Pond care: how to look after a pond at your dacha in spring, autumn and summer

Hello, dear readers! Today I will tell you how to care for a pond in your garden. It happens that people dig a pond on their site and think that it will be beautiful on its own without their participation. Yes, this happens, but only if the pond is very large. There a biological balance is established, and the pond lives on its own.

But few people can afford a large reservoir - it requires large financial investments and a lot of space. Therefore, as a rule, owners of small suburban plots make a small pond. Caring for a small pond is more difficult. Here the owner must take a number of measures to maintain it in perfect order.

You need to take care of the reservoir from early spring, as soon as the snow melts and you can get to the site, and until late autumn, when it is covered with ice. In this article I will tell you how to care for a pond at your dacha so that it is always beautiful.

Pond care rules

Unfortunately, you cannot clean the pond of debris once and enjoy clean water all year round.
The attractiveness of a pond depends on the frequency of its care and the implementation of simple rules. 1. It is recommended to collect surface debris daily using a net or net.

2. Install a filter with gravel or sand filler in the pond. In summer, the device must operate around the clock.

3. Debris and silty deposits can be periodically removed with a net or a special vacuum cleaner.

4. To prevent the reservoir from being polluted by organic matter, in particular earthworms, it is recommended to enclose the bowl with sides made of concrete, brickwork or other material suitable for the landscape. The height of the barrier is 30 cm above ground level, 10 cm deep into the pond.

5. During the flowering period, the reservoir must be covered with light-proof material to prevent water from blooming.

6. To maintain the salt balance of the water, you need to periodically add clean water. A change in chemical composition occurs as a result of water evaporation in hot weather.

7. Before winter, it is necessary to do some general cleaning. This will help protect the inhabitants and vegetation of the reservoir from viruses and infections.

Maintaining a pond on your property is not an easy task. But with the correct distribution of care activities, the task is quite achievable. A beautiful pond is a real decoration of the local area.

To avoid rapid contamination, and subsequently the cost of complete cleaning, it is worth regularly maintaining the appearance of the reservoir in a neat condition.

It is recommended to purchase a telescopic net for the pond and daily clean the surface of the water from debris, leaves and other objects that accidentally fall into the pond. This will significantly improve the appearance of the pond and significantly slow down its pollution.

In the fall, as soon as the leaves begin to fall, you can stretch a special net over the pond, the thickness of which is from one to two centimeters. Its function is to protect the pond from dry leaves and branches getting into it.

Moving water – stream or fountain

A babbling stream or fountain can create an amazing atmosphere in the garden.

When organizing a stream, it is important to think about its location, as well as the design of its “source” and end. It can “flow out”, for example, from a suitable stone. The hose (water source) must be carefully disguised, creating a natural look.

You can design the stream so that one or both ends are “lost” in the garden. To implement the idea, you will first need to draw up a project, and then carry it out on the ground: dig a stream bed, carefully compact the earth, put geotextiles on top, then pond film. Now you can “start” the water. The bed is covered with gravel or pebbles, the edges of the film are hidden, suitable plants are planted - astilbes, irises, hosts, ferns, bathhouses, sedges, marigolds and others.

A fountain is an element of a park with a regular layout; it looks somewhat alien in a landscape garden - the size of the garden and the fountain should correspond, and not every garden is the size of Peterhof or Versailles.

But that’s why they are rules, so that there are exceptions. It is not necessary to build a fountain three meters high; you can make a spring that will be appropriate even in a tiny garden or a water “bell”.

The smaller the size of the fountain, the closer to the resting place or home it should be located. You should not plant plants near it.

A good alternative to quiet bodies of water can be considered setting up a pool area. For more information about choosing the type of pool just for you, see the article - How and which one to choose a pool for your dacha - inflatable, frame or composite.

How to deepen and clean a pond

Over time, the remains of rotting algae, silt and debris settle at the bottom of the reservoir, as a result of which the pond becomes polluted and its depth decreases. In this case, it is necessary to remove the accumulated sediment.

The following signs indicate the need for a cleaning procedure:

• the water becomes cloudy and changes color - this occurs as a result of the activity of microorganisms that feed on organic deposits at the bottom, as well as when there is a large amount of suspended matter in the reservoir (clay, sand, soil);
• the pond is overgrown with plants - as the depth decreases, the water column is well warmed up by the sun, which has a beneficial effect on the development of vegetation;
• The pond begins to emit an unpleasant odor - bacteria and fungi actively multiply in a dirty pond, making the water musty.

Cleaning and deepening can be carried out with or without pumping out water. In each of the two cases, special devices are used.

Cleaning without draining water using a dredger

You can clean a reservoir without pumping water out of it using a dredger. This method can be rationally used in cases where there is a lot of water in the pond and draining it is quite labor-intensive. A dredger is a suction device that absorbs sediment from the bottom along with some soil, and then brings it to land through a pipeline system.

Did you know? Lake Laguna Colorado, located in Bolivia, has red water. This color is due to the presence of a large number of microscopic algae.

When cleaning a reservoir using a dredger, the following devices are used:

• metal cutters with electric or hydraulic drive - during operation they loosen the bottom of the pond;
• dredger soil pump - absorbs loosened soil and sediments from the bottom;
• pipeline - through it a mixture of water and sediment flows from the bottom to the surface of the land;
• silt ponds (settlements) - areas of land limited by an earthen rampart for draining bottom sediments;
• discharge wells - located in the sump, used to drain water clarified from suspended matter;
• transport for collecting and removing sediment remaining in the settling tank after water purification.

Video: How to clean and deepen a pond

The main stages of work consist of the following activities:

1. Bottom survey. Removing large debris and metal objects.
2. Catching fish and other inhabitants of the reservoir, moving them to aquariums or other ponds.
3. Preparation of sludge cards. Connecting pipes to them to drain the mixture of water and bottom sediments.
4. Delivery of the dredger to the reservoir, installation of the pipeline system.
5. Starting the pump to clean the pond from bottom sediments.
6. Transportation of water-soil mixture through pipes to sludge ponds.
7. Settlement of liquid mass. Separation of clean water and its discharge through a waste well.
8. Removal and removal of sediment remaining at the bottom of the settling tank.
9. Introducing fish and other inhabitants into a cleaned pond.

Important! Bottom sediments removed from a reservoir can be used as fertilizer, but only after a sanitary examination. If toxic substances are detected, such sediment requires mandatory burial.

Cleaning with drainage using a motor pump and excavator

To clean small reservoirs, it is recommended to first drain the water to a previously prepared place. As a result of this procedure, access appears directly to the bottom, which is cleaned of contamination manually or with special equipment.

In this case, the following equipment will be required for cleaning:

• a motor pump or an industrial pump with a diesel drive - completely pumps out water from the pond;
• pipeline - one end of it is lowered to the bottom of the reservoir, and the second is connected to the pump;
• crawler excavator - removes the surface layer of soil along with bottom sediments;
• dump trucks - transport the resulting mixture of soil and sediment from the site.

