Spring is the water gardener's busiest time. If you didn't clean your pond in autumn, now is the time to do so. Remove fallen leaves and debris; clean the sludge from the bottom, and DON'T CHANGE THE WATER. To change the water now is the best way to get green water, the most common mistake made by the new water gardener. A well-maintained pond does not need a complete water change. Water changes of 20% are o.k. and a must. Make sure to use water, which has been de-chlorinated or filtered. As soon the weather starts warming up, check the water quality by testing ph levels, nitrates and ammonia. Record your findings. Remove any filamental algae. If you use barley straw against algae growth, now is the time to add some to your filter in form of barley mats or to your pond in barley balls or pellets. It is also time to begin repotting and fertilizing and dividing your water plants. Use only fertilizer made for water gardens, do not use regular fertilizer, it is too high in nitrogen and will give you an algae bloom. The first plants to repot are the Irises that they have time to get established before blooming. Do not feed your fish before the water has a steady temperature of at least 55 degrees, start feeding wheat germ based fish food, protein food is hard on their digestive system. This will prevent you from having murky water and your fish from stress or even untimely death. Now sit back and enjoy your water garden. Watch the fresh green appear, and the leaves of the water lilies to come to the top of the pool and the pond life to wake. |
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