Seasonal Tips for February / March Pond Keepers
Just as the last ice melts and the crocuses start to peek up from the ground, our ponds also begin to wake up from hibernation and need some attention to get them back to peak condition.
The challenge for British garden ponds in February and March is that the mercury remains changeable, and we're not yet ready to commit to the joys of summer sunshine!
Our AllPondSolutions team has collated this quick-fire guide to help you work through everything you need to know to ensure your ponds are looking their best and a healthy environment for your fish.
To Do List
- First, check-in on your fish. If they're looking hungry and start clamouring for food, you can dispense some winter fish food to keep their tummies happy.
- If you still have any ice or snow, you'll need to brush this away and ensure there is enough air reaching the water to oxygenate it.
- You can consider installing a pond heater for regions with prolonged cold spells, ideal for ponds without a lot of pond plants.
- Then you'll need to think about spring-cleaning. Cut back any dead plants, and tidy up any leaves to make sure there is minimal gunk and waste in the pond water.
After the initial checks, it's time to get your pond pumps back in action! When the weather starts to warm a little, if you've turned your equipment off over winter it's the perfect time to get water flowing back through the pond filters. Although we wouldn't recommend turning off your equipment unless you are running an ornimental pond.
These will need a thorough clean and to be drained to ensure there isn't any dirty water that might circulate back into your pond water.
It's also wise to be mindful of frogs or toads that might be expecting new arrivals in the spring. Frogs will often lay eggs at garden ponds and then move away, so make sure any pond netting allows them plenty of room to make their exit without getting stuck.
A Final Thought
Finally, this is the season where we get back into the habit of watching out for algae levels. Where pond plants might take a relaxed attitude to growing again in these first days of spring, blanket weed has no such reservations, so it's best to get on top of it to ensure you have a perfect pond habitat for the summer to come!