The main stages of work include the following actions:

1. Installation of motor pump and pipeline. Pumping water to a previously prepared place.
2. Dry the bottom for several days.
3. Removing the surface layer of soil along with bottom sediments and vegetation using an excavator bucket.
4. Loading a mixture of soil and sediment onto dump trucks, transportation to the destination.
5. Filling the pond with clean water. Restoring the natural biological balance of a reservoir by adding several buckets of water from a natural lake or river.
6. Planting plants, stocking the pond.

Arrangement of a country pond with your own hands

Unlined pond

To build a pond (and the main dwelling) on ​​your site, it is advisable to invite surveyors (specialists) who will determine the presence of groundwater and its maximum proximity to the surface, so that when constructing a pond at this location, the pond is replenished with spring water. If the site in the country has close groundwater, then the most suitable option would be to develop an unlined reservoir for fish farming.

You should start by laying a clay or film trench, which in the future must be periodically cleaned and replaced. Be sure to take into account all the features of the terrain. So, if the area is sandy, then the bottom and walls of the future pond must be strengthened with clay, or rather with clay mortar, the thickness of which should be at least 12 centimeters. After which it is covered with turf or, alternatively, straw. The existence of any depression or ravine on the territory will facilitate the task of creating a reservoir. It will need to be made deeper and wider. Then you need to block the dam along the entire pond. It should rise above the surface of the water by about half a meter. You will also have to make a bypass ditch. Otherwise, the entire flood will go into the country pond, which can deteriorate the quality of the water and harm the farmed fish.

The bypass ditch is constructed using concrete gutters. And the bottom of the reservoir is usually filled with crushed stone or fine gravel. A shoreline is formed along the perimeter of the pond. It can be quite wide, up to a meter. There should not be too much sand, otherwise the entire aesthetic idea will be spoiled.

Note! Immediately after preparing the pond and filling it with water, fish should not be introduced. It is necessary to wait one and a half or two months for a muddy surface to form at the bottom and for pond plants to take root.

Then the water is drained and new water is added. All this takes a lot of time, but to make the process faster, you can pour several buckets of water from an existing one inhabited by fish into the newly created reservoir. An alternative method is to sink a wilted bunch of grass to the bottom of the pond.

Pond with concrete bottom

A reliable, durable and beautiful pond on your personal plot will be achieved if you make it on a concrete base. These reservoirs can be of various shapes, both regular and irregular. The arrangement of such a pond should begin with identifying the territory and digging a pit. Then the bottom is scrupulously cleared of roots, debris and rubbish and properly compacted. Along the way, they indicate the places where the plants will be planted. Before the pit is filled with concrete, a pipe is laid for wintering fish, the so-called wintering well. Next, the bottom is covered with wire rod and the dug pool is filled with concrete so that the wire mesh is in the middle of the concrete covering. When the base of the future pond has been prepared and poured with concrete, they begin to pour the walls, which are positioned at a slope relative to the bottom. It is recommended to install waterproofing using roofing felt laid on uncured concrete. This is required for greater structural strength and improved quality characteristics. Upon completion of all the above work, when the concrete is completely dry, the pond is filled with water, for which it is possible to use a central water supply. Its pipe is disguised in stones or depicted as a fountain. It is also advisable to prepare a pipe on one side to drain excess water. The pond itself is decorated with all kinds of boulders and stones; you can add any statues and figures to suit your taste.

When to do a complete water change

If the pond is very polluted and none of the above-described cleaning methods can cope, then you should move on to a more drastic method - completely replacing the water in the pond.

Preparatory work includes searching for:

• a suitable aquarium or container;
• shovels, mops and brushes;
• net;
• scoop or ladle;
• a piece of mesh with a fine grid.

Before carrying out the cleaning procedure, it is necessary to ensure the presence of a trench, which in depth must completely coincide with the reservoir. This will be the channel for the drained water.

Pumping out water
Before you start digging a trench, you need to secure the mesh (on the side from which the work will be done) so that crayfish and plants - lotuses, lilies, water lilies, etc. - do not flow away along with the water. After this, you should catch every fish from the pond (using a net, of course) and dig up every necessary plant. All this can be placed in an aquarium specially prepared for this purpose.

After the water has completely drained, you can begin to clean the pond - removing mud, silt and dirt from the surface of the bottom. A ladle and a brush are useful for these purposes. When the hole dries out a little, you can move on to the next step - planting plants and filling the pond with clean water.

Important: fish can only be released after 2–3 days, when the water has settled

Sludge is removed

Using the cleaning methods described above allows you to keep your pond in excellent condition all year round. Cleaning the reservoir yourself eliminates additional expenses, because specialized employees invoice for their services. In addition, clean water is excellent for breeding fish and growing cultivated aquatic plants.

Plant tropical plants

By the way, about flowers. If you want to decorate your pond, then lotuses, water hyacinths and other aquatic tropical plants begin to be planted in June. In order for these plants to take root, there must be at least a 15 cm layer of sand at the bottom of your pond, into which the previously obtained seedlings are placed. Plants must be planted carefully, trying not to damage the fragile stems and roots of other aquatic plants.

Before purchasing a plant, check the depth for which the type and variety you have chosen is intended.

• Features of growing aquatic plants

  How to choose, plant and grow aquatic plants?

Basic nuances of pond care

In natural reservoirs, water purifies itself, without human intervention. The fact is that natural ponds are large in size, so a clear biological balance is established in them, ensuring the normal functioning of all aquatic animals and the purity of the water. In a small artificial pond, such balance can only be achieved through constant monitoring and care of the pond. What needs to be done?

1. Periodically remove fallen leaves, dead or overgrown plants, and all kinds of debris from the pond. The easiest way to do this is with a special net with a long handle. If you neglect this rule of care, the organic residues will rot in the water, forming a layer of mud, which will be much more difficult to get rid of.

2. Fight water “blooming,” which occurs during the rapid proliferation of unicellular algae (phytoplankton). Small bodies of water that are devoid of vegetation and are quickly warmed up by the sun's rays are especially susceptible to this problem. To minimize the “blooming” of water, you can plant plants with flat floating leaves (pods, nymphs) in the pond, which prevent the penetration of light to single-celled algae. Another “enemies” of single-celled phytoplankton are oxygenator plants, which release oxygen into the water and also absorb huge quantities of carbon dioxide and mineral salts, which are necessary for the life of algae.

3. If there are fish in the pond, it is necessary to saturate the water with oxygen. For this purpose, special devices are used - aerators. Similar devices are also used in aquariums, but their power and size are much smaller than those of pond aerators.

4. Use filters and various devices to purify water. We will talk about them in more detail.

Purpose of using the pond

The user needs to decide what purpose the reservoir will serve. You can make a decorative pond or a fishing pond.

