Dull as Ditch Water - Organic Pool Maintenance

After 13 years of neglect, some areas of the pool have become so wild they are barely accessible to man.

[@peterhook1361]

Great to see all the season cycles of a 'real' pond. Not just the brochure photos. Thanks for making and sharing the video.

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Cheers Peter

[@franram7426]

Thanks David. Your clips, even when brown, dead, cold and dreary, are enjoyable. I love drinking coffee in the mornings watch a clip or two of yours and dreaming of when I can have my own. Thanks again.

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

That is so lovely to hear! Thank you. I hope I don't make you splutter your coffee

[@sheilahenry7279]

A comment ages ago said you sound like Captain Jack Sparrow & now you are dressed kind of like him! 😊 I love the science & the humor. Can’t wait to order a dvd & then the talking my husband into this.

[@wewasean]

I love the dry English humor in these videos!

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Cheers Sean!

[@ozarkdaredevils]

You bring life to the brown foliage , and a chuckle or two .

[@RaquelMargaretCarter]

Loads of laughter and equally entertaining...

[@Behemoth3434]

I would like to see the change of an organic pool like this going through winter to spring.

[@gsa7970]

I don't quite understand why but I enjoy your videos...a lot. Best wishes from California.

[@ruta123ish]

David Pagan Butler New video out yay. I just take a bite of my breakfast when you started the video commentary and my breakfast ended up on my screen, hilarious. Not just here for the education but for the joy in which my day starts

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Thank you for this heartening message! Sorry about your breakfast

[@anilthapa5279]

i've been following ur videos ,it's awesome much Effective to those Nature Lover ..keep on posting awesome pool video David All best wishes from Nepal 🇳🇵

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Thank you so much!

[@YooooouKnowwwww]

I came for the science and stayed for the humor

[@MrCrazyChemist]

I used an battery powered string trimmer this autumn to mow down the watermint in my filterbed. Went quite well actually

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Sounds like a good idea

[@pauldunbar7800]

Sawing willow at that height reminds me of Punji sticks of the Vietnam war!👍

[@allonesame6467]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@jackplant6909]

Willow, when copied to produce wicker, is useful for all sorts of things

[@Selene666]

You're a legend!

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

That is so kind!

[@bastogne315]

Get a Silky pruning saw they are lethal!!!

[@bastogne315]

Why don't the Chinese play cricket?? Cos they eat all the fucking willow bats.

[@flairmaister]

aren't you concerned about possibly making a hole in the liner, when using a saw or a reek?

[@mr_quasi]

Great informative video, here I am with my pre-shaped pond and small garden. But it's fun to have a pond no matter what size. My pond is fully natural except for a small air pump, native plants filter the water but the fight against algeae continues. The willow is one of my favorite trees, and being dutch this tree is pretty common in landscape. Willow wood useless? Tell that to the dutch! ;)

[@lunark2440]

I would get a ton or two of lava rock and put it in your pool/pond and see if that helps. Its incredibly important to have a place for natural bacteria to build up on, I think this might help :) We just finished building our pool/pond about a month ago. I will be posting an extended video-- but so far our water is crystal clear, and we tested it today, safe enough to drink. Hope this helps.

[@reneeborg15]

Love the hair

[@Unsensitive]

Seems like a natural dirt aquarium, but outside... And way bigger. But follows the same rules

[@8elias8]

Wouldn't the tree roots destroy or disturb the liner?

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Yes! good point

[@nadinevanhees90]

You rock. Not enough humor in the world today. Thank you!! ps, do you have algae in the swimming part of the pond? I'm struggling with that. I watched your algae Q & A, but you didn't talk about that. Just the different kinds. Nobody likes string algae pulling at their feet while swimming though...

[@marcristina2464]

I also enjoy Ur videos a lot. I remove some of the mud at the bottom of my pool every winter and I wonder if I am removing good bacterias. So I always leave some of the mud.

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Good idea

[@AdirondackDomestead]

Love your videos & humor. Question- has your method been used in colder climates? Specifically places where we experience significant cold, snow & freezing ponds?

