Spring is a critical time of the year for pond fish. As they come out of dormancy, their bodies are low on important nutrients that help ward off disease. Therefore, they are more likely to become vulnerable to illness. To keep the incidence of sickness to a minimum, it is important to clean out sludge and debris from the bottom of your pond as well as replace about 25% of the pond water with fresh water and treat the water with a water conditioner.

Treat tap water with a water conditioner anytime it is added to the pond to remove chlorine and chloramines and to protect the fish with a slime coating. Healthy water means a healthy ecosystem especially if you stock pond fish.

As fish make the transition from winter to spring, be sure to note visible changes in their behavior. There are distinct differences in what a healthy fish looks like as opposed to what signs a struggling fish exhibits. Fish that are sick will be gasping for air, have changes in color or an emaciated appearance, or show visible sores and spots. In spring, to make the transition from dormancy to an active state, pond fish should be fed temporarily a wheat-germ based diet only after pond water temperatures rise above 39°F. When the water temperatures reach 59°F, the fish can be fed other diets.

With spring underway and summer quickly approaching, much of the country is looking at a season of lower than normal rainfall and depleted reservoirs. Therefore, more and more homeowners are rethinking their lawns. This brings us to our first environmental benefit of owning a pond.

Number 1: Water conservation: lawns require watering whereas ponds can be re-filled with rainwater.
Maintaining a lush lawn requires regular watering; otherwise, it can quickly lose its luster and become burnt out. Therefore, homeowners spend countless hours and thousands of gallons of water each year watering their lawns. Regular lawn watering uses 750-1,500 gallons of water each month. (Source: Water Conservation Tips-www.monolake.org.)

Conversely, once a pond is initially filled, pond owners will only need to 'top off' the pond occasionally. If you live in a part of the country that experiences a lower than normal season of rainfall, consider positioning drain pipes from your roof top to empty directly into the pond, allowing the pond to act as a natural reservoir.

Look for the second environmental benefit of owning a pond in the May issue of Into the Pond!

While cleaning out your pond this spring, you may find that you have more algae growing as compared to last pond season. Many factors contribute to the growth of algae. First, identify why you are seeing more algae, and then you will find it easier to manage the problem throughout the pond season.

Algae thrive on sunlight and nutrients. Before your aquatic plants have a chance to grow, algae may be a challenge for you. To manage the growing problem of algae, be sure that your pump circulates at least 100% of the pond's volume to the filter every hour. More circulation is better. Also, using an EPA registered algae treatment will keep the water clear of green water algae and unsightly string algae.

Another way to ward off green water algae is to use a UV Clarifier. UV Clarifiers combat green water by exposing suspended single-celled algae to ultraviolet light, which destroys its reproductive ability.

Try these simple steps as soon as possible. Soon, you will stop seeing green and start seeing the beauty of your water garden instead!

One of my favorite aspects of water gardening, throughout the seasons, is witnessing the growth of lush plants in and around the pond and the ever-changing colors they bring. I like to get to my favorite garden center early in the season when the selection is good. Planting early in the season also allows the new additions a head start for growth.

Pond plants are not demanding; they generally need less maintenance and attention than plants in other areas of your garden. They are beautiful as well as functional. For example, deep-water plants such as lotus or water lilies produce gorgeous flowers, and the leaves provide shade that keeps algae in check as well as provide protection for your fish. When repotting a new lily, work in the shade as the leaves can quickly dry when out of the water and in the sun. If the plant is large, sometimes it's helpful to get an extra hand to hold the long-stemmed leaves to keep them from being damaged. Water lilies do best in a calmer section of your pond and away from a fountain. Too much agitation and water on top of the leaves will cause them to turn yellow and eventually rot. Lotus and lilies require fertilizing; fish-safe tablets are readily available from your local water garden supplier.

Submerged aquatic plants are key to maintaining clear water, not to mention a good hiding place for small fry (sometimes too good, I now have way too many baby Koi). Unlike other plants that absorb nutrients through their roots, aquatic plants absorb through their leaves and in turn, starve out algae. Also known as oxygenators, they release oxygen into the water during the day, which is beneficial especially if you have fish. Just be careful; too many plants in the bottom of the pond have a negative effect of releasing too much carbon dioxide during the evening, so keep growth in check. Submerged plants do not need soil and can be anchored in a low pot or tray of 1"-2" of sand or gravel. Fertilizing submerged plants is not necessary.

Each spring I am amazed at how much growth occurs with my irises in just one season. It's not unusual to find the plant twice as wide as the pot! I'll spend an afternoon in early spring bringing the submerged plants up from the bottom, splitting them up and before I know it, I have four plants where I had one. I use a heavy mix of garden soil and clay, replant the iris roots and cover the top with gravel. This keeps the soil in place and also adds weight. Never use soil that contains compost or organic matter.

During the season, pinch and prune dead leaves and spent flowers whenever you can. Pinch off long stems as close to the base as possible. Remember, if the water is healthy, generally the plants will be healthy. If you see insects such as caterpillars or aphids, pick them off, remove the leaves, or better yet, if you have fish, simply shake the plant under water and it's a snack.

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