The hot days of summer are almost over, and that means fall time is just around the corner. Falling leaves, cooler temperatures, and even a slight crisp in the air let you know that the seasons are about to change.
If you are a homeowner, HOA, or golf course manager, and have one or more ponds on your property, there are a few things that you should be doing in the next few weeks. Fall time pond maintenance is not only crucial for the health of your pond, but it can also save you a lot of money and maintenance headaches come springtime.
We’re going to share with you five tips on how you can prepare your beautiful pond for the upcoming change in seasons so that it will be healthy and looking great once the weather starts to warm up again.
Clean up Organic Debris
One of the most significant issues that ponds face is the organic leaf debris and other sediments that makes its way into the pond and settles down at the bottom. There are no beneficial bacteria at the bottom of your pond to break it down.
As fall turns into winter, and winter into spring, this organic matter will accumulate and start to add massive amounts of harmful nutrients to the water.
This, in turn, will cause an algae outbreak that could potentially destroy your pond by choking out all plant, aquatic, and fish life. Nutrient-rich water helps feed these unsightly nuisance algae blooms.
By ranking up falling leaves every couple of days and disposing of them properly, you’re helping prevent a cataclysmic natural chain of events from occurring which will cause your pond to stagnate and become smelly and unsightly when the temperatures start to rise.
Check Your Mechanical Gear
Do you have pumps, aquifers, and other mechanical gear inside and around your pond? If so, make sure that the filters aren’t clogged by removing any organic debris that has made its way inside.
The last thing you want is for a pump to fail in the dead of winter, and you have to make repairs in sub-zero temperatures, or worse yet, potentially putting your life at risk by walking out onto thin ice.
Now is also the time to purchase replacement parts. Sometimes manufacturers will run out of stock of a particular pump, filter, or other components. This can often lead to a long backorder. It’s better to have what you need sitting on your garage shelf, than hope and pray that it’s in stock when it fails or goes wrong.
Fish and Aquatic Life
In most parts of the country, ponds will freeze over during the first frost that usually occurs towards the middle to end of fall. While most fish species like trout are well-adapted to colder temperatures, some might not fare as well.
You can add a cold-water bacteria additive to your pond which will help reduce sludge, fish waste, and in some cases remove dead and decaying plant material. This can help keep your pond healthy and crystal-clear even in the middle of the winter.
You should also avoid feeding your fish during the wintertime. Their metabolisms have slowed to a crawl and chances are they won’t be very hungry. All of the added food will wind up turning into excess nutrients that can raise nitrites and nitrates to potentially dangerous levels.
Dredge Your Pond
If you haven’t dredged your pond in a while, fall is the perfect time to do so. It can help remove hundreds or even thousands of pounds of nutrient-rich sludge, which causes nuisance algae breakouts and fish die-offs.
An added benefit is that once the sediment is removed, it can be used in flower and plant beds to provide a healthy and organic fertilizer. Come springtime you’ll find that your flowers, shrubs, and bushes will look better and brighter than they have in a long time.
Nation-Wide Pond Dredging
When it comes to ponds, a little bit of TLC goes a long way. At American Underwater Services, we’ve helped countless HOA, golf course, and residential homeowners dredge their ponds over the decades.
Our professional and expert dredgers can travel anywhere in the country to help improve the health and lengthen the life of your little slice of nature.
Give us a call at (817) 377-8512 or contact us on our website to learn more about the dredging and pond maintenance services that we offer.
At American Underwater Services, we love ponds. They’re beautiful, relaxing, and add immense value to any area they’re located in. Contact us today to learn more.
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