[@thegoodlifehomestead3170]

I built a pond last spring based on David's airlift pumps. We're in Bulgaria where summer temps reach 40c and winter temps can drop to -20c. The pond was wonderful for swimming all summer but is currently frozen over. I turned the pumps off at -5c and got the ice skates out :)

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Yes, many have been made in Canada. They ice skate on them too!

[@baptistecolliaux3200]

Hi David, I bought your book and your movie and there is an information I cannot find! When does your bubble pump system run? Is it just in summer? Thanks !

[@theartistone5860]

I guess you can use that Fender for pool wood.

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Better that than me playing it.

[@9entax]

Even though the water is cloudy is it still ok to swim in it? Are there any conditions where you are better off not swimming?

[@jennifercampbell2439]

dumb question, why cut down small trees? will they not process nutrients in the water? what's wrong with a "woodland" regeneration zone?

[@lunark2440]

Hi David- do you turn off your bubble filters in the winter time?

[@lorenzobiondi5727]

I'm curious about a thing tho: does raking the pond compromise the chances of survival of any plants for the next season, for example tearing them away with the root or something like that? (I'm planning to make an organic pool this summer and I wonder how to treat stuff like lotus flowers over the seasons, because it would be bad news having to buy and plant them from scratch every year😵)

[@pansepot1490]

Not in the least. On the contrary: most plants like iris pseudacorus and lotus are very aggressive spreaders. If not kept in check they can fill up small pools in a very short time. I would advise to research well organic pools before spending any time and money on it. You can get clear water without chemical or mechanical treatments but they are by no means zero maintenance. As the video shows without regular thinning and removal of the plants the filtration substrate (usually gravel) on the shores of the pond gets clogged up with roots and stops working leaving you with a bog filled with soupy water. That’s fine if you want to promote wildlife, not so fine if you want to swim in it. I have heard of countless people who have tried an organic pool and have been very disappointed with the results. Again, get information from all sources (not just from those who want to sell you an organic pool) and be aware of all the pros and cons. There are cons so make sure you are fine with them if you don’t want to be sorry later.

[@FelixIsGood]

Challenge for you: Combine a organic pool and the idea of aquaponics together.

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

The two don't mix well - best to only use the pool as a water reservoir.

[@9entax]

When it's "murky" is it still OK to swim in?

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

It is healthy in this pool but in general it is unsafe to swim in murky water because of reduced visibility of swimmers.

[@elevatorphish]

So in slightly warmer climates like Tasmania can you just use native evergreens to avoid this seasonal change?

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

I prefer to only use native plants. Trees may damage the liner.

[@paulgee3411]

@@organicpools-davidpaganbutler The question was about warmer climates.

[@Bornloserstrongheart]

You should get a chain saw so you can just give it a trim with ease

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

True, but with a risk of damaging the pond liner.

[@brianhina]

You are hilarious!

[@troycassidy6177]

Grow a few beds of Freshwater Mussels as a filter

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

yes there are some native mussels in the pool already

[@troycassidy6177]

@@organicpools-davidpaganbutler nice, I'm planning on building one on my block in Victoria Australia. I'd like to hook it up to supply an aquaponics system and throw some Mussels and Crayfish in there, but I'm worried that the Crayfish might dig through the liner. Would a cement render over the liner damage it at all? PS love ya work you're a legend.

[@agplay2290]

Good to know. Oh and you said "nutrients"!.

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Oh crumbs! Did I? That resolution didn't last long.

[@agplay2290]

@@organicpools-davidpaganbutler ha yes sir. With all that's happening today. I hope the weather is in good condition at your location.

[@NicTrades]

That biomass should be great compost tho

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

true!

[@nolan5320]

Howzit David. Why are your pumps off during this time?

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Hi, they don't need to be on in the winter for filtration but if needed, they can be turned on to help keep the pool free of ice

[@r3v0l98]

You said "nutrients" word 6 times!!

[@organicpools-davidpaganbutler]

Sorry, I can't seem to stop saying that word.

[@danielmerrell8926]

wouldn't you possibly better off putting in more plants that are evergreen to reduce this die off .e.g. carex and acorus

[@paulburtea5605]

🌞🏇💪💛

[@MM-rb2cj]

😅👏