How to Maintain and Improve Water Features
Water features are common additions to the landscapes of many homeowner's properties. They are useful in beautifying a home garden and in creating a relaxed atmosphere in nearly any outdoor living space. Common water features include ponds and fountains, each of which require very different levels of maintenance and upkeep.
- Plant vegetation in your water feature to enhance its appearance and to reduce upkeep. There is a wide variety of aquatic vegetation that can live in a water feature, some of which are water lilies and several species of buttercup.
- Use fish to help clean the feature and to add to its appeal. Many fish, such as algae eaters called plecos, will assist in cleaning the pond while also adding to the feature's appearance.
- Monitor the feature's level of beneficial bacteria. Many forms of bacteria will assist in keeping a water feature in working order.
- Regularly check the feature's water filters to ensure that they are operating properly. Clogged filters will cause a pool to fill with debris and other unwanted contaminants.
- Use chemicals or a net to remove excess algae from the pond or fountain. Excess algae will not only harm the appearance of a water feature but will also damage the vegetation.
- Keep the ecosystem of your water feature in balance. Balancing a water feature involves ensuring that the filters, bacteria, plumbing and aquatic life are all functioning together. This will ensure that every aspect of the pool will assist in reducing upkeep and promoting a longer life-cycle for the aquatic life.
- Ensure that the water level is both appropriate for the feature and consistent. Water will often evaporate from a feature. A large change in the water level disrupts the pond's ecosystem causing what could be irreparable damage to the feature.
- Use a net or covering to prevent falling debris from entering the pool. This will reduce the maintenance necessary to operate the feature and will prevent harmful contaminants from entering the pool.