Helpful information
Timing: Autumn
Where to do it: Outdoors
Garden space: Large garden, small garden
Autumn leaves look spectacular but are not so great for ponds! This article looks at why it’s important to net a pond and how to do it.
- Netting a pond is quite a physical task, that can burn calories and work your muscles
- This activity gets you outdoors, where you can appreciate everything else that is happening in nature
- Enjoy knowing that you are protecting the health of your pond and its inhabitants
A round pond in a garden. Image credit: Unsplash / Wonderlane
As the saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure.’ This is definitely true when it comes to protecting your pond.
Netting a pond helps stop as many leaves as possible falling into it. These deciduous leaves may look amazing as the fall in autumn. But, they break down over winter. When this happens in a pond, they can create an unsightly green sludge when the warm weather arrives the following spring.
It's not just the appearance that is a problem. As the carbon in the leaves breaks down, it deoxygenates the water. This can be harmful for plants, fish or any other pond life.
When to net a pond
The best time to net a pond is in autumn, before too many leaves fall. The net can stay on through winter.
Netting a pond to protect from herons
Some pond owners choose to keep netting on for longer, to protect fish from being eaten by herons or cats. Others don’t like the look of netting on a pond all year round and worry about other creatures getting tangled up in the net.
This guide is focused on netting during autumn and winter to protect against falling leaves.
Make it easier
Ponds are delightful. They can also be a hazard and take work to maintain. An alternative is a small, raised pond or a water feature. Read our guide to accessible garden design for more advice.
Essential items
- Pond cover net / galvanised wire
- Metal pegs or bamboo poles
Optional items
- Galvanised wire
- Wire cutters
- Rocks or large stones
- Mallet
Follow these steps to net your pond with ease.
Step 1: Gather your equipment
Get together all the items you need. You will want to be right beside your pond.
Step 2: Cut netting to size (optional)
The easiest way to net your pond is to find a cover that goes completely across it in one piece. You can find pond cover nets in a range of dimensions. Remember when ordering that you want the netting to go beyond the edge of the pond. Aim to order at least 50cm larger than the width and length of the pond.
Another option is to use netting roll or galvanised wire. If you are using this, you will need to cut it into enough lengths to cover the pond. Again, make sure your netting goes at least 50cm beyond the edges of the pond.
Step 3: Lay netting over the pond
If you have a big pond, you may want help for this step.
Lay your netting across the pond. If you have individual pieces of netting or wire, lay them overlapping each other.
It may be helpful to hold the netting in place with some big rocks or stones. This allows you to keep it taut while you firmly fix it in place.
Step 4: Secure in place
Some pond net covers come with special holes at the edge to help secure it. Push metal pegs through the holes at an angle until they are firmly secured in the ground. It may help to use a mallet to do this.
If your netting doesn’t have special securing holes, you can push metal pegs or bamboo stakes through the netting itself at the edges.
If your pond is surrounded by a hard surface, using pegs may not be possible. You could use large rocks, bricks or small sand bags to keep it weighted down.
The goal is to have a tightly stretched net that isn't sagging into the water.
Check on your netting from time to time through autumn and winter. Make sure it is still securely in place.
You can remove dead leaves that gather on top and add to your compost pile.
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Accessible garden design
The design of your garden can create a huge difference to your enjoyment of it. Here we look at some ways to make it more accessible.
