When you’re considering adding a backyard pond installation to your landscaping, no doubt you’re also thinking about how much maintenance it will require (and if you’re not–now’s the time to start!). The good news is that maintaining a water feature after installation doesn’t take a huge amount of effort, but it is important to stay on top of tasks in order to keep your pond in top condition all year round. To help out homeowners who may be thinking about their dream pond installation but aren’t sure what all goes into taking care of it, read on as we explore what’s required for backyard pond maintenance!
How Often Should I Clean My Pond?
Before we jump into various tasks for backyard pond maintenance, let’s answer one of the most common questions homeowners have: “how often should I clean my pond?” Backyard pond maintenance starts right after installation. Part of keeping your pond in top condition not just through spring and summer, but all year long, is to stay on top of keeping it clean and clear of debris and other materials that may get into it.
We don’t mean you need to go outside and check on your pond multiple times each day! Instead, keeping a general eye on it a couple times each week as well as a quick glance whenever you’re outside enjoying your beautiful backyard is typically sufficient. Sometimes homeowners think taking care of a pond installation means it has to be a ton of work, but the truth is there are plenty of low-maintenance pond ideas you can enjoy without taking on constant chores.
Backyard Pond Maintenance Requirements
Now that you’ve got an idea on how often to clean your water feature installation, let’s dive into some backyard pond maintenance tasks to consider. Adding a backyard pond installation to your landscaping can transform your entire space, making it the perfect spot for relaxing solo or entertaining friends, family, and neighbors. That said, maintaining a backyard pond does require some time and effort. Typical backyard pond maintenance tasks include things like:
- Cleaning your pond
- Managing surrounding landscaping
- Maintaining water feature equipment
- Controlling algae growth
- Feeding koi fish
- Keeping proper water levels and temperatures
- Opening and closing your pond seasonally
Cleaning Your Pond
We talked about the importance of cleaning your pond regularly, but what exactly goes into that? Cleaning a backyard pond means making sure it’s clear of any debris like leaves, branches, twigs, or other materials that may find their way to your water feature pump and cause it to stop functioning properly. You may also find yourself needing to remove any pond sludge from the bottom using a pond vacuum, depending on the materials in your pond.
Leaves serve as the major threat to backyard pond maintenance. While it may seem like a small problem to have, they can break down in the water, releasing harmful gasses and chemicals into the water that disrupts the ecosystem of your pond.
Managing Surrounding Landscaping
Not all backyard pond maintenance is just about the physical pond itself! Part of maintaining a pond after installation means managing surrounding landscaping, too. Sure, having beautiful landscaping completes the look of your pond, but it also presents ample opportunities for debris to collect in the water.
One such landscaping element many homeowners may not have considered are surrounding trees. If you’ve added your backyard pond near (or underneath) tree canopies, you may want to consider options for controlling leaf fall more effectively. Some homeowners have installed nets above the pond structure to catch most of the leaves as they fall from the trees. This can be especially beneficial for Upstate NY water features under trees as the leaves drop in the fall. The nets can be relatively unnoticeable, but help keep you from needing to skim your pond constantly as the seasons change!
Maintaining Water Feature Equipment
Whether you’ve got a small backyard pond or a large installation complete with waterfall features, taking care of the equipment like pumps, lines, and filters is a crucial part of backyard pond maintenance. Without this equipment staying in good condition, you run the risk of polluting the water landscape, making it hazardous for fish or aquatic plants you’ve added to the mix. Additionally, it can cause physical damage to your backyard pond, requiring potentially-costly fixes to be handled by professionals.
Maintaining water feature equipment is more than just clearing debris that could clog the internal workings of your pond. It also means taking care of it throughout the different seasons, ensuring you’ve chosen the right size pump in the first place, and controlling limescale or other buildups that could contribute to poor performance.
Controlling Algae Growth in Ponds
Next up on our list of backyard pond maintenance tasks to consider is controlling algae growth. While algae can be beneficial for your pond installation, it can also be a big problem if left unchecked and allowed to overgrow. Some algae can serve as additional food sources for aquatic plants and animals like koi fish, so you don’t want to remove it all! Instead, there are a wide variety of natural and artificial means to controlling algae growth in your pond to keep it at optimal levels.
Feeding Koi Fish
Another aspect of backyard pond maintenance that doesn’t specifically refer to the physical pond itself is taking care of any fish you may add to it. Koi fish are a popular addition to many backyard ponds and add to the zen feeling they can create, but you can’t simply put them in your pond and leave them to their own devices.
Backyard ponds are closed, self-contained ecosystems. This means you need to ensure you’re prepared to feed your fish properly (don’t overfeed them, however!) and keep an eye on their overall health to avoid issues spreading throughout the fish population of your water feature. Furthermore, whether you have fish or not, you want to ensure your pond is well-aerated to help both the animals and plantlife to thrive.
Keeping Proper Water Levels and Temperatures
One of the simpler tasks associated with backyard pond maintenance is keeping proper water levels and temperatures. Quite simply, ensure you’ve got enough water in your pond at all times (some may splash out or evaporate in the sun) and consider the weather for how it may affect water temperature.
During winter months, you may consider getting tools to keep the water moving and avoid freezing solid (which could damage the lining of your pond). You might also need to think about a pond heater if you intend to leave koi fish outdoors during the cold months, as they tend to thrive in water kept at least 45-to-50 degrees. For summer heat, if the water seems to be getting too warm, adding some cold water to it should be enough to balance out the temperature and keep your plants and animals safe.
Opening and Closing Backyard Ponds Seasonally
Last up on our list of backyard pond maintenance tasks comes opening and closing your pond for the season. In spring, this means draining your pond to do a thorough cleaning and recalibrating the new water for effective plant growth and animal life. Learning how to clean water feature rocks isn’t difficult, but can be a larger task, depending on the size of your pond. Additionally, winterizing your backyard pond is crucial to protecting the equipment, lining, and any fish or plant life.
Many homeowners prefer to outsource larger tasks like the seasonal opening and closing of your pond for spring and winter. Consider hiring water feature installation professionals (like us 👋) to ensure it’s done properly and efficiently without you having to lift a finger or sacrifice your weekend!
As you can see, there are a lot of things that go into backyard pond maintenance, but most tend to be relatively quick and easy to do. Staying on top of maintaining a backyard pond keeps it from being too time-consuming, allowing you to enjoy your space, instead. Ready to add a pond to your backyard landscaping for a beautiful look? Contact our team of water feature installation professionals in Upstate NY for a custom backyard pond that you’ll love!
