WATER GARDEN CARE

While water gardens are designed to be low-maintenance by working with Mother Nature and not against her, some care is needed to help keep this ecosystem in balance. A water garden is similar to many parts in a landscape and will require some attention as the seasons change. Below we have listed some water garden information to assist you in this care. If you wish, ask your designer about questions you may have or if your interested Bachman’s help in providing these services for you.

Spring Care
After running a water garden for an entire year, we need to start each spring with fresh clean water. Cleaning the water garden in the spring stimulates the normal flushing action lakes that are fed by streams and rivers normally experience during heavy spring rains. Replacing this water with fresh clean and clear water gets rid of excessive nutrients that have built up in the pond over the previous year. See instructions HERE.

Note: Contact your designer at Bachman’s if you are interested in the purchase of a sump pump and hose for the spring clean-out.

Summer Care
While the majority of the hard work is behind you, there are some summer maintenance items that still need to be addressed if you are to have a season of clean, clear water to enjoy. By keeping up on these tasks, you should have a healthy pond all season long. MORE INFO HERE.

Winter Care
Winter, regardless of whether you live in northern or southern climates, brings a general slowing down of the pond. The fish aren't as active, the plants go dormant, and in freezing climates - the water stops moving as well. Both climate regions bring their own special challenges when it comes to over-wintering water gardens. HERE are some general steps you can take to make sure your pond emerges in spring looking great!

If you decide to shut your pond down for the winter, you will need to remove the pump (see below). Store the pump in a frost-free location, submersed in a bucket of water. The water around the pump will help prevent the seal on the pump from drying and cracking. Next, remove the bags of biological media and filter mats from the BIOFALLS. Wash them down and store in the garage or shed. Removing the biological media bags and filter mats during the winter shutdown will make your clean-out easier in the spring.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE ISSUES:

Pond pump troubleshooting

Fixing pond leaks

Water quality and algae troubleshooting: Bacteria and enzymes play an important role in balancing the pond and providing a low maintenance water garden. “AquaClear” should be added to the pond throughout the season. The bacteria will compete with the algae in a pond for excess nutrients, essentially starving off the algae. Clean the BIOFALLS filter no more than once a year.