Year Round Maintenance for your Garden Pond

A well kept pond will enhance and beautify any garden, as well as providing a habitat for fish, frogs, birds and all kinds of wildlife. By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure that your pond stays clean and healthy all year round, so you can enjoy your own tranquil oasis.

Spring

Now is the time to quickly kick start the pond after the winter dormancy to ensure a good start to the active season.

• Test the water with a pond test kit to make sure it is healthy.
• Kick start essential biological cycles by using clarifier bacteria in the filter or directly into the pond.
• Gradually increase feeding as the weather warms up and fish become more active.
• Now is the perfect time to divide, re-pot, trim and generally tidy up all pond plants to give them the best start for the growing season. Add pond fertilizer tablets as required.
• Eliminate algae problems by using a pond UV filter or natural algae treatments.

Summer

Your pond is now at its best with lush blooming plants and active wildlife.

• Feed fish more frequently with high quality nutritional balanced food.
• Re-pot and fertilize any pond plants not done in spring.
• Dose filter and pond regularly with clarifier bacteria to maintain good biological activity and prevent waste build up.
• Control algae with natural treatments and/or good filtration.
• Provide plenty of oxygen with a good pond pump or air pump to promote fish health and good water quality.
• Check water quality every few weeks with a pond test kit.
• Top up evaporated water, be sure to use a chlorine neutraliser.
• Remove leaves from the pond as they drop, to prevent build up.

Autumn

Time to start preparing the pond for winter dormancy.

• This is a good time for a pond clean out.
• Cut back and remove any dying plant matter and remove any leaf build up from the bottom of the pond.
• Remove leaves from the pond as they drop, to prevent build up.
• You may want to do a partial (one third) water change and reduce sludge build up using a scoop or vacuum. Be sure to use a chlorine neutraliser when filling up.
• Start reducing the frequency of fish feeding as the weather gets cooler and activity slows down.

Winter

This is the quiet time of year in your pond when wildlife activity and plant growth slows down.

• Feed your fish with a good quality low-temperature fish food, reduce to a minimum during cold weather.
• Make sure you are not getting a build up of soil or leaf litter runoff into the pond during heavy rainfall.
• Watch for fish diseases and treat immediately if required.

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