Water features require regular maintenance, especially in the spring and fall. There are a few things you should do this spring to set your feature up for a successful season. Here are our spring water feature maintenance tips in Quad Cities.
This checklist will help you get your water feature ready for spring this year.
1. If your water feature is a pond, it will require special seasonal maintenance. Once your pond has thawed in the spring, a good cleaning is the first task on the docket. If you didn’t put a net over your pond in the fall, there is probably a lot of dead and decaying debris to remove. If you have a small pond, drain it completely and give everything a thorough scrub. Don’t use any soap, and scrub by hand instead of using a pressure washing machine. If you have a large pond with overwintering fish, wait until the water temperature is at or above 60º, and don’t drain it completely. If possible, separate the fish into a holding area, and use a net to remove as much of the leaves and organic matter as possible.
2. Check your liner for cracks and worn places—repair as needed.
3. Check your pump, filters, and lines. Clean any dirty components, and test your pump before installing it. If you had a bubbler or circulation pump in your water feature over the winter, remove it and clean it thoroughly.
4. Check on your fish, if you have them, over for any signs of injury or illness. Even if you overwintered your fish indoors, it’s still a good idea to do this.
5. Now is an excellent time to divide your aquatic plants, so you have more plants to decorate your pond this year. Keeping about 50% of your water feature covered with plants helps to control algae and water temperature. Aquatic plants also give your fish somewhere to hide.
6. Refill your water feature with fresh water, and treat the water if there is chlorine or chloramine in your water. If you are adding fish, make sure you acclimate the fish to the new water appropriately to avoid causing them extra stress. If the fish are already in your water feature, you may want to store the water you’re going to add in clean containers for a day or two, so it can warm up to ambient temperatures. If you’re going to add fish to the water feature, place them inside a container that will float filled with the water they’re currently living in. Float that container in the feature, and every few minutes, add a little bit of “pond” water to the container. This process will allow your fish to adjust to the chemistry of your water. Meanwhile, the temperature between the water inside and outside of the bag should equalize in about half an hour. Once you’ve given your fish a chance to adjust, you can safely release them into the water feature.
7. Keep an eye on the water level for a few days after you’ve got everything running again. If the water is dropping faster than it should, you may need to check in-ground water lines for cracks or breaks.
While water features require a bit of maintenance, they’re so rewarding to have. Local birds, bees, and other wildlife appreciate the water source, and the sounds of the water will add a natural ambiance to the yard. If you keep up with your feature’s seasonal maintenance, it will last for many years.
Need help with your pond maintenance tasks? Our team offers full-service “Spring Cleaning” services for water features. Our professional pond cleaning crew will come to your property to clean and reinstall any pumps, handle your fish as needed, drain and power wash the water feature. Then, we’ll split aquatic plants, fill the feature with clean water, treat the water for chlorine, and reintroduce the fish to acclimate to the new water temp. Call us today for an estimate on your water feature service package.
