How to Do Monthly Garden Pond Maintenance
The backyard pond requires some attention each month. This maintenance takes little time and effort, but if you neglect it, you can be facing foul water, dead fish and plants. So cleaning the pump impeller, cleaning the filter if you have one and removing dead plant material and other debris is wise. It will help preclude pond disasters. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden hose
- Strong nozzle with cut off valve on the hose
- Waders
- Pruners
- Aquatic fertilizer
- Trash bag
- Net
- Philips and flathead screwdrivers
- Small scrub brush
Instructions
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1
If you do not wish to go in the pond with bare feet, put on your waders. Most people just step in, but water moccasins can find their way into a Southern pond, so waders are a good idea in the spring and summer.
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2
Unplug the submerged pond pump. You do not want to be in the water when the pump is running. Electricity and water do not mix. Hook up the hose and turn on the water now.
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3
Get in the pond with the hose. Find the pump. If there is a removable plastic and foam rubber filter screwed on the intake, remove it now. Using one of the screwdrivers, remove the tubing from the pump. Put the nose nozzle in the outgo of the pump and turn it on full blast. That will remove debris from the impeller. Keeping the impeller clean lengthens the life of the pump. Put the nozzle in the end of the tube that was attached to the pump and again, turn it on full blast. Chances are green gunk will come of of the tubing. Keep turning the nozzle off and on until the water from the tubing runs clear. Replace the tubing.
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4
Use the hose to wash off the waterfall and the rocks that surround the pond. Make sure you get between the waterfall rocks and the surrounding rocks. Remove as much algae growth as you can. Sometimes you need a small scrub brush to help get it off. It will never be perfect, so don't try. Ponds need a bit of algae to keep them healthy.
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5
If you have a filter in the pond, remove the media and clean it with the hose. Do this outside the pond so all the fish waste does not end up back in the water. When the water runs clear, replace the filter media.
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6
Cut off all dead or dying plant material and spent blooms from pond plants. Fertilize the water lilies with the aquatic fertilizer according to the directions on the package.
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Use the net or pick up any debris from the bottom of the pond and put it in your trash bag. If you have a compost heap, put all plant material in it. When you get out of the pond, plug in the pump again. Clean up and be ready for next month.
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Tips & Warnings
Make a special pond hose nozzle by attaching a brass nozzle to a cut off valve. This makes the maintenance job easier.
Always unplug the pump if you are going to be in the pond.
Use a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) electrical outlet for your pump. These outlets cut off electricity instantly if water gets in the outlet.
