Seasonal Pond Maintenance
A pond or water garden can be an attractive addition to any landscape design. Ponds can be dug in a client’s yard or even fit into golf course architecture plans. Seasonal pond maintenance depends upon its size, location, construction, and contents.
It is important to know how to maintain these ponds for good client satisfaction. Valley Green offers several pond maintenance products to help maintain ponds. Maintenance needs to be done seasonally. Every season can bring different challenges so you must know ahead of time what to expect and how to prepare.
Spring
Spring is the time to remove winter debris from the pond. Cleaning it will provide clearer water and lessen the chance of an algae bloom. If the pond is small, give it a 20% water change. (Remove the fish and put them in a kiddie pool if the client has them).
Add beneficial bacteria to the filters and make sure they are in proper working condition. Consider draining the pond completely if there is a significant build-up of debris at the bottom. Use a pond vacuum to remove it and then fill the pond back up. Check the pond liner before refilling the pond to make sure it hasn’t sustained any winter tears.
Summer
Be sure to prune dead plants, this will ensure new plants have a place to grow. You can always apply pond safe fertilizer to new plants to encourage growth as well. You will also need to clean pond filters to make sure they are not clogged with debris. Keep an eye out for algae because summer sun can create the perfect environment for a bloom.
Fall
If the pond does not have a skimmer, lower the water level. Bring filter equipment inside so it does not freeze. You also want to trim back the pond’s plants in and around the pond. Bring any nonwinter hardy plants inside. Do a final sweep for debris with a net or vacuum.
Winter
If your client requests that you perform winter pond maintenance, you will want to be on the lookout for ice dams. In northern climates with freezing temperatures, ice can develop and cause water to spill out of the pond. If they have not brought their pond pumps in, remind them to do so because ice drops the water level and cause the pumps to break.
Valley Green was founded by Charles Dooley in 1990. Headquartered in Holyoke, Massachusetts, we have grown to eight branch locations supported by inside & outside sales associates specializing in turf seed, sod production, golf sales, turf maintenance, nursery production, agriculture and arboriculture. The average green industry tenure at Valley Green is well over 20 years per associate!
Corporate Headquarters
642 S. Summer Street
Holyoke, MA 01040
Phone 413.533.0726
Toll Free 800.862.0089
Fax 413.533.0792
Wholesale Fax 413.533.4090