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Backyard Pond Maintenance

The most important element in backyard pond maintenance is having a pump that corresponds to your pond size. Ponds of less than 1,000 gallons typically require submerged pumps, while larger ponds require more powerful external pumps. This keeps all water consistently circulating, which prevents algae buildup.

You should purchase a skimmer, a slightly smaller version of those used for swimming pools. Every day you should use the skimmer to remove any leaves, twigs, feathers, insects or objects from the pond. Be sure scoot the skimmer along the bottom of the pond to stir up any leaves, worms or pebbles that may have settled there. It’s important to keep your pond free of such items, as they can clog the pump and destroy it. They will also begin to decompose, making the water gritty--which can harm the pump--and emitting a less-than-desirable odor.

If you like, you can also buy plants that are specially suited to ponds. These plants can be placed directly in the water in their containers. Not only are these plants attractive, but they also help filter algae. A popular example is water lilies.

Mosquito dunks are indispensable when it comes to backyard ponds. These are circular cakes that look like miniature doughnuts, which you can purchase from your garden supply store. You break the cake into several pieces and scatter them about the periphery of the pond. The pump action will encourage them to move about. It’s helpful to place one near the pouring action of your fountain or waterfall to better circulate its ingredients. Mosquito dunks kill mosquito larvae, but they’re non-toxic to humans, birds and other wildlife.

Make it a point to note how the pump is performing on a regular basis. This is especially important following power outages. It also safeguards against damage from wildlife. Raccoons have been known to try to turn on pumps that aren’t working!

You should also note the water level in the pond every day. If it is markedly low, that could signify a leak in the pond structure or the pump and waterfall tubing. To ascertain whether it’s the pond structure, turn off the pump for several hours to see if the water level continues to drop. Of course, the water level will drop slightly over the course of several days in summer due to natural evaporation, especially when it’s quite hot with periods of no rain.

In the fall, you may have to skim the pond more than once a day. You can also purchase screening to place across the top of the pond to guard against excessive leaves blowing into it.

If you have a prefabricated pond, you need to drain it in winter before freezing temperatures set in. If the water in your pond freezes, it could crack the liner and destroy the pump. To drain the pond, connect some long tubing to the pump and place the other end in a suitable location in your yard. Of course, this assumes that you have a small to modest-sized pond! You wouldn’t want to flood your or your neighbors’ yards. Be sure to watch the draining process, as you don’t want the water level to drop below the pump, thereby damaging it. Use a bucket to remove any water left standing in the bottom of the pond. Remove the pump, tubing and electrical cords, and store them indoors for the season. You also need to cover the pond to prevent it from filling with snow and ice. Secure several sections of two-by-fours in the bottom of the pond, such as in buckets of sand. Then drape a large tarp over them, and secure the perimeter of the tarp with fairly closely spaced rocks; the tarp should extend beyond the all edges of the pond. This will prevent the tarp from collapsing under the weight of snow.

In the non-winter months, you may also want to drain the water from time to time simply to refresh it. This eliminates the need for toxic chemicals. You can also add specially formulated powdered enzymes on a regular basis to inhibit algae growth and help keep the water clear. You can also purchase electric ultraviolet sterilizers.





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