How to Solve 2 Common Pond Problems

Ornamental ponds are one of the best landscape features you can choose, but sometimes you'll run into minor problems that seem very, very major. Here are the two most common problems with newer ponds and how to troubleshoot them so that you have a pond that looks like the one pictured below.

 

  Problem: Algae is out of control and my pond looks like green slop! Solution: It's normal for ponds to develop algae and this can be fixed, but it takes the right approach. Algae can seem insurmountable, so much so that many pond owners actually drain their ponds and start back at square one. Unfortunately, this doesn't change the conditions of your pond, and the algae will just come back. Instead, you need to adjust your pond's ecosystem until it is in balance. Here's how:

1. Do you have a submersible pond pump? Every pond needs one of these. It not only helps keep the water aerated for any wildlife you may have in your pond, it also keep the current moving, which discourages algae. If you don't have a submersible pond pump, get one!
2. Is your pump working properly? If you already have a submersible pond pump, make sure it is operating normally. Check and see if it is jammed or clogged, and also ensure that it is the right size and powerful enough for a pond of your size.
3. Add anacharis. If your submersible pond pump is working, the next step is to add anacharis, a type of submerged vegetation. It will oxygenate the water, feed the goldfish and, most importantly, inhibit algae. Add one anacharis bunch per square foot of your pond's surface area.
4. Cool it down. The last step is to get floating vegetation and add it to your pond. This provides shade underwater, cooling the pond temperature. Cover about half of the pond in it. Once all these steps are done, the algae will not come back!

Problem: I think my pond is leaking! Solution: It's very unlikely that a pond with a liner will leak. In reality, what is probably happening is that you're losing water via your waterfall or pond fountain. Here's how to address it:

1. Unplug your waterfall and let the area dry. When you turn it back on, look for wet spots or splashing. If this is the problem, try repositioning the rocks so the water falls back into the pond, or adding a back splash to prevent this.
2. Check the area around your fountain. Is wind blowing the water or the spray onto the dry land around the pond? If so, consider repositioning your fountain, reducing how high it sprays the water or adding shrubs as a wind break.

Have you run into other problems with your pond?