Tips For a Healthy Spring Pond

Feb 12th 2016

Wherever you live and no matter your pond size, everyone wants a clean, clear, and healthy pond. We put together a few tips to help you achieve this goal.

Tip 1: One of the hardest parts to starting your pond in the Spring is knowing when to start and when to wait. One of the biggest factors is water temperature and having a pond thermometer can be extremely helpful. In the following tips we will give recommended water temperatures for our Spring tips. As snow and ice melt you will begin to see algae that has grown over the winter, leaves, and/or other dead plant material that has made it's way into the bottom of your pond. It may be tempting to try to do something about it immediately, but most products won't work in near freezing temperatures. Once your pond thermometer is showing temperatures of 40 Degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, we can begin to do a few things for our ponds. 

Tip 2: Microbe-Lift Spring/Summer Cleaner is an excellent product to use to get your pond started in the Spring. Microbe-Lift Spring/Summer Cleaner helps to break down and reduce dead organic material in your pond. Should be used when water temperatures are 40 Degrees Fahrenheit or warmer.

Tip 3: At 40 Degrees Fahrenheit we can also begin to add certain submerged plants to help clear up the pond water and keep it clear. Hornwort is perhaps the best submerged plant for cold temperatures and for cleaning up your pond. Once water temperatures are getting closer to 50 Degrees consider some of the other submerged plants.

Tip 4: As water temperatures rise and your fish begin coming to the surface of the pond it can be tempting to start feeding them. Be aware that feeding your fish  while water temperatures are too cold can be bad for them. It is not recommended to feed your fish below 45-50 Degrees. When you start feeding them you should use a Spring/Fall Diet Fish Food, which are usually Wheat Germ based and are more easily digested by fish in colder temperatures.

We will be posting more in the coming weeks about Spring planting and plant maintenance. Check back Soon!