How to Clean a Water Garden

Email Page

Print Page

Rich Binsacca

Extras

In a natural environment, ponds and streams develop a sustainable ecosystem. But in the water garden, the components – liners, pumps, filters, fountains – require routine maintenance to make sure they’re performing at peak levels. Most garden ponds require minimal care: cleaning skimmer filters every two weeks, pruning dead leaves from plants before they fall into the water and inspecting the plants for pests or disease.

Spring marks the beginning of the growing season. Clean away any debris left from winter and (depending where you live) check that remaining plants are securely positioned in the water feature as they begin to send up new shoots.

A water garden’s maintenance schedule follows the seasons:

Spring is preparation time – the time to clean and repair liners, pumps and other equipment. Inspect your plants as they emerge from dormancy; prune shoreline plants to encourage new growth; and thin, divide and replant submerged aquatics.

Summer is the growing season – the time to enjoy your aquatic plants as they thrive in the heat and light of the sun. Keep your shoreline plants well-watered, and maintain the water level within the garden pond, making sure the top of the liner remains protected by the water and edging materials. Inspect plants for any signs of pest and disease, and check water quality regularly.

Autumn marks the coming end of the season – signaling the onset of the plants’ dormancy period. How you handle your aquatics and prepare for the coming winter actually depends on your climate. If you live in a warm-winter climate, you can leave your plants in place. Keep the water at its proper level and its quality in balance, and consider thinning, pruning or dividing plants. In regions with cold winters, perform necessary maintenance to protect your water feature, prevent ice from forming and damaging the liner, and keep a hole open so that air can be exchanged.

Water gardens can operate reliably for long periods when they’re properly maintained. While routine cleanup and maintenance is important, the entire water feature should be completely cleaned out only every 2-3 years. It’s definitely time to clean the pond when the water quickly becomes unbalanced and fails quality tests, the bottom is sediment-filled, and the liner is algae-coated.

Clean your garden pond on an overcast day in late spring or early summer, to allow time for plants to recover before going dormant. Take the steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions to learn how to properly clean a water garden – so you can then enjoy another season of aquatic bliss!

Facts

As daylight hours shorten in autumn, the algae growth naturally dwindles. Many plants – including aquatic and shoreline species – become dormant as the days shorten and winter approaches.

Tips

If you’ll be storing the pump (especially over winter), keep it in a bucket of cool water so that its internal works and gaskets remain soft and supple.

Tools

Your pump, its filter, delivery pipe and housing should be checked semimonthly for any leaks or damage and may need to be cleaned out as frequently as once a month if sediment gathers near its intake. (Check the pump manufacturer’s package literature for a recommended schedule.) Use a garden hose spray nozzle to clean the housing and filter media, replacing the filter and screen, if necessary.

Page 1 of 2

Next Steps

Articles

Spring-Cleaning Your Garden Pond
Three cheers for spring! You’re not the only one coming out of hibernation – it’s been a long winter for your pond and fish, too! Proper cleanup, equipment inspection and a little water and fish TLC are the first steps toward another healthy – and successful – water gardening season.
Testing and Treating Garden Pond Water
Balanced water quality is essential to maintaining a healthy water garden. Don’t let your pond water cloud your plants – or good judgment. Learn the common symptoms of water-quality distress and the simple steps to testing your pond’s water to make sure your ecosystem thrives…without all the algae!
Repairing Liner Leaks
A healthy water garden relies on strong liner. But even the thickest forms can suffer from puncture wounds or tears after a few years of service. Learn the steps to repairing minor liner leaks in your aquatic garden.

RATE THIS PAGE

On average this item has been rated a 5 out of 5.