Water Garden Care: Essential Seasonal Tasks

ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR SPRING

• Tidy up bog garden and apply mulch
• Tidy pool margins; divide plants as needed
• Clean out pool if necessary
• Remove, overhaul, and store pool heater
• Inspect pump and accessories; install
• Fertilize established plants
• Begin feeding fish

ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR SUMMER

• Keep pool topped up to offset evaporation
• Keep bog garden weed-free
• Deadhead bog and aquatic plants
• Stake tall bog plants needing support
• Control carpet-forming floating plants by netting off excess
• Check water quality if keeping fish
• Feed fish daily
• Watch for fish fry; remove any you wish to keep
• Monitor for algae and treat as required

ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR AUTUMN

• Clean up marginal plants after first frosts
• Drain shallow pools with small waterlilies; protect crowns with straw and cover with polythene
• Drain tubs with waterlilies; store plants frost-free
• Collect turions (winter buds) of floating plants for winter storage
• Collect young plantlets of floating plants for winter storage
• Remove, clean, and store pool pump and accessories (or move pump closer to filter)
• Install pool heater
• Feed fish wheatgerm-based foods

ESSENTIAL TASKS FOR WINTER

• If no heater, vent pool if frozen by melting ice with pans of hot water
• Float a piece of wood or rubber ball on concrete pools to absorb ice pressure
• Feed fish wheatgerm-based foods during mild spells