Taking Care of a Small Pond (4 Keys)

Last updated on October 3, 2023

Taking care of your small garden pond is easier than you think. All you have to do is always keep these four key tasks in mind. Read on!

Is your once beautiful garden pond an eyesore now? If you don’t believe that you can keep it attractive, don’t worry, there is still time to take proper care of it. The maintenance work will cost you some effort, but it is worth it. Your water feature will amaze you and your neighbors again.

Your pond can become an unhealthy and ugly environment for your aquatic life if you don’t properly care for it. It is natural that the remains of plants and leaves fall to the bottom and pollute the water, but only regular cleaning is the solution. You’ll have to put in some effort to make your water reservoir a suitable place for nurturing fish and growing plants again. The best practice is to regularly take care of the pond and determine what works should be done at what times of the year. Consistency is key here!

Cleaning the pond is sometimes more challenging than constructing it. But you can make this task easy if you only prepare yourself well. In this article, we will show you how to maintain your garden pond so that your plants can bloom, and your fish can flourish.

Clean the Bottom of Your Pond

garden pond

Dirt and debris accumulate on the bottom of your pond with time. You can try to clean leaves and other floating elements from the surface of the water, but it only makes a difference when the reservoir is relatively clean already. 

When your water pond resembles more a swamp rather than a place for fish to live – then you will need to drain the water and do a full cleaning. It is definitely worth installing a munro pump with a high-efficiency motor that will remove all the water efficiently. Don’t forget to put your aquatics in a safe spot.

Leaves release toxic gases when decaying, and that, unfortunately, isn’t healthy for the ecological balance in your pond. That is why you should probably install a filter that will do the job for you. You need pond aerators to move the water around and keep your pond healthy. Just remember to check filters, especially in the summer, when they are turned on for several hours. Clogs can cause malfunctions and inefficient water cleaning.

Trees and Shrubs Near the Pond

garden pond trees

If you have young trees near the pond, consider replanting them if you still have the opportunity. Their leaves are going to litter the water and become nourishment for algae. Secondly, expanding tree roots can damage the bottom of a pond over time.

When there are already fully grown trees in your garden, try to protect the reservoir from falling leaves with a trap net. Remember to empty the net every time you will notice it’s getting full of debris.

You can plant grass and reeds around the pond. They will protect it from sun and wind, and will also strengthen the shores. Take care to plant a moderate amount of reeds so as not to cover the pond completely. Otherwise, your aquatic plants won’t have access to the sun, which will stop their photosensitization process.

Keeping Water Plants

pond plants

Plants in a water reservoir are a must – they allow you to maintain an appropriate biological balance in the water, purifying and oxygenating it. However, you should be moderate when planting the pond with plants – it is best to keep half of the surface ingrown.

The best idea is to buy plants that are usually found in natural reservoirs to make your pond as natural as possible. When planting aquatic plants, you have to remember that some of them grow very quickly and rapidly. Water lilies and floaters have such a tendency.

If you want to start growing new plants, pay attention to the time of the year. It’s best to do it during spring and early summer when the water is warming up. Make sure you check what the needs of each plant are – some of them may require more time to adjust to the deep water.

Taking Care of Fish

pond fish

When it comes to feeding koi fish in a pond, they often do not need as much food as aquarium fish because your small lake is home to, for example, mosquito larvae that the fish feed on. Overfeeding your fish can result in their diseases and the occurrence of algae, not to mention that the food will also rot, making your pond dirty and smelly. To assess how much food they need, feed them regularly with small amounts of fish feed. If you see the flakes floating on the surface, you’ll know you’ve given them too much.

Fish need a clean and healthy environment to grow. The water in the pond should also be aerated appropriately; otherwise, the fish will not be provided with the right amount of oxygen. An air pump is a great way to improve aeration. If the size of your pond allows it, you can also consider using waterfalls or fountains to stir the water.

Clean water in a pond is the dream of every garden owner. Unfortunately, when left alone, the water becomes littered and not as beautiful as at the beginning. This is why some people argue that garden water is a joy only for one season and then becomes an inconvenient problem.

When the pond is unkempt, algae appear, and more and more and more silt is accumulated on the bottom. Nevertheless, don’t give up on it! With time and effort, even the most polluted water reservoir can be brought to a perfect condition. By using the tips mentioned above, you will restore your pond to its former glory.

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