Autumn is coming: clean and protect your garden pond

Summer is drawing to a close and the garden will gradually prepare for autumn and winter. While a garden pond may not seem subject to the major transformations that vegetation undergoes at this time of year, it is nonetheless worth paying attention to. For even if it is more discreet, life is also present in the water and deserves the utmost care.

Remove fallen leaves from trees

Far from providing protection against potential external threats, leaves that pile up on the surface of a pool or pond can, on the contrary, become a menace. Leaves are organic matter that decomposes once dead, a process that can affect the "composition" of the pond water. It is therefore vital to prevent this from happening, especially if the water feature is home to fish. We recommend placing a pond net as soon as the first dead leaves fall. You can order a net from our online store by clicking here.

Another danger represented by dead leaves when they accumulate on and in a pond is that they can clog filters and other installed devices, to the point of rendering them completely inoperative.

However, if pumps, filters, and water jets are installed, it is because they serve a real purpose in terms of filtration, cleanliness, oxygenation, and water composition. Therefore, intervention is necessary.

How? Quite simply by removing leaves from the water's surface using a pond net, or by directly installing a pond cover net. To do this, one can proceed with a rake and/or a net. It is effective and you eventually get the upper hand. But what a waste of time and energy...

The other solution is to stretch a net over the water feature. It will do the leaf-collecting work for you, and very likely much better than you would. You then simply need to clear it, less often and more easily.

Carry out pond cleaning

No matter what one does, plants will eventually colonize pools and ponds over the months. The consequence of this colonization is that they alter the water's balance, notably by decomposing and transforming into sludge that accumulates at the bottom. Consequently, this sludge affects the water's composition and can harm the animal and plant life in the water feature.

Since desperate times call for desperate measures, the temptation may be great to empty the pond completely, clean it, and then refill it. Indeed radical, this solution should nevertheless be avoided. Plants and fish—when present—create an environment over the weeks that is conducive to their life and development.

It is therefore advisable to preserve this ecosystem as best as possible, or at the very least not to disrupt it, at the risk of harming the very existence of the plants and animals. So how to get rid of sludge without emptying the pond? By vacuuming it, quite simply, and by adding bacteria that will improve the digestion of organic matter at the bottom.

Pond vacuums are indeed sold, which allow for cleaning the bottom of a water feature while preserving the balance that living organisms have created over time.

Regularly check water quality

Good water quality is essential to the good health of a pond. Three elements must be checked to make an accurate assessment. The first is pH, which ideally should be between 5 and 8. If it is too acidic (below 7), it means there is too much organic matter in the water. If it is too alkaline (above 7), it means the water is not sufficiently aerated, lacks oxygen, and is therefore stagnating.

The second element to check is water hardness. Without going into tedious explanations, let's just remember that this hardness—expressed in French degrees (°f)—should be between 10 and 15 to be suitable for animal and plant life. The oxygenation rate of the water is also a determining factor for life to develop in a garden pond. Fish coming to the surface to look for air are the unmistakable sign that the water in which they live lacks oxygen.

Fortunately, certain plants such as hornwort, mare's tail, elodea, or water violet help produce oxygen. Likewise, the installation of a pump coupled with a water jet also allows for properly aerating a water feature. Finally, the clearer the water, the more sunlight penetrates it and the better the aquatic plants and animals thrive. Filters must therefore be cleaned regularly so that they perform their task perfectly.

Prepare plants and fish for the coming winter

Once all the "environmental" measures have been taken, it is time to prepare aquatic plants for the arrival of the cold. The first thing to do is to protect them from potential frosts. Indeed, aquatic plants, like others, are very sensitive to cold and it is preferable to "transfer" those that are cultivated near the surface, in pots or baskets, to the bottom of the pond. Pruning them before their "transfer" can also be useful to help them get through the winter well. Once the sunny days return, it will suffice to bring them back up so that they can once again enjoy the sun's light and warmth.

One can also give fish a little boost so they get through the winter well. As long as they are eating, you can, for example, give them vitamins. It strengthens them and helps them build up reserves. When the water becomes cold and they stop feeding, it is then time to stop filtration and, if necessary, clean it again. Furthermore, take care to deactivate anything that might contribute to cooling the water further, especially waterfalls.

Everything is now ready for the cold days to pass without worry. It is time to let the garden's aquatic fauna and flora slumber, then wait patiently for the return of spring. And, with it, the awakening of nature.