Water Feature Care

Water features are beautiful elements to any landscape and are typically popular due to their tranquil sounds or even their ability to drown out other noise.

As there are many types of water features, their maintenance can vastly differ. If you have Koi or other fish, your maintenance will be much more rigorous and involved to ensure the health of your fish.

Generally, the following rules of thumb apply:

Keep you water feature clear of debris. Leaves, sticks, toys, and other debris can block water flow and may even accelerate the growth of algae. Regularly clean your feature and consider nets if this is a common issue.

Never let the feature run low on water. Water features on average lose about 1" of water every day to evaporation. If you don't have a float installed (or your supply is off), check the water levels weekly or more if necessary. It is best to add distilled water, if possible, to prevent things like calcium buildup. If you can hear the pump sucking in air, immediately turn off the feature and add water to prevent the pump from burning up. Consider adding shade plants either inside the feature or around it to minimize evaporation from direct sunlight. This also can help deter algae growth that prefers direct light.

Clean your feature twice a year or as necessary. Some features may need more routine cleanings depending on flow, sunlight, and debris. To do so, turn off the pump and remove at least 25% of the water. Add clean water (distilled preferred) and turn the pump back on. If necessary, you may also use mild pond cleaners as according to their instructions. If a fast-moving water feature builds up algae, turn the feature off for two days and let the algae dry out. Then remove the algae before turning the feature back on. Never use soap or household cleaners in your feature.

If your water feature requires winterization or spring activation, please schedule it with Country Roots Design & Build by early October to avoid any freezes.

We hope you enjoy your water feature for years to come and if you haven't already, consider enhancing your feature with water plants and lighting.

If you have any questions or need further explanation or would like to schedule a maintenance item with us, reach out to us today.