u/Normal-Ability-9867

I took the advice! I emptied the pond (ow, my back!), laid down sand and gravel, adjusted the edges to accommodate more direct planting, and used some old terracotta pots for other plants. The water is now noticeably clearer. I've already had a visit from a lovely black and yellow mud dauber wasp. Thanks again!

I've just finished (US Zone 6b). I made a mistake at the digging stage: I focused on making it 3' deep (so aquatic life can hibernate below the frost line), and messed up the shelves, so the sides are quite steep. I'm making adjustments as I go (I added a shelf at the beach area) but it means that all the plants will be in mesh pots (except the hornwort at the base of the pond). Is that okay? Right now the plant soil is affecting the water quality. Will that settle down? Would a bubbler help? It's hard to imagine that the water will ever stop being cloudy when the pond has muddy pots suspended at water level. Should I trust the process, or have I messed up at some point in that process?