Once your pond is established, you will need to clean and maintain it on a continuous basis. Many timesaving aids and devices are available to you. Careing for a pond is not as bad as it might seem. It can actually be a pleasurable pastime, getting you in claoser touch with the plants and animals that live there.

Pond Care

Maintaining a clean, healthy pond is like a cross between keeping up a garden and caring for an aquarium. Even during the summer months,when your pond requires the most attention, it shouldn't take you more than an hour or two every week to keep it in good shape.

Things that need to be done:

Maintain the water quality during the warm seasons, water is lost through evaporation so, it will need to be replaced regularly. Be careful not to let chemicals from the tap concentrate in the pond. This usually is not a problem if you are cleaning your filter regularly and have a good balance of plants and fish.

Draining and cleaning the pond is necessary if the water is severely polluted, choked with algae or filled with sediment. It may also be necessary if there is a small crack or leak in the bottom. Before you start this fill a holding tub, such as a kiddy pool or something comporable. Drain the pond within 6 inches from the bottom; then carefully net out the fish and place them in the holding tank. Continue on with the cleaning process.

Routine maintenance varies by season: Spring is the time of the year you want to divide plants and.or introduce new ones to the pond. Clean out the dead material from the old plants and add and fertilizers. Fish are going to emerging as well adn will be loking for food. Feed them no more than what they can consume in a 10 minute time frame.

Summer is when pond activity is at its highest. Plants will be growing rapidly and will need attention. Things such as deadheading old flowers and keeping plants trimmed are important. Watch for pest during this time since they can pose a problem, but never use insecticides. This is the time of the year that you will want to watch the water level and add water as it evaporates.

Autumn is the time of the year when leaves and other debis starts to fall and unfortunately it usually falls in your pond. Leaves needles and any other debris needs to be removed on a daily basis so it does not build up and pollute the water.

Winter is the time everything is at rest. The fish do not need feeding and plants have died back until the following spring. Be sure to watch the pond if it is frozen, because if there is a layer of ice sitting on the top of the pond for more than a few days it could suffocate the fish. In this case you need to melt the ice in various areas so that the fish can get oxygen. If you do not want to use the pump during this time then it needs to be removed and stored inside to avoid causing damage.