When to empty a pond? Are there recommended periods?

When to empty a pond? At what time, but especially how often should you clean your pond? A pond should be emptied in cold temperatures but never during freezing weather because you will disturb your fish which are in "hibernation". So, when to empty a pond? What is the best time to do this?

• The best times are autumn and spring

It is best to avoid temperatures exceeding 12° in the water. To do this properly (even if we try to avoid it), emptying must be carried out between April 1 and November 30 (2021 regulations in France for natural ponds).

It will be necessary to distinguish between partial emptying of the body of water , which is generally limited to a good cleaning of the filter and a vacuum, and complete emptying, which requires keeping the fish safe while the pond and its mud are completely cleaned. There are companies specializing in emptying bodies of water ( for example here ).

In a garden, there are always plenty of tasks to do (pruning, planting, cutting, composting, etc.) and they are even more numerous when you have a pond. In our blog , you will find many tips for maintaining your body of water .

And yes: a body of water requires maintenance to remain visually attractive and healthy for the wildlife that lives there. So, when should you empty a pond? When is the best time to do this? How do you clean the bottom of your pond? We explain it all in this article. A pond will tend to eutrophy over the years if you don't pay attention to it.

The best season to empty a pond is fall!

Fall is simply the most fun time of year when you love nature and gardening. The best thing you can do for them during this season is to empty your pond to clean it from top to bottom or anticipate in the spring!

How do you know if your body of water needs to be drained?

To determine if your pond needs a major cleaning or a simple vacuuming, simply observe it. If there is a layer of "gunk" at the bottom of the pond and the water is dark, it would be best to proceed with a complete cleaning.

To limit draining , you can also add bacteria to the water annually, which will limit the accumulation of silt, and degrade a good part of it. These bacteria and minerals make it possible to avoid the complete draining of a body of water.

If there is only a small amount of debris that you can stir up and capture with a net or pond vacuum, it may not be necessary to do a “ spring or fall clean .”

For a natural pond, it is recommended to completely empty it every ten years; this is also the case for garden ponds.

If you opt for a full cleaning , plan to dedicate a full day to cleaning your pond . But remember that the best time to empty a pond is in early spring, before the water temperature rises above about 13 degrees Celsius. If the cleaning is done when the water is warmer, the balance of the ecosystem will be disrupted and algae blooms may occur.

How do I clean my pond thoroughly?

To begin, clean the surface of the water . Use your net to collect stringy algae and any debris that floats on the surface of the water.

Next, remove the pump (make sure to unplug it first), plants and decorations. Doing so will make it much easier to clean the edges and bottom of the pond.

Also remove your fish. This step is completely optional but we recommend removing them if the water in your pond is really dirty, smells bad or has a lot of mud on the bottom. For light cleaning, you can leave the fish in the pond and skip this step.

Once your fish are safely housed in large tanks filled with water and air pumps, clean the bottom of the pond. To do this, rinse the walls of the pond thoroughly and remove the accumulated mud with a net and throw it into your compost bin or trash.

You can also use a small pond vacuum if you have one available. Finally, rinse the pump and filter using a bucket of tap water.

Now that you have finished cleaning the pond, you can put back the pump, plants, decorations. Then, fill it slowly and wait several hours so that its temperature is room temperature (and at least 24 hours for chlorinated water so that the chlorine can evaporate + old water from your fish storage).

And there you have it: you can put your fish population back in your pond, be careful, it always involves risks and the best thing to do will be to add Bactocool to the water !

How often should you empty a pond?

Another important thing to consider is how often you clean your pool. Draining it more than once a year is a bad idea, but once a year is perfectly acceptable.

That said, if you prevent the buildup of leaves and debris and clean your pond throughout the year, you will need to empty less often. Again, just take a look at the condition of your pond (and the bottom of your pond) to know what it needs.

Good to know: adding a filtration system can make cleaning your pool much easier.

Conclusion: empty your pond at the right time of year!

To summarize, emptying your pond should take place at the beginning of spring and never during freezing weather. This can stress and impact the health of your fish. Finally, remember to equip yourself properly before emptying your pond and cleaning it.

Has the water in your pond turned green recently? Discover the reasons behind this natural phenomenon and our solutions to remedy it in our full article!