Pond after winterusually doesn't look the best. To make it an attractive decoration of our garden again, we should prepare it properly for the upcoming season. It is good to carry out some of the maintenance work before the growing season begins.We suggest starting spring work in the pondwith checking the tank tightness.
A properly cared pond will quickly regain its shine after winter
Sealing the bottom of the pond after winter
The most common ponds are reservoirs lined with elastic lining.If we find a hole or crack in the carpet, we must dry these places (it may turn out that it will be necessary to lower the water level) and carefully clean them with a clean cloth and methyl alcohol. Apply a patch of double-sided adhesive tape to the place of the crack (it is best to buy a special self-adhesive patch). After sticking the double-sided tape, tear off the top protective layer and attach a patch cut from the spare part of the carpet to it. It will be possible to refill the tank after about an hour. It is also a good idea to check that the edge of the carpet has not slipped somewhere below the water level, as leaks can occur in such places as well. Unfortunately, if the carpet has many cracks due to its wear, it will be necessary to replace the carpet.
If we have a ready-made tank made of plastic, we can use glass fiber to repair cracks (such as is used, for example, in yacht repairs).However, it is advisable to contact the tank manufacturer to ascertain which repair material is the most appropriate. Before refilling the tank, we must make sure that the preparation has already hardened, otherwise it may be toxic to plants and animals living in the pond.
Cracks in plastic tanks are most often caused by improper placement in a dug hole or insufficient soil compaction under the tank. As a result, overloads causing fractures occur. So after repairing the tank, let's check if it is properly seated.Cracks after winter can also appear in concrete tanks. They can be caused by subsidence or due to frost. We must examine the tank very carefully, because water can escape even through almost invisible cracks, giving the impression of scratches. We need to break such narrow cracks a bit. Then clean the area of the crack from concrete crumbs and algae with a metal brush.Using a trowel, fill the joint with mortar and let it dry. Then, to prevent poisonous compounds from getting into the water, cover the repair area with sealant.
Keeping the pond clean in spring
In spring, warming comes and the sun begins to operate more strongly. In addition, the trees growing in the vicinity of the pond have not yet sprouted leaves and do not provide adequate shading of the water surface. With such an increase in the dose of light reaching the water surface, excessive growth of algae may occur. To prevent this from happening, we remove rotting fish food residues and plant debris. We also prune dried last year's grass shoots, reeds and sticks. Cut the shoots a few centimeters above the water level, so that no water can get inside them. Thanks to this, the trimmed shoots will not rot. Chemical algaeicides, which can be purchased in aquarium stores, can also help us in the fight against algae. We should not overuse them, because these measures, unfortunately, can also inhibit the development of plants in our pond.
If you want to avoid the use of chemical preparations,to fight algae use biopreparations , such as the Trigger-3 biopreparation, thanks to which the biological balance in your pond is needed for his good looks. Trigger-3 is a preparation with a biological effect of purity. It contains selected bacteria and enzymes. Thanks to this, the preparation is safe for fish and other creatures living in the pond.
How to take care of plants in a pond in spring
Next, we should deal with plants that have wintered in the pond or have been moved to the basement. To keep them in good condition and allow them to continue to develop properly, we should thin them and divide them. Take the containers with the plants out of the water and check that the roots are not too tight. Roots overgrowing the container indicate the need to divide the plant. Coarse or tangled roots can be divided with a knife.We also remove old leaves and shorten dead roots. It is good to cover the wounds with powdered charcoal. Fragments of divided plants are planted separately in baskets filled with moist soil. The baskets should be of such dimensions as to ensure a distance of several centimeters from the root ball to the edge of the basket (preferably 2 to 3 cm). It is worth sprinkling grits or pebbles on top. Short-lived perennials, such as rhizome iris, are divided every 2 or 3 years. We also remove the excess of rapidly growing plants, such as calamus or cattail.
Divided and transplanted aquatic plants should not be fertilized with regular fertilizers for garden plants, because the ingredients contained in such fertilizers contribute to the excessive growth of algae. Fast growing plants should even be planted in poor soil, thanks to which they will not develop so quickly and force us to control their numbers. Possible fertilization may require water lilies, due to the increased nutritional needs of these plants during the growing season.However, it must be moderate enough not to cause a sudden growth of algae (it is best to put bags with slow-acting fertilizer in the substrate). You can perfectly solve the problem of fertilization by using special fertilizers for aquatic plants. Their ingredients are selected to provide the plants in your pond with the necessary nutrients and at the same time not to cause water pollution.
Fish in the pond after winter
After carrying out the works related to the care of plants, we can refill or partially replace the water in the tank. A complete water change is not recommended, especially if there are fish in the tank. We start feeding fish that have wintered in the pond as soon as the water temperature exceeds 12 ° C. In the initial period, we give a small amount of food and gradually increase it as the water temperature warms up, taking care not to overfeed the fish.
Fish that we have moved to the aquarium for the winter should be put into the pond a little later, at the end of spring or even at the beginning of summer, when the temp.the water will be warm enough to prevent the fish from surviving the thermal shock of being transferred to much cooler water than the aquarium. Even if the works related to the care of plants in the pond were performed in late spring, when it was already warm, we do not let the fish into the tank earlier than after two weeks, so that the pond has enough time to create appropriate conditions for the life of the fish, which we disturbed by cleaning. Fish from the aquarium are best moved in a plastic bag, which you put in the pond water for some time, which will allow the water temperature to equalize. Then we open the bag and let some water from the tank put into it so that the fish can get used to it. After the water in the bag has mixed, release the fish.
