Get a pump and .... erm no, a net?

I did the cardinal sin of putting the pond underneath very large bay laurel trees--and read this is not a good idea (indeed the 'worst thing you could do' due to the oil in the leaves.) As the hole was already dug (by hand....mostly mine) I ignored it and accept that I have to take leaves out (both the bay, and a rather large hebe that sheds a lot, but when in bloom overhanging the pond it is so pretty), which is turning out to be a therapeutic ritual. I'll have to see in a few more years whether I have to pay for going against the warning. The sticky stuff on the limes is harder--is it seasonal? Can a fine mesh net for a period of time in the year be helpful that traps the sticky stuff? Or a tree surgeon?

I know it's not a popular idea, but I share your hesitance about pumps and wonder if ponds, particularly wildlife ponds really do need the technology or chemicals for that matter. But that does mean letting the life (including fish) find their own balance given the size, available oxygen and nutrients in that particular habitat, and accept not every species will thrive in my own particular hole in the ground.

The other thought is whether something large has died in your pond...

My wildlife pond has a pump, used to drive a stream, it could also drive a skimmer!!!!

Thanks, all, but I don't want anything electrical in there.

The sticky stuff is nothing to do with needing netting...it comes down like very, very fine droplets. I think it might be honeydew?

I also think it could occur only at a certain time, which is probably why it happened last year as well, but I managed to clear it with Clear Pond. Would using Sludge Buster in July/August next year help? The rest of the year I have no problem and the pond seems to have found its own balance without the aid of chemicals.

I didn't build the pond underneath the trees. They are now stretching nearly a third over my garden. It would personally cost me hundreds of pounds to get a proper tree surgeon in to cut back everything that overhangs my garden. I'd do it if I won the lottery. I had to ask them to pollard the trees some years ago but, annoyingly, the guys that did the job took branches mostly from their side where the trees grow and not from my side.

Who owns the trees? You should cut them back or they will shade out the garden. I have a diy pruner with about a 20ft reach and use that to cut back the neighbours tree over the front lawn. They are fine about that but even if they weren't they have no grounds for a complaint about what you cut back over your garden.

I suspect that a little help with oxygen (an airstone) could help matters. Your fish are struggling for oxygen, sludgebuster etc is not working so well, and it sounds a little stagnant.

Extra oxygen would would help the fish, and should greatly accellerate the breakdown of whatever nasties are in the pond (either by natural bacteria, or by sludgebuster).

Remember, oxygenating plants only make oxygen when there is sunlight. At night they will CONSUME oxygen instead - in extreme cases you will see the fish gasping at the surface in the early morning because the oxygen levels can drop dangerously low. Keep your "so called" oxygenators under control...

Sorry it's taken time to get back to thank everyone for extra help since my last posting.

I only started the Sludge Buster after I'd used Clear Pond, which didn't work as well this time. I've now tried Bio Start and will alternate these for a while on advice of a friend.

The truth is that the disgusting black gunk that sticks to plants is the problem here. It is obviously poisoning the water and I've now approached the estate agent which deals with the place. Unfortunately the owners have been letting it for a few years, as they're in Australia. Typically, they've now decided to sell, which adds to my problems, but with a bit of luck, I might be able to get the letting agents to employ tree surgeons before any sale goes ahead. These trees are about 60 feet high and branches stretch out over a third of my garden now. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can get something done.....

Thanks, all.

From previous postings I get the impression that the offending trees are not on your property.

As I understand it (and please bear in mind I am no legal expert!) I thought you were OK to lop any branches overhanging your property. OK, you can't totally cut down anything that isn't on your property, but I am sure that I've heard that you can cut back anything that overhangs your property as far as your border.

My totally unprofessional advice would be to lop back anything overhanging your boundary & then talk to new owners when you get them - and in the meantime seek advice from Council and Citizens Advice Bureau.

Plus, owners are in Australia so who's going to know?

I suggest you contact your local council, who have new laws to combat this, & CAB to find out your rights, but am sure you can cut back anything overhanging your property!

Hi, before you take it on yourself to get them pruned, you need to check they don't have a TPO on them, or that you are in a conservation area.
The honeydew is a sugary substance excreted by aphids. I think it can go black with fungus like mildew, but I don't know what it would do to the water.
If you look at the trees carefully, can you work out which branches are actually vertically over the pond? Is it just one or 2 small ends of branches, or would it be a major job needing them all to be pruned? (any photos?)

Thanks for latest help, folks.

This is a conservation area, so that's one problem that will delay things. I have, in fact, contacted the estate agent dealing with the property, as it's been rented out for a few years now and they are dealing with the property till some time in 2006. The guy I dealt with was meant to be contacting garden people capable of doing the job last week and I'm due a visit so the trees can be seen by them. It's not just the end of branches that's causing the problem. They overhang my garden now by about a third. The Yellow Flags, Water Lily leaves and other plants in my 9ft x 8ft pond all have this nasty black gunk on them. All the branches that overhang my garden need to be cut back and most of them are too high to reach myself, even with a 20 foot pruner. The trees are approximately 50 - 55 feet high and it really is a major job.

My little digital camera doesn't give a good enough idea of the scale of the problem, but believe me, it's no joke!

I'm hoping I get lucky and the estate agent gets someone in to do the job before the flat gets sold, otherwise the new owners won't be happy about paying hundreds of pounds out after they've just bought the place.