Water gardens are lovely additions to any landscape. They provide a tranquil place to relax, and they can add to the value of your home.

Dirty water detracts from the overall appearance of a garden and may lower oxygen levels, which can harm fish and plants.

A pond’s dissolved oxygen levels reflect the health of its aquatic plants, fish, and animals. A healthy pond requires regular cleaning and maintenance.

Filter Cleaning

Water garden plants can provide a natural, efficient system for pond cleaning. However, they need proper care to stay healthy. That includes regular trimming, pruning, and adding water if the garden is dry. Removing dead plant matter is essential, as it depletes nutrients and can injure or kill other plants.

Mechanical media such as filter pads can be easily washed using tap water from a garden hose. However, bio-media will become brown as beneficial bacteria colonize the surface. This is normal and a sign of health. It’s best to clean biological media only if it looks thick with debris or discolored.

Using a pond vacuum cleaner or another tool to remove debris and leaves from the bottom of your pond will help prevent mosquitoes. Another trick is to install a pump or waterfall to keep the water moving and make it less attractive to mosquito larvae. You can also use mosquito dunks, which gradually release the bacterium BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) that kills mosquito larvae without harming plants or animals.

Debris Removal

A water garden is more than just a backyard pond. It can become your sanctum, a serene place to relax and reflect on a hectic day. The soothing sounds of rippling water and the beautiful sight of colorful aquatic plants calm the mind and stimulate the senses.

It is essential to clean the debris regularly. A dirty pond is unsightly and can lower dissolved oxygen levels, which harms fish and plant life.

Floating plants shade the water, absorb dissolved nutrients, and help suppress algae. If your pond has few floating plants, consider adding some. Dead water garden plants release toxins into the environment that can hurt or kill other plants.

Keeping the water moving helps prevent mosquito larvae from laying eggs in stagnant water. Increase the water flow with a fountain, waterfall, or solar-powered pump. Also, conduct a fountain repair regularly to ensure its function and avoid colossal damage. You may also want to add fish to your pond for natural mosquito control.

Water Changes

The plants, animals, and insects that live in a water garden create waste products that must be removed. This is especially important for more extensive water gardens like koi ponds. If waste is left unchecked, it can create unhealthy conditions for the pond and surrounding ecosystem.

A well-designed and maintained water garden is a beautiful addition to any landscape. It also can provide a relaxing and meditative space.

Like other gardens and yards, a water garden needs to be fertilized. Water garden fertilizers are different than those used in soil and should be specially formulated for aquatic plants.

Mosquitoes love standing water, and a poorly maintained water garden is an ideal mosquito breeding place. To help prevent mosquitoes, keep the water moving with a pump or waterfall, and consider adding gambusia fish (baby gambas) to your pond. These fish eat mosquito larvae and eggs on the surface of the water. You can also purchase BTi, mosquito dunks, that slowly release the bacterium to kill mosquito larvae.

Repairs

A water garden is a beautiful dance with nature that will bring peace and tranquility to your living space, whether a small container or a full-scale pond; the soft shimmer of light and water, colorful and fragrant aquatic plants, and the wild creatures they attract will add beauty to your yard.

Water garden maintenance requires regular cleaning and repairs. If you need help fixing a problem or want to ensure your water feature is safe, contact a landscape professional near you for assistance.

Ensure your garden has proper drainage to avoid flooding and standing water in winter or after rainstorms. Removing the pump and tube part of the filtration system before freezing temperatures is also a good idea. This will help to prevent damage and allow the plant to be stored in a climate-controlled environment for the winter.