Beginner’s Guide to Pond Care

Introduction

There are a few key steps to caring for a pond. First, identify the weeds and algae. There will always be some type of growth in a water body, and you need to know what it is to keep it under control. Identifying the target species is the most important step so that the correct products for each type of weed can be used, saving time, money, and effort overall.

Second, treat the weeds and algae with herbicides and algaecides. Keep your goals and preferences for the pond in mind. The third step is to reduce nutrients in the pond, although products can also be used early in the season before growth begins. Monitoring the water and surrounding area will keep your pond looking great because of regular maintenance.

Step 1: Identify Pond Weeds and Algae

There are five categories of growth: emergent weeds, floating weeds, submerged weeds, nuisance algae, and excess nutrients. Below are definitions of each.

Emergent Vegetation

Emergent weeds are rooted to the bottom and either emerge from the water’s surface (like cattails or phragmites) or have leaves that float on the water (like lilies or watershield).

Submerged Weeds

Submerged weeds are plants that grow entirely underwater and are rooted to the soil. There are many different types of submerged weeds and include pondweeds, hydrilla, and milfoil.

Nuisance Algae

Each type of algae looks different. Planktonic algae can make the water look cloudy, green, or like paint or oil has been spilled. Filamentous algae start at the bottom, form long strands and float to the top to form mats. Chara and starry stonewort look like submerged plants with branches but are complex algae.

Excess Nutrients in Pond

Cloudy or brown water can be caused by excess nutrients which are often from decaying material within the water column.

Narrow Down Treatment Options

Once you know which category to focus on, it narrows down the treatment options. Figuring out which specific species you are targeting is even more helpful, and this can be done in different ways.

Use the Aquatic Plant ID on our website. You can browse plants, use filters to narrow it down, or add your own photos of the weeds in question. If using your photos, the reverse image search will populate a list of possible matches with likelihood percentages and photos for comparison.

An alternative option for identifying weeds is to email photos to Plants@LakeRestoration.com. Take multiple pictures: one of the whole area, one of a couple of the weeds in question, and at least one close-up of just one of each type of plant. The experts at Lake Restoration will respond with the species you have and possible treatment options.

Step 2: Treat with Aquatic Herbicides and Algaecides

Before treating your pond with anything, keep these questions in mind:

• How much of the vegetation do you plan to keep?
• What is your preferred application method (spray, broadcast)?
• What is the budget, timeframe, and your time commitment?
• What concerns do you have? Sensitive fish, using the water to irrigate your lawn, wanted plants around pond that draw water directly from it, other animals that visit, etc.

This chart shows a general overview of categories of growth and possible products to treat each.

Type of vegetation	Possible Products
Algae	Mizzen Copper sulfate Cape Furl
Emergent	Imox with surfactant
Free floating	Dibrox Spritflo Flumigard or Semera plus surfactant
Rooted floating	Depends on exact weed types Dibrox Spritflo Imox 2, 4-D
Submerged	Dibrox Spritflo

There is a link on each plant’s identification page that shows control options. Herbicides are listed and described. Your answers to the questions above will further determine which products should be used, in addition to the target species. For example, here is a comparison of our two most popular herbicides:

	Dibrox	Spritflo
Application	Spray over surface, product sinks down where sprayed	Pour directly in, product disperses throughout entire body of water
Results	17-21 days	30-45 days
Re-treat	When weeds re-grow, typically every 4-6 weeks	Up to two treatments allowed at 45 ppb rate
Other	Fast-acting and can be used in moving waters	For enclosed ponds only (no outflow) – treats entire body of water

Our product sales team loves to help develop personalized treatment plans, so if you’d like help, email or call us. In addition to the questions above, we’ll talk through the size of your water body, treatment area, target species, and any other relevant information.

Step 3: Use Nutrient Reducers

Nutrient reducers can be used from spring through fall. Each product has a different use, but the general idea is that nutrient reducers take the nutrients out of the equation.

Fish and animal waste contribute to the nutrient load in the pond, so continued maintenance with these products will keep mitigating the presence of excess nutrients in the water. Carolyn from Tennessee said in her Google review of Lake Restoration, “I find it is very good practice to help control nutrients even when you think all is good.” Carolyn uses a proactive approach to her pond care.

Below are Lake Restoration’s nutrient reducers, links to them, and a brief explanation of each. Specific product pages contain more detailed information.

Pond Dye

Pond dye filters sunlight and keeps water cooler. Dye is best when first added in early spring when the water temperature is lower and little to no growth has begun.

Liquid dye is extremely concentrated and can simply be poured into multiple places in the pond; it will spread throughout the water within a few hours. Dye packets can be tossed into the pond for the same effect.

Lake Restoration offers four dye colors: our premium Sapphire Bay (Caribbean blue color), Bright Blue, Deep Blue, and Reflection Black.

PhosControl

PhosControl binds with free phosphorus in the water. Phosphorus is the primary nutrient plants and algae need to grow. Phosphorus comes into a water body by naturally leeching up through the earth or from runoff: rainwater or nearby fields and lawns that can include fertilizers.

PhosControl comes in fine granules, almost like a powder, that can be broadcast directly into a pond. Adding this product in spring and fall is the most beneficial; this is when the most phosphorus is available because it is not being used by plants or algae.

SparKlear

SparKlear nutrient reducer dissolves excess nutrients in the water column. It comes in liquid that is diluted with water and sprayed or pellets that are tossed into the water. Removing nutrients from the water clears the water column, making your pond sparkle.

Regular SparKlear treatments are valuable because there are always plants or algae dying and releasing their nutrients as well as fish and other animals leaving their waste in the water.

MuckMaid

The best way to get rid of muck in a pond is to use a muck reducer. MuckMaid digests the inches of muck at the bottom of the pond. Toss these pellets into the desired area every two to four weeks.

The beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and trace minerals go through a process of breaking down the muck, eventually turning it into nitrogen gas, which just floats back up into the air. Most of our air is nitrogen, so this product is completely safe for humans, pets, fish, and other animals.

MuckMaid will eat one to three inches with each treatment. Treat your pond aggressively at first, and once the hard bottom is exposed, scale back to periodic maintenance applications.

Conclusion

Nothing is a “one-and-done” solution; weeds and algae regrow and need to be treated regularly and consistently for effective results. Animals can always bring in weeds on their feathers, feet, fur, etc. Nutrient reducers are a great way to care for a pond in a proactive manner.

Identifying your target vegetation is the first step to management. Then finding the right product for the job and for your needs is second. Third, use nutrient reducers such as PhosControl and SparKlear to maintain the beauty of your pond.

Lake Restoration’s Aquatic Plant ID, Weed Control pages, and product pages each contain lots of information and tips. If you want help sorting through the information, or even a place to start, email Plants@LakeRestoration.com or call 1-877-428-8898 to discuss your pond one-on-one with a product specialist.