Tips for Taking Care of a Pond
Many homeowners do not realize that the most important part of having a pond in their backyard is maintaining it. It takes a lot of time and energy to maintain it in the right manner but if you spend the required time, it will be a rewarding experience.
One of the first things you need to understand when it comes to pond care is that it begins right after the construction is finished. You need to ensure regular maintenance in order to keep it suitable for aquatic life. Using pond fountains and aerators can keep your pond healthy and clean. If you take proper care of it, you will be rewarded with amazing plants and beautiful aquatic animals. Here are a few tips on how to take care of your pond.
Cleaning the pond on a regular basis is the key to providing a nurturing environment for the aquatic plants and fish you plan to keep in your pond. Therefore, it is important to get rid of the debris at regular intervals. One of the biggest threats to the ecosystem of your pond is the leaves as these decompose and release toxic gases that may destroy the ecological balance of your pond. So, use a skimmer net in order to get rid of leaves as well as light debris from the surface. It is also recommended to invest in a pond vacuum in order to get rid of the sludge at regular intervals. Don’t forget to leave a little sludge in the pond to support algae growth.
Use a trap net to prevent leaves from falling into the pond. It is also recommended to use a filter mat below the trap net in order to catch the smaller debris. Do not forget to empty the net on a regular basis in order to prevent its contents from polluting the water in the pond. You should also regularly prune the trees hanging over your pond in order to ensure that adequate amount of light reaches the aquatic plants for proper photosynthesis.
Early summer is the right time to introduce new water plants in your pond as water is warm at that time which supports rapid plant growth. You may grow floaters, marginal, lilies or marshes in your pond. It is recommended to use suitable fertilizers every five weeks to support plant growth. Use only organic pesticides and make sure no toxic fertilizers are used to support the plant growth as toxic fertilizers do a lot more harm in the long run. Use a garden rake to get rid of the excess plants. It is also important to get rid of the dead plants regularly to prevent release of toxic chemicals in the water.
While algae growth is necessary for a healthy pond, too much algae can be a big problem. Algae provides a great food source for aquatic animals, but you should take care to prevent excessive growth. One of the natural ways to maintain algae growth is to introduce aquatic plants that prevent excessive growth of these micro plants. You may introduce plants that use huge quantities of nutrients which, in turn, prevents excessive growth of algae. Similarly, cover plants such as lilies prevent adequate amount of light from reaching algae. You may also use a rake to physically remove the algae.
If you have pump, filter and fountains in your pond, it is important to maintain these parts to prevent clogging and malfunction. It is also recommended to maintain the right water level in the pond. In case the water level falls quickly, it may be due to leaks. One of the signs of leakage is wet surrounding ground. To fix the leakage, drain all the water from the pond and use right materials to repair the pond. To top up the pond water, it is recommended to use clean water instead of using tap water as tap water may encourage excessive growth of algae.
The key to growth of aquatic life in your pond is aeration. A well aerated pond provides enough oxygen to for growth of aquatic plants and animals, and it also reduces growth of algae. For improving aeration, you may use fountains, waterfalls or bubblers. In summer months, it is better to use an air pump for maximizing aeration.
Overall, you will need to spend some time to take care of your backyard pond, but the results are so worth it. So, keep the above-mentioned tips in mind to take care of your pond.