Garden Pond Care Instructions
- 1). Plant your pond plants in plastic containers before taking them to the water area. According to the Oregon State University Extension Service, this will make it easier for you when it's time to thin, repot or winterize the plants. Put a heavy rock on their bottom to keep the planters upright. Add pea gravel over the soil surface to keep it in place.
- 2). Protect the pond from fertilizer runoff that may be applied to nearby grass. The chemical will encourage algae growth and affect the pond's ecosystem. Use edging or build your pond far from a lawn area.
- 3). Thin and repot your pond plants in the fall. This time of year, they will be past their growing season and won't suffer because of the disturbance. Remove debris and excess vegetation from the pond. A garden rake works well for removing floating leaves and sticks from the water surface.
- 4). Cover your pond with a net where autumn's falling leaves can collect. This step might not be feasible if your pond is too large, and may not be necessary if there are no deciduous plants nearby.
- 5). Transfer your pond plants and aquatic life to a temporary container with water from the pond so you can change the water in the pond. After you add new water, treat it with a dechlorinator to protect your plants and aquatic animals. To avoid having to replace the water in the pond, which Texas A&M says adversely affects its ecosystem, keep the water clear of excess vegetation, use algaecides to control algae growth and install an air pump and filtration system.
- 6). Winterize your pond plants by stopping fertilization six weeks before the first frost is predicted for your area. When the foliage on winter-hardy plants turn yellow, trim it off and leave the plants in an area of the pond that's at least 3 feet deep to prevent freezing. Take all tropical plants out of the pond and into the house. Encourage them to continue to grow with the help of a grow lamp or by placing them on a sunny window sill. Turn off the air pump and filter for the season. This is a good time to clean them.
- 7). Run the air pump and filtration system as soon as the water warms up in the spring. This step will help reduce algae blooming when the temperature rises in the pond. Return all plants to the pond in the spring.
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