Many people take pride in their backyards. It is often referred to as an oasis of peace. And it really can be if you put enough effort into designing and maintaining it. Water features, in particular, have been increasing in popularity in the past few decades. There is just something soothing and relaxing in having a water fountain or a pond in your backyard. However, unlike water fountains, ponds tend to be stagnant, and when water is stagnant, it can easily turn into an unpleasant-smelling nightmare unless tended to properly.
Fortunately, water feature experts at Pacific Dreamscapes share some tips on how to properly maintain your water pond.
Why Cleaning Your Pond Is Important
An open body of water will inevitably draw life forms to it. In the case of ponds, you can expect that to be algae and possibly frogs if you live in an area which is rich with them.
However, most people don’t leave their ponds empty in the first place. Fish are often put in as an additional decorative and calming presence. If you leave this ecosystem on its own, without any interference, fairly soon, the algae will overpower everything else and cause the pond to smell bad, while killing everything else inside.
Water Management
Professional landscapers recommend that you replace around ten percent of your total pond water each week. Even though that sounds like a lot, it is necessary in order to preserve the cleanliness and the oxygen levels in the water. All of the liners need to be clean of the organic buildup at least once a year, but twice would be ideal, especially if your pond is full all year like backyard ponds in San Diego are.
Speaking of water, not just any kind of water will do. The water from the pipes is saturated with chlorine which we need to kill any bacteria in it. However, it can also damage the ecosystem in your pond. There are two ways around this problem. You can use chemicals to neutralize chlorine or leave the water to be aerated before you pour it into the pond. A few alternatives to having to clean the pond all the time are adding aeration or oxygen (bubbles) to the water by moving it with a pond fountain or even water aerating windmill from Living Water Aeration.
Management of Living Things
Most people aren’t satisfied with just having a small pond in their backyard. They put in fish and decorative plants to mimic an actual natural pond. However, those living things do require at least a bit of maintenance.
Even though pond plants are fairly self-sufficient, you still need to take care of them if you see them withering. The most likely cause is that the algae are too aggressive and need to be controlled. When it comes to fish, all you need to take care of is the oxygen level in the water and an occasional feeding, depending on the type of fish you have. Karina Lakefront Maintenance specializes in integrated lake management, general lake maintenance, nuisance plant removal, and much more. So, they are equipped to handle all your lakefront needs.
Filtration Systems
A lot of the older ponds don’t have a filtration system because they weren’t planned by a professional, or the owner didn’t think they needed one. However, the maintenance of a pond is a lot simpler if you have one in place. Talk to a landscaper or your maintenance company about the size and the power of a filter which you need, because it can be a fairly complex calculation, taking into account the size of the pond, the amount of wildlife in it, as well as some other factors like the amount of shade during the day.
How Difficult Is It to Maintain the Pond
Even though they require some input from you, ponds can be fairly self-sufficient if you set them up properly. Nature has worked just fine before we came along, so you can expect your pond to be the same. However, if you really want to have a beautiful and peaceful place where you can rest without any interference (mostly from the natural smell of the ponds), there is some maintenance required. If you know what you are doing, it is not a very demanding or time-consuming task. That’s why most people leave the maintenance to professionals who have plenty of experience and expertise in the field.
