Category: Watergarden Maintenance

Aquatic Pond Plant Care and Benefits

2/19/2018

Marginal aquatic plants are the ones found growing inside of your water garden—specifically the ones who’s root systems are thriving off of water (thus the name ‘aquatic’). To create a natural-looking pond, a good selection of marginal plants is very important. If you would like some tips on how to plant your aquatic plants, click here! There are hundreds of varieties of pond plants to choose from and the best part is that they come in all shapes, sizes, textures, and flower colors.

Attractive and Beautiful:

More than just adding beauty to your water garden, aquatic plants add valuable filtration to the pond as they remove waste, nutrients and other elements that would otherwise promote algae growth.
In an ecosystem pond, marginal plants are generally placed directly into the gravel, allowing them to thrive naturally and filter the water most effectively through the root-base. Certain plants like cattail, bullrush, and pennywart can be problematic and may even damage the pond liner. We recommend avoiding to plant them all together.

Planting Considerations:

All plants have specific needs: water depth, amount of sun exposure, zone levels and space to grow. Most marginals are planted on the first shelf of the pond because of their sensitivity to water depth while other plants like water lilies like to be submerged in deeper areas. Select plants of different heights, foliage types, and flower colors to create variety.

Before placing the plants in the water, be sure to wash away most of the soil from around the root system. Once the soil has been removed from the plant, push the gravel back and place it in the pond, filling the gravel back in around the root system to anchor it down.

The same process can be used for planting in a stream – carefully selecting aquatic plants that like or tolerate the shallow depth of the stream’s moving water. Not all marginal plants can thrive in shallow moving water.

ALL THIS INFORMATION can be found on the back of each plant tag that comes with the plant when you purchase it.

Aquatic Plant Maintenance and Care

Taking care of marginal plants in an ecosystem pond is fairly simple and is similar to regular landscape/house plants. As often as needed, remove any dead, discolored, or excess plant material. Doing so will stimulate new growth. Marginal plants (unless they are in pots) do not need to be fertilized, as they will flourish from the nutrients in the pond. Fertilizing potted lily plants, however, can be especially beneficial because of the amount of shade created by the extra pads.
For fall/winter care, aquatic plants in zone 5/6 deviate from regular house plant care. Aquatic plants need cut back to two or three inches above the water level of the pond. This allows them to begin going into their state of dormancy (sort of like hibernation) for the winter where they will stop growing entirely during this time. In the spring, make sure to remove all leftover dead plant material. This is the perfect time to thin out plants that have maybe over grown the area they’re in—especially lilies. There is a fine line between having enough plants and having TOO many plants.

Now What???

While flowering waterlilies are the most popular, marginal plants play a crucial role in the function, balance and beauty of a properly-conceived water garden. Without marginal plants, the water garden will look out of place and unnatural as they provide many textures, colors, and blooms that soften the edges and help blend the pond into the surrounding landscape.

Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!

Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                   October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT

Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [email protected]

Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA

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Is a Spring Pond Clean-Out REALLY Necessary?

2/12/2018

2 Comments

How do you know if you should invest the money in a professional to do your spring maintenance on your pond or not? Should you do a spring maintenance on your pond yourself? Is it even necessary to spring cleaning on your waterfeature? Every spring (sometimes even as early as January and February) Dreamscapes gets a number of phone calls from new pond owners and old pond owners alike asking if it's necessary to clean out this pond when spring rolls around and what should they expect from their spring water feature as the temperatures begin to rise again. Even if you're familiar to the pond lifestyle, always remember that what worked for you ONE year, does not mean that it will work for you this year--especially if ANYTHING has changed in your pond.

Have your fish grown?
Did you add any aquatic plants last season?
What kind of fall shutdown did you perform on the feature?
Do you like to gamble? No, really--this is a serious question!

Visual Indicators

The best (or most obvious) indicator that you need to have a Spring Maintenance Service performed on your water feature is if the color of the pond water is anything but clear. Sometimes it's tea colored or muddy looking. Sometimes it's one of many different possible shades of green, indicating algae.

