A pond is a small body of water – artificial or natural – that can be a wonderful decoration and even its central point. This is an increasingly popular element in the garden, which enlivens the space and can be a habitat for aquatic plants and animals – for example fish.
However, in order for the pond to look great in the spring and summer sun, we must take proper care of it after winter. What maintenance work should be done on it?
They have their hands full before spring arrives. After all, you need to prepare the garden for the new season and clean it up after winter. On some plots, the space is decorated pondwhich is especially nice to relax during the summer heat. Before the new season arrives, however, you need to thoroughly clean the tank and do a lot of work on it.
It is best to start by checking the tightness of the pond. Most often, it is lined with a flexible carpet. Its crack or hole should be closed with a patch of double-sided adhesive tape, and then a matching patch made of elastic carpet should be placed on it. If there are many cracks, we will most likely have to replace the carpet.
The finished plastic tank should be repaired in the manner specified by the manufacturer. We clean the damage in concrete tanks from crumbs and algae, then fill them with mortar and secure them with a sealant.
If fish have wintered in the pond, their numbers should be checked. Unlucky fish should be fished out from the bottom and cleaned of plant remains and excess algae. If, for example, grass or reeds grow in the pond, we should cut off all last year’s dried shoots. This is also a good time to check the water quality. It is worth performing appropriate water tests to check its parameters. In case of deviations from the norm, the water should be replaced.
Finally, we need to check the plants and check the equipment. The exact method of caring for the plants depends on the species and whether they overwintered in a pond or were moved to the basement. In the case of water lilies, remove last year’s leaves and cut out brown fragments of rhizomes and roots. We proceed similarly in the case of plants such as calamus, water cattails or marigolds. You can also divide plants that are too dense or plant new ones.
The last issue is to check the devices operating in the pond. This concerns both the water pump driving the filter and a possible fountain. If necessary, excess scale should be removed from the equipment and used filter cartridges should be replaced with new ones. You should also check the tightness of the water supply and discharge hoses.