For the aesthetic beauty of a country pond, you should fill it with decorative fish, designed to please the eye and relax the soul. It is especially good if there are water lilies and coastal reeds in the pond. The shore can be lined with granite stone. There are a large variety of ornamental fish, which makes it difficult to choose the species needed for a particular pond. But you should focus on such indicators as the size of the reservoir, the fullness of vegetation, oxygen supply, arrangement and suitability for wintering.

For those who love fishing, a large pond filled with fish that will be easy and interesting to catch will be more suitable. Since each fisherman has his own tastes and preferences, the reservoir must satisfy certain needs and the specifics of fishing.

Algae: how to get rid of them

Blue-green algae can be removed using the following methods:

• chemical;
• mechanical;
• limit growth by creating temperatures, light, and organic substances that are unsuitable for development.

Pollution of a reservoir is associated with a violation of waterproofing. The walls or bottom may crack, allowing soil to leak through the cracks. Cracks may appear due to soil subsidence or the use of poor quality mortar.

To eliminate problems, the pond is drained, any cracks found are cleaned and coated with two layers of sealant. If large defects are detected, they should first be covered with mastic, and a sealant should be laid as the next layer. This repair does not guarantee that the substrate will not crack again. The safest way to eliminate a leak is to lay a special plastic mold.

Dimensions and depth

The size of the pond depends on the size of your site. A large-scale pond will not look harmonious in a small area and, in addition, will occupy a significant part of the functional area on which other elements of landscape design could be placed: a gazebo or alpine slides. Calculate the dimensions of the pond in a ratio of 1:30 relative to the area of ​​the site, then the pond will look aesthetically pleasing and will not require unnecessary labor.

As for depth, when deciding on it, it is also important to achieve a golden mean. Digging a very deep pit is one of the common mistakes when creating a pond, as a result of which the pond has steep walls, which looks unnatural and complicates the maintenance of the pond

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If you plan to have fish in a pond, it should not be too shallow, but you also do not need to make it too deep. The soil freezes up to one and a half meters deep: in order for the fish to be able to winter in the pond, it will be enough to make a winter pit for them below this mark. The area of ​​such a “house” should be approximately ¼ of the area of ​​your artificial pond.

What are the types of ponds on the sites?

There are a variety of ponds on sites. Some of them resemble puddles - these are small bodies of water with an area of ​​less than 100 sq.m. Such ecosystems do not allow the organization of a natural biological balance in them due to their small volume. The vital activity of such ponds is supported by artificial filtration. If care is not carried out correctly, the water will bloom with algae from time to time.

Ponds with a large area can be divided by size into the following groups:

• small (up to 1 thousand sq.m.);
• medium (from 1 thousand to 5 thousand sq.m.);
• large (from 5 thousand sq.m.).

For such a pond, it is possible to maintain natural biological balance only with timely and careful care. To do this, you need to competently populate it with fish and plants. A reservoir is a closed, independently functioning ecosystem, in which balance is maintained only with the help of internal biological processes. Pollution can be prevented by regular pond maintenance. It is necessary to ensure protection from debris and harmful substances entering the water. Summer residents who are inexperienced in this matter can carry out cleaning using special filtering devices.

Suitable bodies of water

Each type of fish has a corresponding reservoir that meets different requirements. Limited land use does not always allow for the creation of a large pond. However, the main thing is that he has everything necessary for the normal functioning of the fish being bred.

Reservoirs differ in size, soil composition, water quality, depth, and nature of water supply. However, it is possible to identify common types among them.

One of the types is reservoirs that are used for some agricultural needs, but are also suitable for fish farming, that is, parallel use. There are ponds created solely for the purpose of fish breeding.

Drying and temporary reservoirs formed due to floods, flooded areas, and swamps are not suitable for fish farming.

In natural bodies of water, an increase or decrease in the number of fish and all processes associated with this occur independently and unpredictably.

Reference! In artificial ponds, the direction of life activity is set by man, everything is regulated and controlled by him, this is a distinctive feature of such a pond.

Basic methods of cleaning a pond at the dacha

Nowadays, the following methods of cleaning the bottom of a reservoir are known:

1. Mechanical. This cleaning method allows you to remove various debris and sludge.
2. Biological. Thanks to this method of purification, the balance of nutrients in the water is normalized.
3. Chemical. This cleaning method is needed to normalize the chemical composition of water.
4. Cleaning using ultraviolet radiation. This cleaning method is needed to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and unicellular algae.

The easiest way to clean a pond is to clean it mechanically. Thanks to this, you can get rid of sludge, excess aquatic plants, debris and algae. It is very convenient to perform such cleaning using mechanical filters. A special unit is placed in water and pumps it through a container with porous material. Silt, fine particles and algae settle in the filter. The degree of filtration depends on the size of the filter cells. Periodically, the device must be cleaned and the filter material changed.

Before clearing a garden pond of sludge using a biological cleaning method, it is necessary to purchase a special device, the operating principle of which is based on the decomposition of organic substances due to the activity of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The choice of filter size depends on the volume of the reservoir and the presence of fish in it.

The principle of chemical cleaning of a reservoir is that, through the use of chemical reagents, it is possible to normalize the acidity level of the water, saturate it with oxygen and dissolve algae. This in turn will lead to less sludge formation. There is no need to worry about the harmfulness of the reagents; in small quantities they are harmless to both humans and fish, especially since most of them decompose over time into carbon dioxide and water.

Water purification using ultraviolet rays allows you to kill the DNA of viruses, bacteria and microalgae in the reservoir. The device for such water purification is made in the form of a housing with an ultraviolet lamp inside with special protection against algae overgrowth. It is recommended to change it every 1-2 seasons. All of the listed methods for removing silt and debris from a country pond can be combined in one multi-chamber device. In such a unit, water passes through several compartments. In the first compartment it undergoes mechanical cleaning, then passes through a biological filtration chamber and finally enters a chemical cleaning chamber. You can additionally equip such a device with an ultraviolet water purifier.

How to care for a pond

In the spring it is necessary to do the following work:

• Remove dirt and silt from the pond. To do this, use a sludge pump - a special pump for pumping out sludge.
• Check the bottom of the pond for damage.
• Pruning coastal plants.
• Trimming bushes above water.
• Planting vegetation.
• Starting a fountain or filters.
• Checking water for pH using a pH tester.

Work in a pond in spring (video)

In summer, it is recommended to do the following:

• You constantly need to remove fallen leaves, pollen and filamentous algae.
• Tropical plants can be planted.
• Apply fertilizer to feed butterscotch and water lilies.
• Tear up the plants.
• Maintain the water level in the pond.
• Keep order on the shore of the pond. Plant roots can cause damage to the pond.
• Using a tester, monitor the condition of the water - pH and hardness.

Pond cleaning in summer

In autumn, caring for a pond is even more labor-intensive, as the leaves begin to fall and preparation for overwintering is required:

• Keep it clean. You can use a net to cover the pond.
• Trim the plants.
• Insulate tropical plants to keep them from freezing.
• Prepare your fish for winter.
• Use ice expansion joints. When water freezes, it expands and can ruin the bottom of the pond. Styropor is a special material that is used for this. You can also use elastic containers with air, such as a plastic bottle, for such needs.
• If the pond is small, drain it completely

Preparing the reservoir for wintering

It is better to have several types of nets with different meshes in your toolkit. The fine mesh is for removing duckweed, and the coarse mesh is for foliage.