Even when the water is clear, we suggest to stick something (like the end of a broom) to the bottom of the pond and stir it up a bit. If you see the area around the broom get cloudy--- you NEED to do a spring cleaning! Debris and waste can settle pretty well in the long months since the pond was actively running and unless you stir up the settled muck, you may not notice it at all at first. But once the ecosystem is awake again, that left over debris will cause a whole other set of problems for you.

But SOMETIMES the ice thaws and all your fish are belly up and you're just not quite sure why because the water looks clear and the broom isn't stirring anything up.

Ammonia and Water Balance

Ammonia- the silent killer of the pond world. Ammonia does not always stick out like a sore thumb, unless of course all your fish went belly up before you realized it's presence. The visual clue of ammonia spikes barely exist---which is why it's always important to start each season with a clean slate. Gambling with your fishy friends life can be more frustrating than it's worth.

Ammonia exists from the decomposition of waste (fish still poop over the cold winter months), dead organic matter like leaves, and even frogs and fish that didn't make it through the winter. Any ammonia is absolutely toxic to fish and pretty much invisible. The easiest way to treat ammonia spikes is by removing it: i.e. drain and clean.

Aside of ammonia spikes, if your pH, phosphates or nitrites are out of balance, a drain and clean essentially resets your water feature so your ecosystem starts the pond season in good shape. You should also consider testing your pond water balance regularly during the season so that you can correct any issues before they become fatal for your fish! Click here to read more about keeping your pond water clean by reading this blog.

Algae and Poor Water Quality

All the muck and build up left over on the bottom of your pond contributes to the growth of algae during the warmer temperatures. While algaecides are designed to kill algae, they are temperature sensitive which gives algae free reign to feed off of those excess nutrients until May. By that point, getting the pond in balance in order to ENJOY your water feature may be a losing battle.

Lastly, your fish are often curious and bored and if there is an abundance of muck and sludge, it is common to have it stirred up frequently during the summer as the fish root around.

So now what?

You know your backyard pond better than anyone else and are the one that gets to enjoy it regularly. If you're able and willing to perform a spring maintenance on your own-- do it! If you're looking for a professional to handle the spring maintenance hassle for you, give Dreamscapes a call!

Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!

Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                   October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT

Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [email protected]

Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA

2 Comments

Pond Tent Structure for Backyard Ponds in Central PA

10/30/2017

1 Comment

Mother Nature always has her own plan. Even though you did your fall pond shutdown and just cleaned the leaves off of the net, they're back again. New leaves fell from the trees...old leaves blew back from the wind. Fall is a long season...especially if you're surrounded by a bunch of trees--all loosely depositing their leaves around your watergarden. Inevitably, if left untouched, leaves that fall on top of pond nets start to weigh down into the pond. This allows for the decomposition of the leaves into the water which contributes to sludge and poor water quality over the cold winter months.

Alternative to Regular Pond Nets

Last year, Dreamscapes Watergardens started recommending a POND TENT for backyard ponds that struggle with the changing season. Pond tents can be put up as early as September and should be taken down before the first snowfall so as to not put unnecessary weight on the structure. If stored correctly, pond tents are reusable year after year.

***Pond tents also have the added benefit of helping to protect your fish from predators.

Pond Tent Shape Options

Depending upon the size and the shape of your pond, a few different shape tents are most effective. The dome is created for ponds 11x16 and under, as the arch made with conduit piping can support the weight of itself and the gusts of wind. For ponds larger than 11x16, we recommend making an angled structure with straight pvc poles for better support of the structure's weight. To secure the structure from moving, ditch the plastic stakes for sod staples!

The actual design of tent structures are custom for every pond because every pond is different. Unless the waterfalls are left running late into the year, the pond tent structure only really has to cover the pond portion of the waterfeature. The edge of the net should be pull taut against the waterfall so that no leaves can blow in an open space. The waterfall can be covered with a separate piece of regular net.

