| Most water gardeners look to their ponds as a | | | | maintenance. Regular maintenance with this |
| source of relaxation and escape, not a source | | | | type of system consists of emptying the |
| of work and maintenance. Fortunately, a | | | | debris nets and cleaning the filter pads in |
| properly designed water feature should | | | | the skimmer. This only takes a few minutes of |
| require very little maintenance. Other than | | | | your time, and this type of filter is easily |
| regular doses of bacteria to help keep the | | | | accessible too! How often this is required |
| water clear, there are a few items of regular | | | | depends on the amount of debris and leaves |
| maintenance that you can expect. | | | | that find their way into your pond. |
| | | | |
| It's reasonable to expect that most of your | | | | When the aquatic plants in your pond are |
| regular pond maintenance will relate to the | | | | actively growing, you'll also need to keep an |
| filtration system. The amount of maintenance | | | | eye out for and remove any yellowing leaves |
| your pond requires generally depends on the | | | | and spent flowers, especially on water |
| type of system that filters your pond. For | | | | lilies. Like many terrestrial perennials, |
| example, if the pump and filter sit at the | | | | this is a normal part of the plant's seasonal |
| bottom of the pond, then you may find | | | | growth cycle. |
| yourself cleaning them at least once a week. | | | | |
| Not only that, but you'll need to get into | | | | Daily water testing is generally not needed. |
| the pond to perform the cleaning. | | | | But because poor water quality is often the |
| | | | cause of pond problems and sick fish, it is |
| A pond that is filtered with skimmers and | | | | sometimes necessary as a key, first step in |
| biological filters will require much less | | | | determining the treatment. |