Spring maintenance tips for your pond
Spring is peeking around the corner, and you are once again looking to liven up your pond. This is a nice water feature to have in your garden since it makes the area livelier and it contributes to some nice ambience. For the pond to look pretty and really serve your landscaped garden well, you have to invest in some maintenance and care. The primary goal is not just to improve the condition of the place, but also to ensure that the pond doesn’t run into problems for the year.
Here are a few things you can consider in that regard:
- Clean it out – perhaps the very first thing you should do is to clean the pond. The winter season has a way of making even the prettiest pond seem like a neglected wild hole. Debris and dirt may dominate the area, and it is up to you to deal with the issue. A thorough cleanout will ensure the pond looks like brand new. Inspect the area and see if there is anything that needs picking up or rinsing off. Getting the pond clean pretty much ensures that it will look great.
- Inspect the pump – the pond pump is perhaps the most essential component of your pond. It is safe to say it is the beating heart of the water feature and thus requires special attention. First, you need to inspect it thoroughly and ensure it is functioning right. Give it a quick run and see if it is making any strange noises. Perhaps it is even a good idea to give it to an expert who will check it for you. Getting the whole thing running only to find out that the pump is malfunctioning a while later is not the way to go.
- Check for leaks – the pond is forced to endure the elements at all times. The winter can be especially taxing on it, considering its low temperatures. It can often cause the pond to leak water. This will make you constantly add tap water, which is not ideal. Your pond will lose nutrients that way and promote algae growth. Fix any leaks you find before filling the pond.
Clean up algae – it is crucial to clean any algae from the pond before you start it. Any decaying debris in the water will only promote the growth of algae, thus contributing to a bigger problem altogether. If the problem is too severe, you may need to utilise some water additives to cut algae growth. - Consider plants – no pond is ever that beautiful if you don’t add some plants in there. Plants are not only a great way to boost the look of the pond but also compete for nutrients with algae. In essence, they starve algae and thus reduce the trouble for you. This is very important if you experience an algae problem in there. Your pond will also look great.
- Be careful about your fish – if you have any fish in your pond, you must be careful not to overfeed them. Any food they have not eaten will decompose and create plenty of nutrients for algae to feast on. If you want to have fish in the pond, you must properly take care of all duties associated with this, such as cleaning and population control.
- See if you can play with the feature a bit – maybe there are some more landscaping features that you can add, or perhaps change the rock works a bit. Getting a different look will definitely let you enjoy the water feature more.
Going through these steps with your pond in the spring goes a long way to ensuring that the water feature does not run into problems for the year. It is also a great way to enhance the look of the place.