them so the rhizomes sit just above the soil surface.
Add floating aquatic plants by gently placing them on the water’s surface. For larger clumps, separate them before adding. Aim for one plant per square metre of surface area.
Submerged oxygenators can be purchased in bunches and planted in baskets. Anchor them securely to keep them in place. A good rule of thumb is to use four to five bunches, each containing three to four stems, per square metre of water surface.
Over time, your pond will come alive with a thriving ecosystem. While much of the activity will be microscopic, you’ll also spot larger invertebrates like water skaters, water snails, and water beetles. Amphibians such as frogs, toads, and newts may also make your pond their home, and they should be welcomed as their natural habitats are under increasing threat.
Birds, including swallows and house martins, may swoop down to catch insects hovering above the water and gather mud for nest building. Other garden birds will visit to drink and bathe, adding even more life to your pond. Occasionally, you might spot a heron hunting for fish or amphibians. Even grass snakes, excellent swimmers, may appear to hunt nearby
Fish can be added to your pond, but avoid large or exotic species like goldfish and koi carp. These fish will eat tadpoles, froglets, and other small aquatic creatures, and they are also vulnerable to predators like herons. Instead, consider smaller species such as minnows or sticklebacks.
Frogs are one of the most beneficial animals to have in your garden pond. They help keep pests under control and are fascinating to observe. Frogs prefer ponds with shallow edges, as this makes it easier for them to enter and exit the water. Sloping sides are ideal. Include a mix of emergent plants such as water mint, iris, and water forget-me-not, as well as low-growing plants around the pond’s edge to provide cover and shelter. Frogs need damp, shaded areas to rest during the day. Create a nearby habitat by adding a pile of logs, stones, or leaf litter near the pond.
If frogs don’t find their way to your pond naturally, you can collect frogspawn from a nearby pond, but only with permission. Ensure that the pond you take it from has plenty to spare and is within the same local area to avoid introducing diseases or invasive species.
In winter, make sure part of the pond surface stays unfrozen by floating a ball or creating a small opening. Frogs hibernate in ponds and need access to oxygen. During summer, ensure the pond doesn’t dry out completely. Keep the water level consistent if possible.
If your pond is large enough, you might be fortunate enough to attract dragonflies. Dragonflies require a sizable pond with shallow water for egg-laying and for their larvae to feed. Emergent plants, such as irises, are essential for the adult dragonflies to climb out of the water as they transform.
Choose flowering plants near the pond to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Water forget-me-not, lesser spearwort, flowering rush, and marsh marigold are great options.
It’s best to minimise disturbance to your pond, as most pondlife thrives in a natural underwater tangles of plants where they can hunt, hide, feed, and breed. If you need to remove algae, do so sparingly to maintain balance. A few leaves falling into your pond isn’t a problem, but during autumn, when many leaves drop, it’s a good idea to fish them out before they sink and decompose at the bottom.
If your pond dries up in summer, this is perfectly normal and mimics how natural ponds function, filling up in winter and drying out during warmer months.
However, if you keep fish in your pond, you’ll need to top it up regularly. Avoid using tap water, as it contains chemicals that can harm wildlife. Instead, use collected rainwater for a more eco-friendly and pond-safe solution.
