Anyone with a pond in their garden has been warned (Image: PA)
A warning has been issued to anyone who has a pond in their garden this December.
They make an excellent feature, and their soothing bubbles, swimming fish and pretty appearance can help bring life to a green space.
And that’s true in more ways than one, as ponds often attract and support lots of different wildlife such as frogs, toads, dragonfly and various other useful garden creatures – frogs especially, as they eat pesky .
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But a warning has been issued to who have a pond in their outdoor space in winter – because of a ‘toxic gas’ problem it can cause.
Garden and wildlife website Songbird Survival explains how garden ponds can actually become a bit of a toxic nightmare in freezing conditions.
If it gets really cold over , cold enough to freeze water, then ponds can freeze over.
This isn’t just bad for anything like fish living in it, but it’s also the cause of a much bigger issue.
It’s important to make a hole in the ice to avoid killing anything living in it.
They explain: “But if your garden pond freezes over, ensure you make a hole in the ice. Toxic gases can build up in the water of a frozen pond, which may kill any fish or frogs that are hibernating at the bottom.”
To do this, you should gently break the ice, not use force – and never use boiling water.
It adds: “Never break the ice with force or tip boiling water onto the pond, as this can harm or even kill any fish that live in it.”
Pond Planet urges that gardeners should use a hot water bottle placed on the ice to gently melt the ice away, avoiding causing any ‘stress’ to fish living within.
It says: “If you find your pond frozen over one winter morning, avoid breaking the ice, as this can cause unnecessary stress for your fish.
While some people recommend pouring hot water onto the ice to remove the frozen layer, this can cause stress or serious injury to your fish, so should be avoided at all costs, instead we would recommend filling a plastic bottle with hot water and laying this on top of the ice to slowly melt an area.”