Scottish Government

Be Plant Wise when clearing your pond

Now is the time to prepare your gardens for the winter and you may want to tidy up your pond. Be Plant Wise by appreciating that some pond plants can become a problem if they become established in the wild as they can smother our native plants, clog our waterways, worsen flooding and remove oxygen from the water which can harm fish. By doing something very simple, such as composting excess pond plants carefully, you can help the environment.

Follow these tips when preparing your pond for the winter:

remove all unwanted aquatic plants by hand, and then dispose of them responsibly on the compost heap or in your green waste bin. Except when trying to completely remove an invasive non native species, it is better not to pull out too many plants as they provide habitat and compete with algae

never place them in a pond or waterway , where they can quickly become a problem. Don't dump your plants in the wild - this could be illegal and the plants could damage the environment

tiny fragments can re-grow so make sure you clean your footwear and equipment

be careful to empty waste water away from streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and lochs. Use excess pond water on your lawn or to water plants in your garden

For more information on preparing your pond for winter.

Be plant wise to the threat of invasive plants, which can take over your pond and damage the environment.

Information about some of the key invasive pond plants including photographs, descriptions and how to dispose of them.

Invasive non-native pond plants are causing problems in many areas of Great Britain. More information on the issue and what you can do to stop the spread.