ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR SPRING

• Tidy up bog garden and apply a mulch

• Tidy up pool margins, dividing plants as necessary

• Clean out pool if necessary

• Remove pool heater, overhaul and store

• Inspect pump and accessories and install

• Fertilize established plants

• Begin feeding fish

 

ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR SUMMER

• Keep pool topped up to allow for evaporation

• Keep bog garden free of weeds

• Dead-head bog garden and aquatic plants

• Stake plants that need supporting in bog garden

• Control carpet forming floating plants by netting off excess and discarding

• Check the water quality if fish are being kept

• Feed fish daily

• Watch for fish fry and remove any you wish to keep

• Watch for algae and treat as required

 

ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR AUTUMN

• Clean up marginal plants after the first frosts

• Drain shallow pools containing small waterlilies, protect crowns with straw and cover with polythene

• Drain tubs containing waterlilies and store plants in a frost-free place

• Collect turions of floating plants and store for the winter

• Collect young plantlets of floating plants and store for the winter

• Remove pool pump and accessories, clean and store; or move pump closer to the filter

• Install pool heater

• Feed fish wheatgerm-based foods.

 

ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR WINTER

• If no pool heater is used, vent pool if it freezes over by melting the ice with pans of hot water

• Float, a piece of wood or rubber ball on the water of concrete pools to absorb ice pressure

• Feed fish wheatgerm-based foods during mild weather.