Short version : some bulrushes and water grasses have been allowed to run unchallenged and the pond had a 5cm toot mat on the bottom which had formed an alliance e with the equally expansive water lily roots, their have over-grown the plastic baskets they were planted in some years ago.
My question is can I just simply separate the mess and replant the best clump of lilies?
Yes. Fine.
Thanks.
I’ll go shopping for some new pond soil, pea gravel and baskets in the morning.
There’s some here somewhere, but it’s 3-4 years old and doing a good job of hiding
If you can get tge mass of roots out if the pond, do!
Than take a spade to hack manageable pieces of the rushes other aquatic plants you want to keep.
Try separating the bulk of the waterlilies. Depending on the variety - small, medium, lake either replant whole or in parts.
Give the rest of the roots away or compost.
Replant what you want to keep with aquatic soil in baskets. Top with pebbles and slowly submerge to the depth the roots were before.
Thanks!
Have cleared all matted roots and replanted 3-4 of the best lilies. The frogs aren’t very happy about have 90% less pads to sit on, but it had become a floating jungle.
I watched a number of YT videos before hand and the best tip I got was to use an old bread knife to cut through the roots and it worked a treat.
I did mine earlier this year. The roots were actually floating up onto the surface. Took them all out, oh what a mess. Took them to the garden tap and rinsed all the mud off them, repotted and they are fine.