So Now What???

Let the experts handle the hassle for you! Dreamscapes has a full service maintenance program that travels all over the Lebanon, Lancaster and Dauphin County areas constructing and installing pond tents. We also carry a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                   October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT

Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [email protected]

Dreamscapes Watergardens services koi ponds and waterfalls in the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA

1 Comment

How to do a Spring Pond Cleanout in Central Pennsylvania, Lebanon PA

3/27/2017

0 Comments

So you want to try your hand at opening your own pond this spring? Its certainly not a job for everyone but with the right mindset and the correct materials/tools—it is most certainly achievable.

There are several items you should have to make this job easier. A full Pond Clean out in the Spring is highly recommended for a good healthy pond, as it removes build up debris/sludge/muck, as well as, puts your pond water back in balance, should it have spiked in fatal areas such as ammonia, pH, nitrates and nitrites. Even if your pond water is CLEAR---your pond balance may still be dangerously elevated!

Did you know?: Cleaning your pond in the Spring actually simulates mother nature. In nature lakes which are fed by streams and rivers get flushed out when the heavy Spring rains fall. Man-made ponds clearly don't have the same kind of flushing-out system in place naturally. Cue Pond Cleanout/Maintenance Season!

Tool/Materials Needed:

Cleanout Pump –We advise against using your waterfall pump for this, as there is a good chance your waterfall pump is a solids handling pump and has no protective strainer. Get a GOOD cleanout pump with a strainer protecting the intake, and enough hose to get your water where you want it to go so it doesn’t cover your lawn with a thick brown sludge.
Nets, Tubs and Aerators – You will need enough tubs to house your fish so be aware of how many fish you have so that there is enough oxygen in each tub for them to share, as aerators can only help so much. If you fish are 12" or larger, you will need a quality sock net to remove them, as big koi can easily break their backs if you try to net them with a shallow net.
Power Washer – Look for a wider spray pattern tip to use, as a narrow tip can act like a laser beam and slice your liner.
Wet / Dry Shop Vac –
Waders – Cleaning out a pond in the spring can be extremely cold and waders help to keep you clean, dry and ultimately a little bit warmer.
New Filter Mats / Skimmer Mat – Depending on the condition of your mats last fall when you shut down the pond, you may want to consider replacing them during your spring opening. If they tear easily, it’s time to replace them.
Startup additives – We use Cold Weather Beneficial Bacteria and Pond Detoxifier (both by Aquascape Inc).
Small buckets for debris cleanup
Pond Equipment that you removed for winterization (parts like skimmer or biofalls racks, checkvalve for your pump, control panel for an iongen, etc)
Channel locks come in handy to remove biofalls plugs as well as tighten up check valve unions.
Waterfall Foam – Used to reset rocks that have fallen from the waterfall, or for re-applying foam where it has dried or pulled away from rocks allowing water to escape behind the rocks.
Replacement light bulbs –
Replacement IonGen Probe (if you have an IonGen, its good to have a spare on hand)

Cleanout Process:

If your waterfall was run during the winter, unplug it, and remove the checkvalve, this is to drain your lines and any water in your biofalls. If you waterfall was off in the winter, remove the 2″ plug that’s in your biofalls (if you installed one last fall), and let the biofalls drain into the pond.

