So that garden pond maintenance does not turn into hard work, two to three hours of time should be set aside every week for some routine measures. After all, clear water and a beautifully planted pond are the garden owners' ideal, even if nature regulates many things itself.
What measures are necessary for garden pond care?
Garden pond care includes regular pruning of plants, fishing for filamentous algae, leaf protection nets in autumn, suctioning off the sludge and keeping pumps and filter systems clean. Cloudy water should not be changed, but should be clarified naturally, for example with rainwater.
A garden pond is often said to require a lot of maintenance if you really want clear conditions in the pool. Actually, it is more the regularity that makes a significant contribution to keeping the time required for garden pond care within limits and ensures the proverbial unadulterated enjoyment of the natural pool. The main goal of this maintenance work should always be to remove nutrients from the garden pond in the most ecological way possible in order to prevent the formation of foul gases and algae growth.
Step-by-step plan instead of complete renovation
Even if our following five tips for garden pond care cannot guarantee that your ornamental pond will remain 100 percent algae-free, the biological balance will definitely remain under control:
- Regular, courageous pruning of all plants in the shallow water, swamp and bank zones as well as floating plants;
- Fishing the thread algae (about twice a week in summer) with an algae net (€18.00 on Amazon) and brush;
- Cover the pool completely or partially with leaf protection nets, especially during the autumn months;
- Sucking out the sludge from the pool floor (at least at the start of spring and during basic cleaning in autumn);
- Keep pumps and filter systems clean, especially in fish and swimming ponds;
All my ducklings
Even if it looks very cute when the first pair of wild ducks settle on your garden pond and the water snail problem is partially solved: scare away the chattering visitors, who otherwise very quickly start to enjoy their water plants. Aside from the excrement that collects in the pond water, there is a risk of cercariae forming, which can cause extremely itchy skin in swimming ponds. In addition, mallards have also been spotted fighting fierce battles with the pond liner and winning!
Change cloudy water?
Even if it seems logical at first glance to pump out all or part of the greenish pool water in order to refill it, you shouldn't do it. With proper and regular garden pond care, the water will clear itself organically and, by the way, even chemical cleaners can be completely dispensed with, also in the interest of your naturally flowering pond plants.
Tip
If the water level in the pond decreases significantly after a long period of heat, if possible, only top up with rainwater that has previously been mechanically filtered. The dirt deposits on the house roof as well as the often very low pH value of the water from the rain barrel otherwise have an unfavorable effect on the pond flora.