Although we always welcome the cooler temperatures that come with fall and even the winter months, pond enthusiasts everywhere can agree that we could do without the falling leaves. It can be a big headache if you’re trying to keep your pond clean. The task can seem impossible, especially if your pond is surrounded by foliage. What can you do? The critical thing to remember is that you won’t keep every single leaf from falling into your pond. However, you can minimize the amounts of leaves that do fall into the waters.
What Happens Without Proper Cleanup?
As temps drop in the fall and winter months, the good bacteria in your pond will slow down. This means that when temperatures drop anywhere below 50 degrees Fahrenheit in your pond, the bacteria will stop breaking down organic materials, such as leaves. As time passes, the leaves will begin to waste away and decay. Without proper pond maintenance or help cleaning up these leaves, you will surely see pond muck appear. Along with other organic materials in the pond, algae can also begin to form in the waters. To combat this, you need to add our special Fall and Winter Bacteria Blend. Our fall and winter blend of microbes will work at temperatures down to 38 degrees. So, if you’re trying to break down leaves, sticks, muck and other organic matter in your pond, this would be the product to use once temperatures start to fall.
Raking is Important
One of the most important things you can do for pond maintenance is rake up those leaves. Make an effort to fish out any leaves you see floating on the pond’s surface. You can also use a skimmer. However, rakes would work best to get to the leaves deep in the pond. You can rake around your pond to prevent leaves from making their way to the water. Any little wind will surely blow leaves into your pond. If you don’t clear out those leaves, they will build up, creating ice. The results will be poor water quality, trapped gases beneath the ice, and diminishing oxygen levels.
Aeration Makes a Difference
As a general rule of thumb, aeration is essential for a clean pond. When winter rolls around, you need to have an aeration system. Otherwise, ice will start to form on the surface of the pond. Constant water movement will create a hole in the ice, allowing circulation in the water. However, for pond aeration to work at an optimal level, you must clear out those leaves. A buildup of leaves in the water can impede proper water flow. Pond aerators are pivotal to maintaining your pond, so it is important to make sure you do everything you can to aide the aerator in its process.
Maintain Your Landscape
While maintaining your pond is vital, you must also maintain the overall landscape. Make sure that you rake any leaves around and near your pond. If trees surround your pond, you will surely have a lot of fallen leaves. Other than raking the leaves, you can trim your trees regularly. This is good for growing your trees and keeping your pond clean. Remember that you won’t get every single leaf, but the less that you have in your pond, the better off you’ll be.
At Outdoor Water Solutions, we offer a variety of pond aerators & solar pond aerators providing you with the options needed to pick the perfect pond aerator for your pond. We always enjoy working with clients on ways to improve the quality of their ponds’ health so, if you have any questions or would like more information on our solar pond aerators, contact us at 866.471.1614 today!
