Have a pond in your backyard? Here are 6 ways to get ready for a Minnesotan spring! Bonus! Tips and pricing for a new pond (in case you don’t have one yet!)

Minnesotan Springtime is an exciting but challenging time for pond owners.  Here are some steps we take when caring for  backyard ponds in and around the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. (Spring thaw comes about two weeks later if you live north of the Twin cities or in Duluth.)

• First, a simple winter/spring maintenance step: Keep a hole in the ice for your fish! The snow is melting but the ice takes a bit longer and the fish still need oxygen.  
• Pre-order local pond plants before they sell out!  Want a new water lily or a few water hyacinth or water lettuce? Click here to order yours.  They go fast.

• Plan on cleaning your pond as soon as the ice has completely melted.  Pipes, filtration systems, and skimmer boxes all need to be ice free before cleaning occurs. Get on the Schedule for a spring pond clean or watch this video if you plan to do it yourself.

• Trim dead plants and bushes around pond edges. They are easy to trim when the ice is still firm but this can be done during a spring clean too.

• After the ice is gone and the pond has been cleaned or at the minimum, dead leaves and debris have been netted out, it may be a good idea to add some cold water bacteria.  This helps break down any leftover sedinents and will help prevent a sudden algae bloom when the water temperature rises.

• Check your pond water level.  Is the water near the top of your skimmer or filtration box?  Do you see any low edges where water may be escaping?  Take a few minutes to visually inspect your pond.   If you find a low spot, try to gently tug the liner up.  

A little maintenance goes a long way!  Cleaning out debris, adding cold water bacteria, and removing dead plants and twigs will help keep your pond clean and clear!  

Too busy to do the maintenance?  Get on the schedule today for a yearly pond spring clean or maintenance!

Bonus! Looking for a pond or waterfall for your backyard but not sure what questions to ask?  Here are 7 questions to ask when choosing a water feature.

How much does a pond cost in Minnesota? Check this post out for pond prices.