How do I overwinter my tropical lilies?

thepondguy.com

A: Vivid and fragrant, tropical water lilies are the floating jewels of a pond. If you live in Hardiness Zone 9 or lower, you'll need to take extra special care of these warm-weather-loving beauties over the cold season. To overwinter tropical water lilies, you have two choices: send them into dorma...

I still have PondClear natural bacteria. Am I better off throwing the rest in, or will it still be good for next season?

thepondguy.com

A: At the end of pond season, just about everyone has some leftover supplies. Half-full canisters of natural bacteria, bottles of dye, algaecides and more—what do you do with all of it? Do they have expiration dates? And how do I keep them until next year? Here's what you need to know about the sh...

I heard fish can get swim bladder disease this time of year, what is it?

thepondguy.com

A:  Many bony fish, like the fancy goldfish found in ornamental ponds, have an organ called a swim bladder. This gas-filled sack has two main purposes: It helps the fish control its buoyancy and remain at a particular depth without having to waste energy on swimming, and it keeps the fish in an upr...

I have a lot of cattail growth. Should I spray it now or just wait until spring?

thepondguy.com

A: As long as those cattails are green and growing, you should spray them. Fall is actually an ideal time to treat pesky pond weeds because that's when the matured plants soak up nutrients through their leaves to prepare for the coming winter. They'll do the same thing with the herbicide—but it wi...

I need a net to protect my pond from leaves. Which one works the best?

thepondguy.com

A: Colorful fall leaves are beautiful, but once they start falling, they can be a hassle—especially when you have a backyard pond. When they drop into the water, they turn it into leaf tea, add to the nutrient load, and as they break down, build up as muck on the pond bottom. A net is your best op...

I've been trapping leeches with success. Will the rest die this winter or do I need to continue next spring?

thepondguy.com

A: Those little bloodsuckers sure steal the fun, don't they? Hitching a ride with waterfowl, amphibians, small mammals—even your muck boots—leeches love living in mucky debris at the bottom of your pond. They settle in and wait for worms, snails, insect larvae, small water-loving animals and eve...

My water turned brown last year. How do I stop it from happening again?

thepondguy.com

A:  There's only one thing worse than green water—and that's brown water. In some ponds or water features, the end of summer or beginning of fall brings with it this discolored water. It's caused by one of two reasons: Debris Tea: When leaves or pine needles fall into your pond, the tannins in th...

I try to keep my pond clean, but is there anything else I should do to prevent my fish from getting sick?

thepondguy.com

A: Prevention really is the best medicine—and that's true for humans as well as fish. Keeping your pond clean, filtered and well aerated is a great start at preventing disease, but there's more you can do to ensure your finned friends stay happy and healthy. Here's what we prescribe: Vacuum Debris...

Why should I aerate my pond?

thepondguy.com

A: We talk a lot about the importance of aeration – and for good reason. Aeration with the Airmax ® Aeration System , which involves diffusing oxygen into the water below the surface,  benefits the quality of your pond or lake in myriad ways, including these top five reasons: Reduces Pond Muck: ...

I started off with 4 inch koi and now they're 8 inches. How big will they get before they stop growing?

thepondguy.com

A:  In an ideal environment—a supersize space with pristine water conditions at a stable 75 degrees Fahrenheit—an adult koi can reach a whopping 3 feet long. A yard! Nearly a full meter! Yep, that's a really big fish. Don't worry: Chances are slim that your finned pal will grow to that immense ...

I have scum on the surface of my pond like last year but I can't scoop it out, is it algae?

thepondguy.com

A: It sounds like that strange stuff floating in your pond is pollen – particularly if you've had the same issue at about the same time in previous years. How do you identify it and get rid of it? Read on to learn more about fixing your pollen problem. Just on the Surface Looking like an oil slick...

You Can Turn An Old Pickup Truck Into the Coolest Backyard Waterfall

countryliving.com

This DIY project is GENIUS.