How to Do a Spring Cleaning for Your Cottage Grove, WI, Pond

Does your Cottage Grove, WI, property include a water feature? If so, now is the time to start thinking about getting your pond or pondless waterfall ready for a new season. A good spring cleaning will help keep your pond clear and the ecosystem healthy. But cleaning should be done carefully to ensure that your pond or any fish aren’t harmed in the process. If you’re not ready to tackle the job yourself, contact us to find out about our pond maintenance services.

Why Your Pond Needs Cleaning in the Spring

The ideal time to perform cleaning and maintenance on your water feature is in the early spring. Cleaning should take place when the water temperature is between 45 and 60 degrees. As water temperatures start to rise, water gardens that are dormant over the winter will begin to wake up. Waiting to clean out a pond until after the water starts to warm can create a disruption in the ecosystem and cause new algae to grow.

Related: Pondless Waterfalls – Hot Backyard Water Features

Draining the Pond

The first step in a full cleaning for a water feature is to drain the pond or pondless waterfall. Placing the pump in the deepest part of the pond will help remove the most water. The water can be drained right onto your landscape, but the drainage hose should be moved so that you don’t oversaturate any one area.

If you have fish, some of the pond water can be used in a bucket or large bin to keep them safe. This will act as temporary holding tank for the fish while the cleaning takes place. Once the water levels are low enough, the fish can be transferred to their very temporary home. They cannot be left in the holding tanks for too long. These holding areas should be in the shade and may need netting so that the fish don’t jump out as the cleaning progresses.

Related: Proper Spring Pond Cleaning

Cleaning the Pond

Once all the water is out of the pond, cleaning can begin. Cleaning will need to include the liner, rocks, and any decorative items. A pressure washer can be used to help loosen and remove debris, but this should be done with care as too much pressure can dislodge rocks. It is not necessary to scrub all the algae completely away. Leaving some algae in the pond can help the pond’s ecosystem redevelop.

After cleaning, the pond will need a gentle rinsing from the top to the bottom. Any loose debris will need to be removed and dirty water can be drained out. Clear water is the goal at this point.

Cleaning the Pump and Filters

The pump and filters will also need cleaning so that they don’t put debris or harmful bacteria back into your pond. Any debris from the bottom of the skimmer and water vault will need to be removed by hand. The clean-out pump can drain any sludge or murky water. Nets and filter pads will need to be removed and rinsed well until they are clear of all debris.

Then, finally, everything can be put back in place and the pond refilled. Dechlorinator may need to be used as chlorine is deadly to fish.

Cleaning a pond is a complicated, detailed matter that needs to happen quickly once the process begins. Reach out to Proscapes LLC to ensure your spring pond cleaning will be done properly.