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How To Maintain A Pond





Whether it's in a beautiful courtyard of an office building or your very own backyard, taking care of your pond is vital.  As soon as construction finishes, you should be concentrating efforts on how to keep it clean and functioning properly.  There are many factors that can cause damage or negatively impact your pond's ecosystem so it requires a healthy balance in order to thrive.

CLEAN IT REGULARLY - Dirt and debris, such as leaves, can release toxic gases and sludge can overwhelm your fragile pond.  A little bit of sludge is needed for healthy algae growth but that pond needs a proper cleaning weekly.  Spring is the ideal time to do an annual full cleaning, which is where you completely drain the pond and deep clean it.

PLANTS - As the weather warms, this is the perfect time to grow some plants in your pond.  Not only do they make the environment look gorgeous, they help regulate oxygen and clean certain toxins from water levels.  These plants also need to be maintained weekly - such as being thinned and removing debris or dead plants.

Trees tend to dump leaves into your pond, which can be toxic as they decay.  Either keep you trees trimmed away from your pond or make sure you are cleaning the debris out weekly.

ALGAE - Some algae is actually good for your pond's ecosystem but too much can quickly become a problem.  There are natural, such as having cover plants that block light to algae, and man-made, such as algaecide, ways to control the levels and keep a good balance.

MAINTAIN SYSTEMS - Pumps, filters, liner - these parts are crucial for pond maintenance and prone to malfunctions because of excessive use, clogs or damage.  These parts need to be cleaned and routinely inspected for possible issues.  Pumps and filters can be flushed to remove debris and make sure to use cleaning compounds to reduce algae blooms and limescale.

MAINTAIN LEVELS - Your pond's water level should stay the same to reduce damage to systems or the ecosystem.  In hot weather, you may notice your water level is low and needs to be topped off with a garden hose or a water supply system.  The pond's temperature should also be maintained.  Extreme temperatures can significantly impact the life inside.  For regions prone to cold and ice in winter, they need a heating system to keep oxygen flowing.  In extreme heat, cold water should be added to keep the temperature stable.

A pond should be well-aerated, which boosts oxygen levels, fosters growth and reduces harmful buildup.  Oxygenating plants can help or installing additional water features such as a waterfall or fountain help the air move easier through the water.

 WATER CHEMISTRY - Essentially this is keeping the right balance of properties in your water to maintain healthy growth and survival while keeping harmful bacterias at bay.  Waste, too much acid and chlorine can destroy living organisms or negatively impact and ecosystem.  Keeping it clean is one thing but adding detoxifiers and alkaline solutions is another.  There are kits one can buy to test water levels but do your research.  If you have plants, fish or other living organisms, what levels do they need to live in?  Take this into account as you add things to balance the water.

While keeping a pond healthy and clean may require a bit of work, the lasting effect is priceless.  Proper maintenance can ensure years of enjoyment and beauty!

If  you aren't comfortable controlling chemical levels or handling the upkeep of a pond on your own, contact Laughing Waters Pond Maintenance at 708.586.2393 and find out how we can help!

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Location: Chicago, IL, USA

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