For the winter, it is recommended to dismantle the equipment - pump and filter. You can also use a deicer. If the fish remain to spend the winter in the pond, provide them with access to oxygen.

Source: lanshaft.com

How to activate the productive layer of a pond bed

If the pond is built on poor sandy soils, liming the fish pond will be useless.

Here you need to use quicklime. It should be applied to the wet soil of the bottom. For liming to be successful, the substance must be in the form of small particles and it must be distributed evenly. Otherwise, extinguishing will not occur.

Ice crust on the bottom can help with liming. If the pond is deep and there is enough silt in the bed, in the spring the ice melts and the alkali is activated.

As soon as you have added lime, be sure to immediately treat the soil, otherwise there will be no effect. This is due to the fact that quicklime reacts with oxygen and quickly becomes carbon dioxide, that is, it loses its properties.

It will not be possible to activate the sandy bed of a reservoir with quicklime. It interacts only with organic matter, and there are practically no organic matter in such soil. There will be no effect.

If the soil in a reservoir has a high peat content, quicklime will do the job perfectly. How much substance is needed in this case can be determined by two factors - the thickness of the silt layer in the bed and its current activity. The more sludge, the more quicklime is required. And the more active the bed, the less substance needs to be added.

The recommended amount of adding quicklime to the peat bed is about 270 kg per 1 ha. In some cases the amount reaches 2 tons per hectare.

Summer

Monitoring the water level

In summer, an artificial pond does not require weekly cleaning; the plants are already replanted, so it causes little trouble. However, water evaporation can be a significant problem for a small pond.

During hot weather, the water level drops quite quickly and almost every week it should be added to the required level. It is, of course, more convenient to do this with a hose, but too powerful a pressure will cause disturbance to the fish and can damage aquatic plants, so it is better to pour in the water slowly, in a thin stream. Experts advise not to add water directly from the tap, but to let it settle and warm up so as not to harm the inhabitants of the pond.

In a small reservoir located in an open area of ​​the site, up to 5 centimeters of water can evaporate daily in summer. If you do not add water in a timely manner, your pond will soon turn into an ordinary puddle.

We fight pests and garbage

High temperature and humidity are ideal conditions for the development of all kinds of pests. Insects usually take a liking to the leaves and trunks of plants that live on the banks of a reservoir. The easiest and safest way to deal with such pests is to wash them off with a hose. This option has two more advantages: harmful insects washed into the water will become food for fish, and plant leaves “washed” with a hose will get rid of dust and will delight you with fresh herbs.

In addition, after feeding the fish, you should remove any remaining food and ensure that no debris accumulates on the surface. If the pond is small, then you can do this manually, but for a medium-sized pond it is already worth purchasing a skimmer - a device that collects the top layer of water, along with floating debris. The skimmer filters the water from debris and returns it to the pond. Such a device costs on average from 4 to 36 thousand rubles, depending on the size, it can be bottom-mounted, wall-mounted or floating.

Fish should not be overfed and plants should not be fertilized too often - this will disrupt the biological balance in the pond and create an ideal environment for the development of pests and weeds.

An important point - if you plan to treat land plants with chemicals, make sure that the poisons do not get into the water.

You can also remove debris from the surface of an artificial reservoir with this net. A skimmer for pools and ponds will help you get rid of the need to work with your hands.

Removing weeds

Excessive growth of algae in a pond will cause the water to turn green, or even completely disappear under a layer of “green invaders.” Duckweed, filamentous algae and azolla (aka water fern) are especially annoying to owners of artificial reservoirs. By multiplying uncontrollably, such plants can eventually fill the entire small pond, leaving no room for your favorite water lilies.

Duckweed should not be allowed into an artificial pond at all, since due to its unpretentiousness it is practically ineradicable. True, these small green leaves are very fond of ducks and other poultry, so poultry house owners should not throw away the caught duckweed - everything will be useful on the farm.

A small and seemingly harmless duckweed can fill an entire body of water, leaving not a single window of clean water. Regularly catching it with a net, it is difficult to deal with this algae; skimmers, filters, as well as fish that like to snack on duckweed, for example, crucian carp or carp, can come to the rescue

Cleaning a pond with a dredge

This method is one of the most common. Cleaning the bottom of a village pond from silt is carried out using a special installation on water. The collected garbage or sludge moves through the laid pipelines. It is worth noting that the depth of the reservoir does not change at all.

Mini dredgers can be used for cleaning. It will be economical and practical. By the way, such a device is quite mobile. The dredger is equipped with several powerful pumps. Sometimes, if there is little cleaning of a village pond from garbage, the garbage is thrown ashore and from there it is loaded onto a car.

The hydromechanized method involves lifting debris from the bottom using special electrically driven cutters. Next, the raised silt or debris begins to be pumped. This installation is moved using winches.

With this method of cleaning a reservoir, the collected garbage and silt do not spread.

Each dredger is equipped with a winch of a certain capacity, depending on the device itself. Accordingly, a unit of the required power will be used for each reservoir.

1. Can be used at any time of the year

Any pond can be cleaned of silt and debris with the installation both in summer and winter. The cross-country ability of the device is so great that it breaks ice easily. Of course, it is convenient to hold this event at a time when there is no flow of people to the reservoir. A village with a pond, or rather, its residents, will not feel discomfort during such an event, because in winter it is unlikely that anyone will want to go for a swim.

1. Price

Compared to other cleaning methods, hydromechanical is inexpensive. This is a big plus.

1. Huge selection of dredgers

Installations can be of any size and power. This means you don’t have to hire equipment that is designed for a larger or smaller body of water from the existing one. Dredgers can be floating cranes, capsule dredgers, water excavators, cleaning combines.

1. Execution of a set of works

Cleaning village ponds from pollution in this way will not bring much trouble and expense.

There are no downsides to cleaning with dredgers as such. The only thing worth noting is the depth of the reservoir. For very deep ponds or lakes, the method will not be effective. This is due to the fact that the unit is only partially immersed in water, since the design is not intended for deep-sea work.

Cleaning reservoirs with a dredger

The hydromechanized method of removing sludge deposits is based on the use of specialized equipment with a pump for sucking sludge from the bottom - a dredger. Using this mechanism to clean a pond is the most universal way to clean a pond. The dredger pumps pump mud deposits out and store them in a special container or throw them out using fire hoses into specially designated fields, pits, pits, etc.

You can place an order for high-quality services for cleaning ponds in Moscow, the Moscow region and surrounding areas from sludge by contacting the Chistye Prudy company. Many years of experience allows us to clean sludge deposits efficiently, quickly and on time.

