Maintenance Requirements
Seasonal maintenance for water gardens and water features varies depending on the climate. In temperate zones that experience hard freezing and ice, special care must be taken to prevent damage to either installation.
Spring
The best time to install a water garden or water feature is in the Spring months. This is the time when people are ready to move back out of doors, and start projects as the weather becomes warmer.
If you already have a water feature, that has spent the winter out of doors, there are specific maintenance needs required. Check your feature for ice or frost damage first. You will want to make sure there are no kinks in the pump tubing or obstructions in the pump intake ports. Remove any dirt or debris from the fountain before you fill it back up and turn it on!
In the spring, a water garden begins to reawaken. They begin to grow and move again. Fish will need more food, and plants will need to be fertilized. Since the pond was dormant through the winter months, be careful to monitor water closely. If your pond has a lot of sludge at the bottom, you may want to clean this, as it can release toxic gases as it decomposes.
Summer
During the summer months, the heated long days can create algae. Your plants will grow and flourish quickly, and your fish will eat and produce waste avidly.
Fountains will need to be treated by scrubbing the algae away, and changing the water more often. There are also algaecide products that can help to combat this substance, just be sure to check that the product is non-toxic.
Water Gardens will need extra attention and care during the summer months. Toxins will rise as plants and fish produce wastes. Make sure to check your filtration systems often, and keep them flushed. You may find it necessary to incorporate a nitrate and ammonia removing treatment to your water.
Algae is the number one problem in water gardens. The sunlight fuels this organism, making it abundant where ever there is water. Luckily, there are many ways to manage it. Besides manually removing algae, adding shade can help to cut down on the production of algae. The addition of water lilies or water lettuce will not only help prevent sunlight from reaching the water, but they also use nitrogen and the other nutrient that algae need to thrive. These plants also create beautiful blooms that add beauty to your garden.