During the winter months, the garden pond often has a hard time. On the threshold of the new spring, it is therefore due for a thorough overhaul. This is important to restore the balance. After all, this biological balance has a beneficial effect on the plant and fish stock. How do you go about this spring maintenance? What tips and precautions should you preferably take into account so that you can fully enjoy life in the garden pond again?
Main maintenance
Spring is undoubtedly the most important maintenance period for the garden pond. Now is the time to decide whether you want to clean the garden pond in its entirety. Such a general cleaning is recommended. After all, now is the most appropriate time to rebalance the plant stock, and to repair any damage that King Winter caused in recent months.
Adjust water values
The garden pond is indeed in need of a thorough overhaul. The extremely low temperatures, wind and humidity disrupted the biological equilibrium in the garden pond. Naturally, both plant and fish stocks suffer greatly from this. Spring maintenance of this kind is therefore of particular importance for life in the garden pond. Not just in the spring. The garden pond must be closely monitored throughout the pond season. After all, you must always have insight into the different water values. Only when these are known can the composition and quality of the pond water be regularly adjusted and kept in optimal condition. After all, a balanced composition of pond water also keeps the pond fish in top condition.
Pond plant health is very important
In order to keep the quality of the pond water optimal, it must first be ensured that the pond plants again enough food vital for optimal health. Mainly the water lilies all the attention. In the first place, the health of the plants ensures a suitable life biotope for the pond fish. In the garden pond everything revolves around the fish stock. The fish can be kept disease-free by giving adapted concentrates, possibly extra vitamins, minerals and other energy-providing resources.
Well-maintained filters ensure a suitable biotope
In order to keep life in the garden pond in optimal condition, the various filters and other pond parts must of course also be thoroughly overhauled. The circle is complete with adapted maintenance for filters and other pond material. Well-functioning filters ensure a high water quality, so that the fish swim alive again.
Replace sick plants and propagate plants
Spring is of course the perfect time to end sick and / or to replace dead plants and to become healthy, proliferating or too large plants to multiply. If necessary, place the pond plants in larger baskets. Provide the pond plants at the same time extra nutrition via applying nutritional tablets. When dividing the plants, it is important not to divide all pond plants at the same time. If you do, you will have a bare pond this season, which also seriously endangers the biological balance.
Water lilies sensitive to tuber formation
Water lilies are undoubtedly the absolute eye-catcher in the majority of garden ponds. These water lilies have to be divided every four years on average. Dividing water lilies is urgently needed when they form leaves that are too small, bloom noticeably less and when the flower itself rises above the pond water on a stalk. Sharing the water lilies is an important job that must be done with caution. After all, water lilies are very sensitive to tuber formation. Preferably divide the water lilies when the danger of night frost has passed.
Deep-rooted plants
Deep-rooted plants with floating leaves naturally require a different approach. If these floating plants become too large compared to the basket they were given earlier, these plants must of course be reduced. Also preferably wait until the night frost has disappeared.
Leave floating plants untouched for as long as possible
It is best to leave the floating vegetation in the garden pond untouched for as long as possible. If they become too large in the coming months and overgrow the pond, they can always be thinned out. These floating plants mainly overwinter at the bottom of the pond.
Regularly thin out oxygenated plants
Oxygen plants are of course very important for optimal water quality and therefore also for the health of the fish stock. Only divide too large bunches of oxygen plants into several smaller bunches and / or thin these plants out. However, do not do this too early in the season. During the winter months, these oxygen-producing plants die. They need more time to sprout than the other pond plants.
Share bank plants
If you have any bank plants in the garden pond, they should also be checked regularly. When they have grown to such an extent that they fall out of their baskets, it is high time to divide them. Preferably do this every three years.
Feed fish from a water temperature of twelve degrees
After the harsh winter period, the fish deserve attention more than ever. Especially weak and remarkably silent specimens should be monitored extra. Only start feeding the pond fish from a water temperature of twelve degrees. Feed in moderation. Spring is also the most suitable time to release new fish. Those fish species that do not survive freezing temperatures and hibernate indoors can now be returned to the pond.
Extra tips for pond maintenance
- Be sure to check all values of the various components of the pond water.
- Clean all filters and check that they are still functioning properly.
- Be sure to check the oxygen content of the pond water. After all, during this period of the year, severe oxygen starvation can occur as a result of the insufficient functioning of the oxygen plants. These still absorb too little carbon dioxide. It is recommended to add extra oxygen via an air pump.
- Now check all pumps, filters and the UV lamp thoroughly, to prevent any defects during the pond season as much as possible.