Spring

We check the condition of the pond, help clear the pond of ice, and prepare the plants for planting

Experts advise starting spring work on an artificial reservoir in March. Firstly, during this period there is not much hassle in the garden and vegetable garden and the owners have time to pay enough attention to their pond. And secondly, the sooner you take care of the pond, the sooner it will begin to please the eye with well-groomed greenery and cheerful inhabitants.

First of all, you need to check how your pond “survived” the winter. You should check how the equipment works (pumps, power supply system, filters, etc.), whether the fish that you decided to leave in a sufficiently deep reservoir have survived, whether the shore reinforced with stones has collapsed, whether the concrete bottom has cracked, and put the heater away for storage. In general, outline a plan of work that will help the pond “come to its senses” and again, like last summer, become a decoration of the site.

It is clear that to study the condition of the reservoir it is worth waiting until the ice melts. But in March, the layer of ice on the pond is no longer as strong as in winter, and you can help the pond clear out faster by pouring hot water on the ice or carefully making several holes.

At the same time, you should prepare the plants that you would like to plant in the spring. You can purchase ready-made seedlings in specialized stores or on the market, which will grow in pots in March-April, while the water and soil have not yet warmed up. Another option is to purchase seeds and grow seedlings yourself. Just remember that aquatic plants need special soil, and the soil should always be moist, so it is better to place the pots in a container of water.

As for which plants to choose, experts advise purchasing pondweed and urut, which perfectly purify the water in the pond, as well as beautiful floating aponogeton and salvinia. Water lilies and water lilies, Siberian iris, which loves shallow water, and Tradescantia, which prefers dry shores, have long become classics.

Plants are, of course, the main decoration of an artificial pond. It is necessary to take care of their planting in early spring.

Spring pond cleaning

The main task of the owners of an artificial pond immediately after the ice has melted and the shore has dried up is to clean the pond from debris. In the fall, leaves fell into it, and during the winter some plants and small inhabitants could freeze, so there is enough garbage in the spring. The main problem is not to collect leaves and debris floating on the surface of the water, but that organic residues accumulate at the bottom of the reservoir, so serious “general cleaning” of stones on the shore, walls and bottom cannot be avoided.

To carry out spring cleaning of the pond, you should pump out the water, leaving only a small puddle for the fish, catch all the living inhabitants and temporarily transplant them into some kind of container, and thoroughly clean the bottom and walls of the pond with a regular brush. A water vacuum cleaner, the so-called silt extractor, will also be a good helper, as it will suck out all the residue from the bottom. And its special nozzles will allow you to clean stones and all surfaces of the reservoir. The price of a German-made suction pump reaches 8–9 thousand rubles, but the savings in time and effort when cleaning a reservoir are very significant.

In small ponds, the water should be completely changed in the spring, however, they are usually drained on the eve of cold weather. Dirty water remaining after cleaning, of course, should be drained or pumped out.

In the spring, the pond at the dacha requires general cleaning - literally every pebble will have to be cleaned. During the cleaning, all living inhabitants should be transplanted into temporary housing

Plant transplantation

Replanting plants that will decorate the banks and surface of the reservoir should begin after the soil has dried and the water has settled and warmed up. Plants that have overwintered outside are replanted, carefully separating the roots. If, for example, a swamp iris grew in a plastic pot, it may need a larger container next year, so you should take care of purchasing a suitable container for the plants in advance.

It should be remembered that, for example, there are many varieties of the “queen of ponds” - the water lily: from large ones, with leaves up to 70 centimeters in diameter, to miniature ones. Accordingly, different varieties need to be planted at different depths. If you could not find special lattice containers for the roots of aquatic plants, you can also use ordinary plastic pots for indoor flowers. Just be sure to plug the drainage hole at the bottom.

Those plants that do not need replanting this spring should be fed using special fertilizers for flora growing in conditions of high humidity. It is also necessary to use a special soil - heavy and clayey, with a minimum amount of organic matter.

By the way, thanks to their constant presence in water, water lilies, lilies, marsh and Siberian irises, calamus, egg capsule and other aquatic plants usually tolerate transplantation and division perfectly well, practically without getting sick.

When choosing aquatic plants for your pond, you must remember that marsh iris loves shallow water, water lilies with a leaf span of up to 30 centimeters should be planted at a depth of 15 to 40 centimeters, and arrowhead grows well at a depth of about 10 centimeters. In general, each plant should choose its own optimal “place of residence”

About the rules for maintaining a pond

Through timely water purification, a number of problems can be solved. But you need to learn and apply certain rules even at the stage of pond construction.

Cleaning with a net
Waterproofing should be done using a high-quality film, the service life of which is at least 20 years, because only this will save the reservoir from the penetration of polluting and toxic substances from the soil. For the same purpose, you need to monitor the quality of the concrete, since under certain influences it can crack, which, in turn, will lead to the destruction of the bottom. The purchase of a rigid form for a pond should be accompanied by checking its environmental characteristics so that the same toxic substances do not penetrate into the water.

Vegetation and fish deserve special attention - they must be healthy, since water is a unique environment for the development and spread of various pathogenic factors.

CONCLUSION

Friends, now you know that caring for a pond is quite a troublesome task, and you will have to tinker with a garden pond a lot. It will be necessary to monitor water quality and care for aquatic plants. Perhaps, to make your work easier, you will have to buy special equipment. There will be even more worries if you put fish in the pond.

Therefore, if you are just dreaming of a small garden pond, think carefully about whether you have time to pay attention to it? Perhaps it is worth digging a large pond, which is much easier to maintain?

Many people want to see ornamental fish in their pond, which require additional care. Some of the most beautiful fish cannot winter in a pond; they need to be sent to a cool room for the winter. If you cannot provide them with the necessary conditions, perhaps you should pay attention to the most unpretentious species?

But if caring for a decorative pond does not scare you, and you are ready to devote part of your time to it, then, of course, you do not need to go against your wishes. A pond in the garden, even the smallest one, will always attract the eye. Surely it will attract the attention of all your guests. Pets love to bask in the sun by the pond, and perhaps even swim in it.

You want to sit by the water and think about something good, or even be sad, and watch the fish and aquatic insects. Relaxing by the water is a wonderful relaxation. So don’t put it off for a long time and get down to construction! That's all I have for today. Natalya was with you.

Source: natalyamanueva.ru

What is duckweed in a pond

The well-known dense carpet of a pond called “duckweed” is nothing more than small floating plants formed from leafy stems connected to each other. A single thread-like root emerges from them. At the base of the leaf there is a side pocket with a tiny inflorescence developing in it.

In the wild, duckweed blooms in open waters are observed extremely rarely, mainly in summer. Vegetation reproduces vegetatively (with the help of young leaves separating from the mother plant). Before the start of the winter season, the buds sink to the bottom along with the dead part of the duckweed, and with the arrival of the new season they begin to actively grow again.

Find out how to create a pond with the ability to swim in it.

• Among the main reasons that provoke the growth of duckweed, the following reasons always come to the fore:
• disruption of the ecology of the pond (relevant for industrial regions where residual products from various industries can be discharged into the water);
• excessive illumination of the reservoir for most of the day (these are almost ideal conditions for the development of duckweed);
• Consistently hot weather throughout the summer season;
• excessive heating of water in small areas of the pond;
• frequent visits to the pond by ducks (migratory birds often carry spores of various plants on their legs);
• stagnation of water, although the possibility of duckweed formation in rivers with high flow speed cannot be ruled out.

• This plant often disrupts the decorative appearance of a reservoir and prevents swimming and fishing in it, but at the same time, it also performs several positive functions:
• supplies water bodies with oxygen and cleanses them of carbon dioxide;
• protects fish from direct sunlight;
• often becomes good food for underwater inhabitants, and after catching the leaves - for waterfowl ducks or geese.

Read how to create an artificial pond for geese and ducks with your own hands.

Duckweed grows at lightning speed, but getting it out of the pond is not as easy as you might think at first glance, so keep an eye on what exactly you are planting in the pond and whether parts of the duckweed have stuck to the useful crop.

What you need to consider when thinking about your own pond

The construction of a pond at the dacha, as a rule, includes several stages:

Excavation and installation

While a small, shallow pond can be dug with your own hands, large-scale projects may require skilled labor. If the pond is large, it will be necessary to strengthen the shore so that water does not subsequently erode the walls. For this purpose, both engineering methods (piles, geomats, gratings) and biological methods (planting plants to strengthen the bank) are used. The fish pond must be at least 5 meters deep so that crucian carp or carp can sink to the bottom and overwinter there in safety.

Waterproofing

It is necessary to ensure that water does not leave your pond. If there is a lot of clay on the site, you may be able to save money on waterproofing. But if, for example, you have peat or sand, then you will have to approach this issue with all responsibility. Usually a concrete screed is made 3-5 cm thick, which is covered with a layer of sand and polyethylene.

Pond decoration

The surface of the water itself is very beautiful, but maybe you dream of water lilies or water lilies? Or do you like to listen to the murmur of water? Then you should think in advance about such things as pumps for fountains, the layout of a cascade, waterfall or stream. The size of some ponds allows you to place bridges over them, which gives the pond chic and grace. You can also illuminate the pond, and then in the evening it will shine with a pleasant light. Also don’t forget about framing your pond. Usually the edges are lined with stone or tiles, and also planted with plants that love water.

Pond care at the dacha

So that you can enjoy your pond for more than one season, but for a long time, you need to think about how you will clean it, so that the water does not rot or bloom, so that mosquito larvae do not appear, which can subsequently seriously ruin the summer. Take preventive measures by stretching the net so that fallen leaves from trees do not fall into the pond, and also pre-immerse cartridges with biological filters in the water or populate the water with zooplankton, which will independently clean the pond. You can also use a water vacuum cleaner for cleaning. To make caring for the pond more convenient, aquatic plants are planted in their own containers rather than in the ground, and then you can easily remove them while cleaning.

Remedies against algal blooms in ponds

Chemicals are also used to combat algal blooms.

But the use of such drugs should be carried out carefully, because

can cause the death of all living creatures in the pond. Therefore, chemicals are recommended for use only in extreme cases. They can only be purchased in specialized stores and used in the spring after the pond has been completely cleaned a couple of weeks before fresh water and living creatures are introduced into it.

Important! Water vacuum cleaners are suitable for cleaning the bottom made of concrete or covered with film, but are contraindicated for use in a reservoir where pebbles were used for its arrangement, especially those less than 1 cm in diameter. A more gentle method for cleaning is to use a solution of potassium permanganate or brilliant green at the rate of 0.1-0.2 g per 1 m³ of water

The most environmentally friendly means that prevent water blooms from appearing are special dietary supplements containing many bacteria that can restore the ecosystem of a reservoir and solve the problem of water blooms in it. It's nice to relax in a country house where there is an artificial pond. But it requires careful attention. Keeping your pond from getting swampy and blooming is not that difficult. The main thing is that preventing this process is much easier than fighting it afterwards.

A more gentle method for cleaning is to use a solution of potassium permanganate or brilliant green at the rate of 0.1-0.2 g per 1 m³ of water. The most environmentally friendly means that prevent water blooms from appearing are special dietary supplements containing many bacteria that can restore the ecosystem of a reservoir and solve the problem of water blooms in it.

It's nice to relax in a country house where there is an artificial pond. But it requires careful attention. Keeping your pond from getting swampy and blooming is not that difficult. The main thing is that preventing this process is much easier than fighting it afterwards.

How to winterize pond plants?

When purchasing plants for a pond, immediately find out how frost-resistant they are. Heat-loving plants in ponds need to be covered with special material or dug up for the winter. Therefore, for myself, I decided to simply not have them. I choose only those that winter well in our climate and plant them in baskets. But they still require attention, especially my favorite water lilies, or nymphs. By the way, when purchasing, pay attention to the planting depth of this variety. Now there are different types of nymphs adapted for living in ponds of varying depths. If you plant, for example, a dwarf nymph at the bottom of a pond that is too deep, it may die.

I replant pond water lilies every few years. At the same time, I wash them thoroughly, removing weak and dead parts. I usually prune after flowering or in the spring, when growth begins. By the way, the plants of a pond will bloom more abundantly if strong shoots are shortened by half and the flowers are removed immediately after wilting. In regions with mild climates, they can be left to overwinter in a pond. At home, in the Moscow region, I move them to an unheated basement. The largest ones overwinter in barrels of water, and the small ones in buckets with wet peat. If you don't have a basement, replant them in the ground on your property for overwintering. The depth of the holes should be at least 50-70 cm. Cover the entire space from the plant planted at the bottom of the hole to the surface of the ground with fallen leaves.

Shore cleaning devices

To care for the coastline you can use:

1. Underwater rake. They are made according to the principle of garden tools, differing in the length and sharpness of the teeth. The tool must have a metal handle, which allows you to make the device heavier for more efficient work. With this tool you can easily deal with the underwater part of plants and remove plant roots from a reservoir without prior drainage.
2. Trimmer. Facilitates the process of cleaning the coastal zone by getting rid of the above-ground part of the plant.
3. Hand dredger. One of the most effective tools. With its help, you can erode the soil under the roots of plants, and then use the ejector attachment of the hydraulic ripper to mechanically remove the root system of the reeds.

It is very difficult to cope with such a complex and tenacious weed as reed. To do this, a wide variety of methods are used, ranging from physical impact to the use of aggressive chemicals.

Important! The reed thickets are home to many different rodents, which are carriers of diseases and infections transmitted to humans. Cattail brought into the house may contain the leptospira virus, a disease that is not fatal, but also has no cure.

In any case, it should be remembered that there are no quick ways to get rid of this weed. But by using proven methods and being patient, you can still achieve excellent results in the form of a clean, well-groomed pond.

You don't have to drain it!

Attention! In addition to the recommendations given above, or rather, even in contradiction to them, I can give one more piece of advice, but based on my personal experience. Even if the pond is very small, it is possible not to drain the pond for the winter and not to transplant fish from it if there are any there

I will simply share my experience, and you yourself, at your own peril and risk, decide whether to use it or not.

A regular aquarium heater with a power of 200-400 W will do. With this solution, the pond will not freeze, and the fish do not need to be transplanted into the aquarium for the winter; they will overwinter well, because the water temperature in the pond will remain +5..+10 degrees, even in the most severe frosts. But such a solution will require a 220V network supply. The downside is that the heater will consume electricity almost around the clock, which may require certain expenses from you. However, its power is equivalent to only 2-3 light bulbs.

Despite the fact that this solution does not fully comply with safety standards (usually it is recommended to use reduced voltage for outdoor use in the garden), and the aquarium heater is not intended for outdoor use, I have been using exactly this option for wintering two small ponds with a volume of 250 l and 300 l for a long time winters in a row. Koi carp feel great, despite the fact that in winter they sometimes do not eat for weeks. I also leave pumps with filters on for the winter, which work around the clock. The water remains absolutely clear.

In the spring, general cleaning of the bottom, walls and filter will be required. However, such cleaning can also be done without draining the water, which greatly simplifies the care of the pond. After all, when fresh water is added, it will take several weeks for biological balance to be established in the pond - just like when starting a new aquarium.

Selecting and preparing consumables

Before starting work on constructing a reservoir, you need to prepare consumables and tools. The list of necessary equipment is standard and does not change depending on the size of the reservoir.

PVC film

The use of polymer film significantly opens up possibilities in terms of choosing the shape of the reservoir. PVC film is considered the most suitable material, since it can be purchased in a large number of building materials stores at an affordable price.

Ruberoid

Roofing felt is used as an insulating material. It is recommended to purchase solid sheets of material to simplify the work and avoid connecting the parts with a blowtorch.

Round stones

Round stones laid out along the perimeter of the reservoir form the shore. Stones also improve the decorative characteristics of the pond and create a visual accent.

Rope

Using a fishing line or rope, they mark the boundaries of the future reservoir. This allows you to adjust the dimensions and determine the exact location for digging a pit.

Stone slabs

Stone slabs are used to frame the entire reservoir or individual sections.

It is important that the slabs are combined with the overall style of the garden design and do not stand out from the background of other elements

Shovel

You can dig a pit for a small pond yourself using a shovel. The manual method is convenient because you do not need to use specialized equipment and spend a lot of money.

Sand

Compacted sand is used as one of the base layers. To ensure that the insulating film placed on the sand is not damaged, the thickness of the sand layer must be at least 10 cm.

Bricks

Bricks can be used to build internal walls and the top side. Most often, bricks are used to construct a round type of decorative pond.

Fine gravel

A layer of gravel is poured onto the insulating film. The material makes the bottom of the pond more attractive and provides additional protection.

Form

The finished form makes it possible to simplify the work of arranging a reservoir. Using a purchased bowl, you will need to dig a pit, place a mold inside, fill it with sand and liquid.

Construction of a decorative pond

When arranging a decorative reservoir, you can use various design options: from ready-made solutions to building a reservoir according to its size and shape. The surrounding area is always decorated with natural materials.

Options for installing small reservoirs

Most experts involved in the construction and arrangement of home ponds advise initially installing plastic containers, which can be purchased in stores. This option will not be costly financially; moreover, the shapes, sizes and volumes of water placed in them are so diverse that they can satisfy any owner’s requirements. A plastic bowl of an artificial reservoir will allow you to gain experience in caring for water and the area around it.

Plastic forms come in a wide variety of colors and are easy to transport. They are chosen if the composition will occupy an area of ​​no more than 5 square meters. m.

Installing such a pond is simple. Several conditions will need to be met:

• The soil is carefully prepared
  . The soil under the bowl is dug up to a slightly larger size. It should be compacted so that precipitation and settling soil do not move it and change the horizontal position of the container. The bottom of the plastic is designed to bear an even load of water, so if the container moves even one degree, the weight of the water can damage the bottom.
• The pond is installed in a prepared hole
  . The voids around the plastic mold are carefully filled with sand and compacted tightly. The sand needs to be spilled with water. The form will become stable.
• The design
  can have many options. The surface of the water can be left empty, aquatic plants can be planted in pots, and artificial lilies and water lilies can float on the surface of the water. Here you can use all your imagination.
• The space around the pond is filled to suit every taste
  . You can plant flowers around the pond or lay stones beautifully. In any case, a decorative pond will reflect your character and a piece of your soul.

It is easiest to build an artificial pond from a plastic container; maintaining such a pond will not be difficult. Cleaning a plastic trough is not difficult; just drain the water and clean it with specialized products for home ponds. You can buy them now at any country store. The disadvantage of a plastic bowl is its fixed size, which cannot be changed, and its small water capacity.

The lifespan of a plastic pond is more than three years. This period will help the owner understand whether the location for the reservoir has been chosen correctly and whether it is worth constructing a larger permanent facility.

You can build a small country pond yourself, without the help of a plastic bowl. Films are used as a waterproofing material. It can be polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or butyl rubber film. Each material has its pros and cons. The most durable film is butyl rubber. A film of a small thickness of 0.8 mm can be used to build a pond 80 cm deep. A deeper pond is insulated with a film 1.5 cm thick.

Construction of a permanent large pond is more expensive. The shape of such reservoirs is complex and may have differences in height both in design and in water depth. Waterproofing materials are selected depending on the final result. The purpose of such a pond can be different:

• breeding and growing fish;
• differences in depth can be constructed so that it is possible to use the pond as a swimming pool;
• You can build the image of a stream around a large area and zone recreation areas for noisy gatherings or your own privacy.

A large reservoir is decorated using fountains. Their installation is simple, so often the help of a specialist is not required. A waterfall will help the landscape sparkle with new colors and make the area come alive. The main requirement in the arrangement and design of a pond is a large area of ​​the site.

The alpine slide and rock garden will look picturesque

. Decorating with stones will allow you to connect the water space and the coastal area into a single composition. Stones that will hang over the water surface will help to disguise the film laid along the bottom.

It will be interesting to design the composition with lighting. You can build lighting both in the water and outside the reservoir. The electrical part of the design of decorative ponds for summer cottages must be installed in accordance with safety regulations. Lighting elements are purchased specifically for water with a high level of protection and moisture insulation. An illuminated pond, even if in a small area, will present the pond in other colors and create a unique atmosphere.

Setting up a small pond using improvised materials

To create a small pond, you can use an old bathtub for adults or children, a basin of any size and depth, a bucket and a barrel, or you can make a pond from an old car tire. Any tire size can be used, but a pond looks more harmonious and advantageous if the tire is from a large car. It is wide in diameter and deep.

The top of the wheel is cut off with a jigsaw or grinder. A hole is dug with a larger diameter than the wheel. The workpiece is lowered into the pit and covered with film inside; it is advisable to lay it in two layers. The bottom and side walls of the tire are carefully lined. The free edge of the film is folded under the sides of the cut wheel. The resulting container is filled with water and decorated to your taste. It is advisable to strengthen the edges of the tire with film with stones.

Autumn care

With the arrival of autumn, the hassle of maintaining a reservoir at the dacha does not become less. The leaves gradually fall and the shoots of coastal plants dry out. Aquatic vegetation requires feeding and the creation of conditions suitable for wintering. At this time, in addition to normal care, additional efforts will have to be made to prepare the aquatic world for the rest period. A few tips below will help you do this correctly.

Cleaning leaves

As the leaves fall, they need to be collected from the surface of the water using a net. It is easier to remove leaves from the shore. To do this, you can use a garden rake and rake up the yellowed leaves, forming piles. It is not advisable to burn them, as the smoke from burning leaves is very toxic. It is much more environmentally friendly and convenient to move the piles into garbage bags. Then throw them in the trash.

Important! Fallen leaves must be caught from the pond. As it settles to the bottom, it begins to rot, which significantly pollutes the ecosystem.

Plant pruning

In addition to cleaning up fallen leaves, you need to pay attention to coastal plants. In the autumn, they need to be trimmed, removing dry and damaged branches.

This measure will protect vegetation from the appearance of diseases and pests that overwinter on their surface.

Also, shortening overgrown shoots will give the plant the opportunity to rest and accumulate the strength necessary for the growing season. Annual specimens should be cut out completely. In autumn, all branches are pruned, leaving 10-15 cm of their length.

Collection of wintering buds and heat-loving plants

Winterization measures depend on the winter hardiness of the aquatic vegetation species.

Types and winter hardiness:

• frost-resistant: marigold, hosta, aquilegia, rush, water lily, elodea, watercolor, duckweed, calamus. These plants are best left to overwinter in natural conditions. There is no need to collect dormant buds for winter storage. However, it is imperative to move all plants to a frost-free depth;
• heat-loving: yellow egg capsule, swamp grass, cattail. Containers with plants should be removed for winter storage. Keep in a bright, warm room at a temperature of 0°C. Store dormant buds in an aquarium at room temperature.

In the spring, after awakening, the buds will sprout young shoots both in natural conditions and in the aquarium. In the latter case, after warm weather sets in, it will be possible to transplant it into a pond.

Feeding the inhabitants

In autumn, before the water temperature drops to +9°C, fish can be fed with natural food rich in proteins and microelements. Insects such as bloodworms and midges are suitable for this. You can also feed it with worms. After the first frost occurs, it is necessary to stop feeding and place the aquatic inhabitants in the aquarium.

At the same time, it is important that it be filled with water from the reservoir to preserve the usual habitat. Then it is advisable to install aquarium lighting and water heating

Vegetation also needs to be fertilized in the fall, before harvesting for winter storage. To do this, you should add specialized fertilizers for aquatic plants to the soil.

Winter

In winter, when a stable air temperature is below -10°C, it is necessary to provide suitable conditions for the reservoir and its inhabitants.

Winter care includes:

• providing oxygen access to fish;
• heating the water in the reservoir to the optimal temperature;
• draining.

It is important to take responsibility for winter care requirements, since the life and health of the inhabitants of the reservoir, as well as its condition as a whole, depend on it. Otherwise, in the spring you will have to eliminate the consequences, which will add hassle to maintaining the pond.

Video: how to make an ice-free pond in the garden

Access to oxygen for fish

Fish that winter in natural conditions need to be provided with oxygen. This must be done so that gas exchange continues in the aquatic environment. In addition, air is vital for waterfowl . Its supply can be ensured by installing aeration equipment.

Did you know? To protect the walls of the reservoir from the formation of plaque, you can throw snails into it. They will feed on organic deposits on the surface, reducing the risk of pests.

If there is none, you can make holes in the ice. But you need to act with extreme caution so as not to injure the fish that swim on the surface of the water in search of oxygen, and the roots of plants overwintering in the pond.

Heating pond water to the optimal temperature

With the onset of frost, the water in the pond must be additionally heated. This is necessary to ensure the normal functioning of representatives of the fauna, which, as is known, are cold-blooded and cannot warm themselves on their own. Dormant buds of plants left for wintering in the pond also need warmth.

Despite their winter hardiness, low temperatures can have a detrimental effect on their condition. For heating, you can use a special heating system . If such equipment is not available, it is recommended to collect the fish together with plants and send them to winter at home.

Draining

Deep-water bodies of water should not be drained. The bottom of such ponds does not freeze, which provides their inhabitants with a comfortable winter. Shallower artificial lakes will have to be drained, since ice will freeze the entire water area. Living creatures will not survive in such conditions, and the bottom may crack due to the expansion of the ice layer.

Familiarize yourself with the design features of a swimming pool in landscape design.

To drain a reservoir, you need to completely drain the water, clean the bottom of the layer of silt and dirt, then clean the walls of plaque and remove rotten algae . In this case, plants and fish are caught with a net (it is recommended to leave a third of the water in the bowl of the reservoir) and placed at home for the winter.

Maintaining an artificial pond at your dacha is quite easy. However, if not given proper attention and care, it can quickly turn into a swamp. Pond cleaning work should be carried out seasonally, since each season has a different effect on its condition.

The main mistakes of amateur designers

Having no experience in planning landscape design objects, I did not avoid a number of annoying mistakes

I would like to draw your attention to the following:

• a disproportionately large or, conversely, small pond compared to the site, residential building, plants growing in the garden;
• a poorly chosen location from the point of view of nearby unsightly objects: a rickety fence, a shabby barn;
• inappropriate style that conflicts with existing buildings on the territory;
• tasteless design: an overabundance of decor, plants, plastic toys.

With a thoughtful approach, the main flaws are corrected as the work progresses. The pit can be expanded or reduced. And if, for example, it was dug up against the backdrop of an old, ugly cellar, then why isn’t this a reason to put the building in order?

The discrepancy between styles can be corrected by zoning. As for decor, its main rule is: less is better than more. Professionals advise looking at your creation and removing the last added element.

Some care tips

To make fishing at your dacha a success, you need to properly care for the fish in the pond.

It is very important that in the first years of life the fish grow and gain weight, as well as reproduce. Here are some more tips:

• Fish should be fed 1-2 times a day at a certain time in order to develop a reflex in the fish.
• The remaining food should be removed so that the water does not become acidic. Therefore, it is very convenient to use special feeders for feeding, which are much easier to clean.
• The number of individuals should be constantly monitored and excess fish should be caught.
• Sick fish must be isolated. It is very simple to calculate: usually such an individual swims near the surface in a circle on its side, and there is a white coating on its fins.
• In winter, it is imperative to drill holes in the ice so that the fish does not suffocate.

If you follow all the recommendations, then a rich catch at your dacha will be ensured all year round.