The summer message is - Enjoy your pond, with a watchful eye!

FISH:
If your fish suddenly become shy, and hide at the bottom of the pond, a heron could be responsible. Herons are active very early in the morning, so you are unlikely to see the culprit at work. These spectacular birds are attracted by the clear water and ready visibility of the fish. Fishing often starts at dawn, which may be about 4.00 am in the height of the summer. If a heron problem is suspected, the pond should be netted over but make sure the net is suspended at least 60 cm above the water surface, otherwise this crafty bird will stand on the net and use it as a platform to stab the fish as they swim underneath its feet. Mechanical scarers can be fitted to the pond side, which are triggered by the heron tripping over a wire. Herons are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 and as such, it is illegal to injure or kill them.

PUMPING & FILTRATION:
Be sure to keep the pump running continuously during the warm summer months to cool and oxygenate the water.
Fit a pool filter and possibly UVC if you have trouble keeping the water clear.

PLANTS:
Water lilies will be well into flowering. Remember that early blooms are often pale, as it is only with maturity that the colour of the flower becomes true.
It may prove necessary to prune back some of the fast growing aquatic plants during the summer months, which if the plants have been placed in baskets, makes the task much easier. Ideally, these should be trimmed back to 30 cm length. It may be necessary to cut these plants back several times during the course of the summer.