Weather and the Water Gardener
The weather has an effect upon all forms of gardening, but more so upon the activities of the water gardener than any other. Not only does climate affect the way in which plants around the pond grow, but also those that emerge from the watery depths. The pond or stream can also be adversely affected by flood or drought, being extremely vulnerable in both respects. Within the pond the whole eco-system is a delicate balance where all the components depend upon one another. Any disruption is more often than not caused by the weather.
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 The weather has a considerable affect upon a garden pond.
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Sunshine is a pre-requisite of a successful pond, for everything grows and functions best when there is uninterrupted sunlight. Few aquatic plants prosper in a shaded environment and generally a sunny pond is a happy pond, although it can bring problems with it.
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 Sunshine is a pre-requisite for a successful pond.
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Of these, the most common is an algal bloom which turns the water green. Algae prospers in full sun and where there are abundant nutrients. To counter such problems introduce sufficient submerged aquatics to mop up the nutrients, or consider a review of the compost being used (in case it contains easily soluble nutrients). Also provide sufficient surface foliage to shade the water beneath.
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Rain is generally of benefit to a water garden, for the rain drops pick up oxygen which enhances the water quality. It also freshens up foliage and knocks precocious aphids into the water for the fish to clear up. Following a spell of hot weather, it can clarify algae-tinted water, dispersing it completely.
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However, it can also bring problems when stormy rather than gentle, washing soil and nutrients from the surrounding garden into the water causing it to discolour and algae to invade the newly nutrient enriched waters. Suitable barriers, whether of paving or plants, should be arranged to prevent this happening. When there are electrical storms there are associated changes in pressure and sometimes fish will react to this and die, a phenomena that is common with the European Ide or Orfe.
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 Stormy weather can cause problems for the water gardener.
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 If a pond freezes over it is necessary to vent the ice.
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In districts where the temperature regularly drops below zero and the pond becomes iced over, then there is always the potential for problems. The decomposition that naturally takes place slows down, but the gases that are produced are unable to be vented into the air when the water surface is iced over. This matters little for a few days, but if it continues for a week or more then action must be taken to vent the ice by standing a pan of hot water on the surface and permitting it to melt through.
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If gases are allowed to accumulate between the water surface of the ice, then the fish are likely to become asphyxiated. Of course, the problem can be easily overcome by the use of a pond heater which keeps a small area free from ice.
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Snow presents few problems to the pond owner. On the contrary, it generally provides a warm blanket for over-wintering bog garden plants that are neatly tucked up in the soil. It is when it melts that problems can occur. A rapid snow melt in a water garden fed by a natural stream can cause serious flooding and erosion problems. Little can be done about the phenomena of snow melt, but precautions can be taken in advance to ensure that stream banks are secured and unlikely to suffer from either undercutting or sheet erosion.
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 Snow presents few problems for the water garden unless it melts quickly.
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