i had frog spawn and forgot about them when i put the filter on it all soon vanished i was gutted.. havent seen any this year think ive scared them off. just cant wait for the dragonflies..

If you want to encourage the wildlife, don't clean out the pond except for controlling rampant weed/ duckweed etc. The sludge in the bottom is important for the bugs to live in and feed on. As long as you have some pondweed the water should clear naturally.

No spawn in our pond this year so far although at least one frog still there.

I cleaned all the leaves and dirt from the bottom of my pond in february trying not to disturb things to much .I have got frog spawn some of it has already turned into tadpoles ,

If you must clean it out I think August is the recommended time but you'd be best to buy a few oxygenating plants and try to grow them at the recommended depths. My pond was in a terrible manky state a year ago but I bought a lily, some watermint, water buttercup and some floating pondweed about this time last year, and this year the pond is sweet and the water is clear. However I still have to keep skimming off the duckweed which means scaring the tadpoles away first! I also invested in a little electric aerator which I used to good effect in very hot weather last summer. I don't think I'll need it very much this year as the pond is now so healthy.
I should add that it is a wildlife pond with no fish.

Thanks for all replys for my ............?......
I will praps clear August time .I think I have small split in the liner, as when I top up water it has gone down ,in the morning. Must be in the top section .I also have some water Buttercup which has had so many buds / flowers on it , its been really good this year, also a " Spider " like plant which multiplies, and sinks in the Winter months and reappears the next year.Needs thinning out
Just looked in pond 7 frogs happy sitting in amongst plants etc