4 Do’s and Don’ts of Outdoor Ponds

The benefits of outdoor ponds go beyond aesthetics. An outdoor pond can turn your outdoor space into an oasis. You can spend time by your pond after work every day to unwind and relax. A backyard pond provides food and shelter to local wildlife and supports local plants.

Like other water features, ponds require ongoing maintenance. Regular maintenance keeps your pond in tip-top shape by addressing current problems and preventing future issues.

It is not uncommon for pond owners to make mistakes when maintaining their ponds. Unfortunately, a seemingly innocuous pond maintenance mistake can affect water quality and disturb the balance of its ecosystem. 

Here are some do’s and don’ts of maintaining your outdoor pond.

Add Stones to Your Pond

Do: Add stones of different shapes and sizes to your pond to give it a natural look. Use one type of stone to build your pond’s perimeter. Make sure the stones are neither too big nor too small. A couple of rock types worth consideration are granite and sandstone. Smaller stones placed beside the perimeter offer contrast to larger stones. If you want to keep fish in your pond, place smooth or rounded stones at the bottom.

Don’t: Do not use stones with sharp edges as they can injure your fish. Garden pond builders near you in Randolph recommend against using limestone as it can alter the pH of water. When arranging rocks, consider scale and proportion, or you may create low spots that can cause leaks.

Keep Your Pond Naturally Balanced

Do: To maintain a healthy pond ecosystem naturally, add plants to your pond. Some plants to consider include water hyacinth, water lilies, and water lettuce. Add good bacteria to your pond from time to time.

Don’t: Do not turn to chemical-based products to control algae.

Prepare Your Pond for Winter

Do: Before winter arrives, clean your pond. Using a long-handled pond net, remove plant leaves, pine needles, plant branches, and other debris from the bottom of your pond before they start decomposing. Clean the skimmer basket and trim dead or dying foliage. Stop feeding your fish when the water temperature falls below 60 degrees.

Don’t: Do not move your fish inside your home. Ensure your pond is deep enough for your fish to hibernate safely.

Visually Inspect and Maintain Your Pond Liner

Do: Visually inspect your pond liner regularly for leaks. To fix minor leaks in a small area, apply a patch. If, however, you are dealing with extensive damage, consider replacing your liner. When maintaining your pond, be careful not to drag heavy items across your pond liner. Avoid walking on it whenever possible.

Don’t: Do not clean your liner. Because beneficial bacteria grow on pond liners, cleaning them can affect beneficial bacterial populations.

Atlantis Water Gardens is a reputable garden pond builder near you in Randolph. Our pond builders have years of experience managing small-scale as well as complex, large-scale projects. To request an estimate, call 973-627-0515.