When landscaping a garden one thing that crops up often is a water feature, whether it be a fountain or just a small pond. They look fabulous but they do need a good bit of care and maintenance which is not often considered until it's already in. Here I will run through a quick guide on what to do and when to make the task a little easier.
Depending on the type you have the care can be different, for a simple small pond with no pump the upkeep will be a lot more straightforward so I will break it into two parts.
With Pump.
There are lots of benefits to having a pump and if you want to keep fish I would strongly advise it as it keeps the water oxygenated and the water clarity high. It can also sound and look lovely if you have a fountain or waterfall feature. Certainly if you have a large pond I would recommend it as it can keep algae levels to a minimum.
The maintenance however is crucial to keep them running.
The should be checked weekly for any surface debris such as leaves or twigs.
The pump should always be fully submerged so in dry spells check often that the water level hasn't dropped.
Water should be changed monthly or thereabouts to prevent algae and the pump should be taken out and cleaned of any silt build up. If you can use distilled water do as you are less likely to get mineral build up in the mechanics.
During frosty or freezing weather you should take the pump out entirely and put it back once the weather has warmed up a bit. Frozen pumps can crack and end up having to be replaced.
If you have a lot of plant life growing around the feature, cut them back regularly to prevent bits falling in.
Around twice a year you should do a deep clean by emptying the feature completely and giving it a good scrub, it seems like a lot but it will prevent algae and clogging issues during the rest of the year.
Without Pump.
Simple bird baths, smaller ponds and shallow areas shouldn't need a pump. Their maintenance is a lot less too.
The water won't be as clear and you will need to remove debris quickly as they are a lot more prone to algae build up. You can use Barley Straw every 6 months or so to help clear the water in larger ponds, as it breaks down it produces a chemical that stops the algae from growing and so can make the cleaning task a lot less of a headache.
You should replace the water completely every month or so. If it is used as a bird bath I recommend doing it more often as our feathered friends can make quite a mess and they also can spread disease to each other so for their sake it should be changed weekly in the warmer months.
So before you decide to get a water feature you should be aware of the work it can take, I have seen so many beautiful but neglected ones in gardens and the pumps can be quite an expense if poorly maintained. That's not to say that they can't be a wonderful addition if you have the time to keep them!
