Water Feature Tips

Water features including ponds are a very attractive addition to any garden. If you include a water feature in your garden design then follow our water feature maintenance plan below:

SPRING

Water & Plants

• Use a test kit to check the pH of the water and adjust if necessary
• Any early growth of algae or blanket weed should be cleared
• Use barley straw to reduce algae and encourage water fleas
• Carry out new or replacement planting
• Divide and transplant marginal and moisture loving plants
• Re-plant frost tender plants which have been protected over winter
• Cut back old foliage which has been left to protect plants
• Add mulch to bog gardens and margins to prevent weed growth

Fish & Wildlife

• As weather becomes warmer start feeding fish
• Protect frogspawn and tadpoles from fish

Structures & Equipment

• Clean around pond area to prevent slippery surfaces
• Repair pond edgings
• Check and repair decks and bridges
• Check and repair electrical equipment and cables
• Service pumps
• If a pool heater is used then remove and store

SUMMER

Water & Plants

• Check water level on a regular basis and top up if necessary
• Use a test kit to check the pH of the water and adjust if necessary
• Check for algae and blanket weed and remove as necessary
• Check for dead and dying leaves on plants and remove as necessary
• Deadhead flowering plants on a regular basis
• Check plants for pests and diseases and treat as necessary
• Collect seeds from aquatic plants for propagation
• Feed plants using a slow release fertilizer
• Divide and transplant water lilies
• Thin oxygenators
• Add special fertilizer to aquatics

Fish & Wildlife

• This is a good time to put new fish into the pond
• Use high protein foods to feed fish
• Check fish for disease and treat as necessary
• Use a pond net to protect against herons etc

Structures & Equipment

• Biological filters should be cleaned
• Clean fountain and waterfall pump strainers
• Clean fountain jets and nozzles
• Top up water levels in freestanding water features

AUTUMN

Water & Plants

• Check for dead and dying leaves on plants and remove as necessary
• Cut back submerged plants where growth is excessive
• Collect young plantlets etc for propagation
• Move tender plants to a frost free location
• Where tender plants cannot be moved then protect with mulch

Fish & Wildlife

• Feed fish on sunny days
• Create cover for fish to use to protect themselves during winter
• Add rocks or log piles for newts to hibernate

Structures & Equipment

• Use a pond net to catch autumn leaves and remove as necessary
• Remove, clean and store any pumps and filters which will not be used during winter
• If pumps are used during winter then move them closer to water surface

WINTER

Water & Plants

• During very cold weather keep an area of water from freezing
• If snow falls onto ice on the pond then brush it away to allow light into pond
• Remove any dead vegetation
• Add a mulch of compost to pond side plants

Fish & Wildlife

• Do not feed fish when temperature is very low
• Avoid disrupting the pond so that you do not disturb hibernating pond life

Structures & Equipment

• Add a water heater to ensure that there is an area of water which is ice free
• If the pond does totally freeze over then use a pot of hot water to create a hole in the ice
• Protect or move container water gardens
• If water feature pots are not fully frost resistant then remove water from them

 If you're interested in adding a simple water feature to your garden then check out our sister website 'Patio Cascades' which specialises in solar powered and self contained waterfalls and fountains.