Place your cleanout pump in the pond. Depending on the pond size circumstances, you can either place it on the bottom immediately, or place it on a shelf to start. If you can’t reach the bottom because its in the center of a very large pond ( we don’t recommend throwing the pump), start on a shelf and drain it to that level, then move it to the next lower shelf.
Direct pond water into holding tubs for fish. We use 100 gallon tubs and it is imperative that you net the top of the tub and use a bubbler in each tub that will hold fish because the fish are known to try to jump out of the tubs. An aerator is recommended because smaller volume of water means lower dissolved oxygen levels.
Catch fish: Wait for the water to be 12″ or less before even attempting to net your fish. Chasing fish could stress them out and reduce their slime coat if you try when the water is higher than this.
* If you have larger koi, 12″-18″ plus sized fish you should be using a sock net. The other nets are for smaller fish and goldfish, and will not properly support the back of your larger koi. Koi can break their backs from being curled up in too small of a net. NEVER attempt to move more than 1 large koi at a time in a sock net because koi are more delicate as they get larger.
* Use this time to inspect your fish. Take a look at the fins and scales while checking the body for any parasites or ulcers.
Continue to drain the pond and start to collect the debris and leaves that have settled in the pond into a bucket. Cut back some of the perennials.
Powerwash. We usually turn the cleanout pump back on for this, as you will want to continually remove the dirty water. We’re powerwashing to remove algae stains and to dislodge jammed up sludge/debris from in between rocks and gravel. Be careful with the powerwasher where the gravel and bare liner, and be sure to use the tips with a wider spray pattern or a 30 degree tip. The gravel is blown EVERYWHERE if you are not careful and the zero degree (laser beam) tips will cut thru liner quick as a razor, so do NOT use them.
Rinse all rocks and gravel one last time to get any detritus that splashed around down to the pump for evacuation from the pond. At this point we try to rinse an area until the water runs clear.
Clean skimmer: You can put the cleanout pump right into the skimmer to drain the majority of water and vacuum the rest the water and sludge out with the shop vac. Be forewarned! You’re skimmer has the potential to really stink! If any mice or frogs got in there over the winter, you’ll be quick to find out! Vacuum them up.
Clean Biofalls: Remove as much of the debris as possible, as anything left behind will usually only add to the nutrients that algae need to thrive. Your biofalls may have filled with leaves in the fall, you’ll want to remove those and any other debris that’s fallen in. If you haven’t already removed the 2″ plug (see step 1), you will want to do that now.
Hookup biofalls and skimmer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For the Aquascape systems we typically service, this means putting the rack, then filter pads, and finally media bags filled with bioballs in the biofalls. And attaching the pump to the check valve and hooking them up in your skimmer, inserting the filter rack, and filter in the skimmer, and then finally installing the basket and lid for the skimmer. *TIP* Always be sure to plug in your pump for a quick spin up to make sure its moving BEFORE you install it in the skimmer. Many pumps may need a little “kickstart” after not running them all winter.
Remove the cleanout pump from the deep end of your pond. A trick we use is to NOT unplug the pump until you have fully removed it from the pond. When you unplug it while it is still in the pond, water will backwash down and run back into the pond, usually bringing some muddy water (that you just worked so hard to remove) back with it. If you wait until the pump is removed and on the lawn, any backwashed water will not go into the pond.
Add some Pond Detox and Cold Weather Beneficial Bacteria. This will help to neutralize any ammonia, chlorine or chloramine, as well as detoxify heavy metals and make the water safe for your fish.
Now, if you have extra water saved from when you drained the pond, we start adding that back. You can also return the fish to the pond, carefully netting them out of the tub at this time as well. Usually its a quick 200-500 gallons, but its enough to fill the lower shelf and get the fish back in. Its also water that the fish have been used to (original pond water) and helps ease the transition, considering many times you change out 80% or more of the original water.

Now What?

Now, if all of that didn’t scare you off, you can expect it to take a solid day if you plan to do a typical 11×16 pond by yourself. When we have a crew cleaning a pond, both guys work as a team and it only takes a few hours depending on size.
If you feel like this is a task is a bit much for you to undertake and you would rather have someone else do it--contact us!!! Dreamscapes Watergardens performs 200 koi pond and waterfall cleanouts/openings each spring, and our crews are the best in the business.

For more specific information on your koi pond and/or waterfall Spring Cleaning/Opening, please contact us directly!

Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                   October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT

Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [email protected]

Dreamscapes Watergardens services koi ponds and waterfalls in the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA