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How Often Should It Be Done? For best results the watergarden should be drained and cleaned out once a year. This operation can be done at any time during the year. If the water garden is in a poor condition and the work is urgent then it should be done as soon as possible. If there is no urgency and you have time to plan ahead, the best time to carry out this work is between September and April. Fish are cold-blooded creatures and they are calmer and less active in the winter, and so less likely to struggle and injure themselves while the work is in progress. Cleaning the watergarden at this time will also prepare the water garden in readiness for the year ahead. This is also an advantage in cleaning the watergarden before the frogs and the fish start to breed. The empty pond also provides a great opportunity to review the condition of the water garden, looking for potential problems and carrying out other important maintenance tasks on the water garden. |
Draining And Cleaning The Pond Draining and cleaning a pond is an important and necessary operation that needs to be carried out on a pond periodically if it is to stay looking healthy and well cared for. Over time a lot of mud builds up in the pond. This is the result of rotting leaves, fish food, soil washing in from the garden etc. If left too long, the mud begins to affect the quality of the water and the appearance of the pond. It can lead to smelly, stagnant water and an unsightly looking pond. When the pond is drained and cleaned out, all the mud and rotting organic waste is removed from the pond along with the harmful bacteria that live in this waste material. |
Pressure Washing The Pond Cleaning a pond using a pressure washer enables us to use its power to clean the pond much more thoroughly than brushing ever could. This machine takes the mains water supply and pumps it up to a very high pressure. The pressurised water is supplied to an adjustable lance with a trigger for on and off. The machine will strip away the layers of dirt and scum and will remove any unsightly blanketweed that has grown on the sides of the pond. The machine can also be used to clean other objects in the pond such as fountain statues and waterfalls. |
Attending To The Plants While the waterfeature is empty, the plants will be tidied up, removing dead leaves and re-potting those that need it. Those plants that have become overgrown, will be divided up and the excess vegetation removed from the water feature. If you are thinking of introducing more aquatic plants to the water feature, now is a good time to introduce them. 
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Looking After Your Fish
We aim to make this operation as smooth and peaceful for the fish as possible. The tanks where the fish are held while the work is being carried out have been specially designed and purpose built for their safety and comfort. The tanks are large and roomy and nearly 2 feet deep. The tanks are netted and the netting is firmly secured to the tanks at short and regular intervals. This is to minimise problems with fish that try to jump out of the tanks and to 'deter' predators such as foxes and herons.