Do I really need to use a pump in a pond in my garden?

A pump in a pond serves a couple purposes in no particular order.

1)provides motion for interest

2) adds the sound of water, a goal for some

3) prevents mosquitoes. The eggs can't hatch or grow to be problems in moving water.

4) provides oxygen in the water for fish. Fish can't survive without air. You can't do fish with no pump in anything over about a 1 gal container with 1 or 2 fish.

5) adds air (aerates) the water which helps prevent smelly things from growing in it.

If you really don['t want a pump, you can prevent both mosquitoes and smell problems by adding hydrogen peroxide to the water. About a half of a pint bottle, that you can get from any pharmacy, every couple weeks would do. It won't hurt plants.

Do some research on what plants like wet feet. Some plants love it, some plants literally drown. If you see it growing in wet spots or natural ponds, it can go in a small pond.

No you don't NEED a pump but it is good to have one. Gold fish and blue eyes ( eat mosquito larve ) and a few water plants to help with the nitrate cycle. We've had ponds for over 20 years and only put pumps in a selected few. If the conditions require flowing or highly oxygenated water then we'd use one. But a small pond with a few plants and fish will be fine to not use a pump.

They're not necessary. If you have the proper ratio of fish, and the proper plants, you won't have a problem. If you get freezing temps, you make want one to keep the water from freezing during the winter.

CHEAP goldfish can survive all year long if the water doesn't freeze. They are so pretty, and will eat any larvae that appear.

I am in NW OH, and my $.11 fish are now 5 years old, and 7" long. I run a pump, on an exterior extension cord in the Winter to keep the water moving.

if you want to keep fish then yes, it keeps the pond in better condition algi fungi etc...

pumps add oxygen to the pond for the fish

you can get a small water fountain pump for $30 and another $30 should sort out the cable,

if you have a garden center near by you can get oxygenation plants like grasses they don't look great but you might not need a pump then

Yes you need a pump it doesnt need to be big but you need flow.5 gph even would be ok but stagnant water breeds insects and mold which isnt good for even the plants. and you would need aqautic plants found at nurseries etc and some pet stores though the latter is more expensive

you need one, if you dont get one the water doesnt circulate and it gets all gross and green