A garden pond can be a place of relaxation. It brings life to your garden, but it also involves work. Every month, even in the winter months, there are various jobs to be done. Your work will be less if you regularly remove dirt and use a garden pond calendar. The following garden pond calendar will help you ensure clean water and the right living conditions for plants and animals in the pond.
January
- You should always watch the ice freezer when fish are wintering in your pond. There must always be a hole in the ice to ensure an adequate supply of oxygen.
- You must fill the oxydator with hydrogen peroxide when it floats up. Then lower the container again.
- In January, you have time to make plans if you want to rearrange the planting and fish stocking.
February
You can already start the first work to make your pond fit for spring again.
- If reeds and other reed plants grow on your pond, you should cut them back.
- You should check the edge of the pond and make any necessary repairs. Be sure to do the following things:
- Capillary barrier
- Foil, which should still be covered everywhere and protected from UV rays
- Slabs or stones that may have loosened.
March
If the first warm rays of sunshine come out, start the first maintenance and renovation work. Now is a good time to do this before taking care of plants and water quality in the coming spring months.
- If the weather is suitable, you should dismantle the ice freeze.
- You can install the pond pump now and run it by the hour during the day to bring oxygen back into the pond water. If there is a stream, you can also run it for several hours during the day.
- You will now use the filter to run it around the clock.
- Of the plants that are sprouting now, you should remove old and dead parts.
- Carry out any remedial work that may be necessary.
April
In April, take care of the plants that have overwintered in your pond. You have to remove the first algae that form.
- You can put water features back into operation when there is no longer a threat of night frosts.
- You may want to enrich your plant population with new plantings.
- Fish off algae. Leave them at the edge of the pond for a few days so that any animals in them can get back into the water.
- Remove pollen from the water surface with a fine mesh net to prevent sludge buildup.
- After four weeks of operation, clean the filter for the first time.
May
In May, do the final work to make your pond fit for the new season.
- If the water temperature is above 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius), feed the fish that have wintered in the pond again.
- Return fish that did not overwinter in the pond to the pond after careful temperature equalization.
- Return non-hardy plants to the pond after the Ice Saints. Put water lilies in shallow water first. They will bloom earlier.
- Once a week, fish off algae and remove dead plant parts.
- Clean the pond filter regularly.
June
From June, you need to be active every day to ensure adequate water quality. Check your pond regularly. That will save you a lot of work.
- Check the water level regularly and add water if necessary.
- Water the riparian plants on dry days.
- Check the water values with a test kit:
- pH value
- Nutrient and oxygen content
- Water hardness
- Take any countermeasures to improve.
- Use a UVC clarifier if the water becomes discolored due to heavy algae growth.
July
On hot days your pond needs special attention so that the water quality does not deteriorate.
With water temperatures above 71 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius), you should pay attention to the water’s oxygen content. Shade the pond around midday with a solar sail, introduce fresh water and use underwater plants that provide oxygen.
- Encourage post-blooming by removing any plant parts that have bloomed off.
- Thin out strong-growing plants so that weaker-growing plants also have enough room.
August
The high temperatures favor the rapid proliferation of algae and the formation of mud. Keep algae under control to make your work easier.
- Regularly remove algae and dead plant matter with a landing net or rake.
- Replenish evaporated pond water.
- During hot spells, water plants in the riparian area.
- Remove yellowed and bent leaves with pruning shears.
- Carefully cut the fall bloomers free now.
September
In September, your plants deserve special attention before autumn arrives. Start with the first preparations for autumn and winter.
- Regularly remove autumn leaves that have fallen into the pond to prevent mud from rotting. You can make your work easier by stretching a leaf protection net over the pond.
- Divide or thin out plants that have grown too lush. Don’t throw away the plants you have divided. Swap meets are an excellent time to trade them with other pond friends for fish or other plants.
- Make replantings and new plantings.
- Tie reeds, other reed plants, and tall grasses together to keep them from falling over.
- Stop feeding fish when the water temperature drops below 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius).
- Take out fish not meant to overwinter in the pond. Place these fish in a cold water aquarium.
October
Also, in October, take care of the plants and prepare for the winter.
- Regularly remove leaves that have fallen into the pond.
- Remove non-hardy plants and delicate water lilies from the pond to keep them frost-free for the winter.
- Cut back water lilies to a few leaves.
- Cover sensitive shoreline plants with brushwood or leaves.
- Check water quality.
- Use an oxydator if there are much fish in your pond.
November
In November, do the final work to winterize your pond.
- Drain all water lines and hoses.
- Dismantle lighting and water features, clean them and store them frost-free.
- Disassemble pond filters and pumps. Clean them thoroughly. Store them frost-free but damp.
December
December is also not without work on the pond if you want to enjoy it again in the new year.
- If you have a mini pond, you should drain it to avoid frost damage.
- If you have a leaf protection net stretched over the pond, you should remove it before the first snowfall.
- Install an ice freezer on time.
- If your pond freezes over and the first snow cover forms, you should carefully sweep off the snow so that the underwater plants still get enough light.
Conclusion
There is work to be done on the pond all year round. Remove algae, dead plant parts, pollen, and leaves every week. You counteract the formation of sludge and save yourself a lot of work. The plants and fish will thank you. You can quickly rid your pond of sludge with a sludge vacuum. With the right filters and systems for water recirculation during cleaning, you make your work easier. With the practical test sets, you can regularly check the water quality.