Below is a report on the visit to Morston Pond by Julia Mumford Smith - a leading authority on Crassula - 6th July 2024.
Julia thought we are doing a good job, though the pond will need consistent work
over several years. She liked the bug hotel, the Rowan and the dead hedge and felt
it important to keep the pond looking as attractive as possible to keep interest,
support and momentum up.
Contamination ...
1. On our site JMS suggested a change of footwear could be a good idea but only
absolutely necessary for anyone who has a pond in their garden. She did suggest a
stiff brush to get rid of debris from boots/waders.
2. We should tie up/cover all bags of invasive species waiting to be buried.
Method of ‘weeding’ ...
1. We should attack the Crassula from the outside in; i.e. from the surround of the
pond where the Crassula starts and then into the pond. It’s essential to dig up the
roots on the exposed Crassula on the banks, our bags will be mainly mud!
2. On the north side of the pond, we need to ‘lift the turf’ on any grass that has
Crassula growing in it. Then keep an eye on any regrowth though in her experience
if a couple of inches of mud is dug up (it could be with a spade or pruning saw which
is JMS’s preference) then the Crassula will only return to surrounding areas. Once
dry enough we can also burn it.
3. Once a pathway into the pond is cleared of Crassula on the south side we should
use the tender to get all the small areas of Parrots Feather out and ‘nibble’ at the
large island removing it completely at the end of August when the newt efts should
be sufficiently mature.
4. Then we can weed in the pond again. JMS nets off an area with proper pond
netting with foam piping for floats and the bottom weighed down with stones. She
emphasised getting all the broken pieces (‘floaters’) with pond clearing nets sourced
from an aquarium shop. This should be done at the north and south side of the pond
even in the winter. We could also use wood bundles to catch the drifting floaters but
not Willow. JMS uses Birch and Alder as they grow near her ponds and are in
abundant supply.
5. The emphasis should be on checking and rechecking an area once cleared as it’s
easier to pull out small plants than it is established clumps.
6. Because the crassula in our pond is abundant the notion of marking off areas with
flags is not the best idea, though this method works well when then are only random
areas that are contaminated.
Willows . JMS says we should let the young willow on the NE side grow, not bother about encouraging one to grow near the tree stump (the Purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, is great there), and cut branches off the Goat Willow obscuring the view of the pond from the bench, cutting it down in the winter once birds have stopped using it.
Useful equipment
1. Pruning saws 2. Briers long gloves 3. Blagdon long handled pond nets
4. Abundant rubble sacks
Useful books 2016 Collins Wild Flower Guide – good sections on grasses and pond plants 2006 1989
Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Ferns - Francis Rose 2023
Aquatic Plants of Northern and Central Europe – Jens Christian Schou
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