
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 19, 1995                   TAG: 9510190011
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JOE HUNNINGS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HOW TO CLEAN A WATER GARDEN AND PREPARE IT FOR WINTER

As with any outdoor water source, a water garden collects organic matter that needs to be cleaned out. Cleaning in the fall is most effective because cool water helps minimize stress to pond fish.

Before you begin cleaning, find a holding container for the plants or fish. It should be large enough to hold the water needed to sustain plants and fish for several hours while you clean. Keep the holding container in the shade. Fill the holding container with water from the water garden, then empty the remainder of the water out of the garden using a pump if necessary. Use this water to irrigate other garden plants because it is rich in nutrients from the organic matter.

As the water is emptied out of the garden, use a stiff, nylon-bristled brush to scrub down the sides of the pond so debris collects in the bottom of the pond. Use the nylon brush and a dustpan to collect the debris and remaining water in the bottom of the pond, placing it in a large bucket to be hauled to other garden areas and used as a soil amendment. Do not be too thorough in cleaning out your water garden - there are normal bacteria levels that need to be maintained in a water garden.

Fill the water garden with half of the water from the holding container and finish filling with tap water. Add the appropriate amount of dechlorinator if you have fish. Fill the holding container with tap water to help the fish become adjusted to the new water temperature. In 30 minutes, place the plants and fish into the clean water garden. Clean your water garden only once a year. Don't add fresh water unless you have a problem with your fish. Adding fresh water will not help control algae, and it may destroy the bacterial balance.

According to Keith at Springdale Water Gardens, get your water garden ready for winter by keeping leaves out of the garden as they fall to keep the debris from accumulating on the bottom of the pond. Set shallow plants deep. Leave water lilies at the bottom. In very cold weather, stop feeding the plants and fish and make no bacterial applications. When the pond is frozen, keep all leaves and other debris off the surface. Leave your recycling pump running all winter to keep the water moving. Be sure water does not splash out and freeze, causing more water to be diverted from flowing back into the pond. If you want to stop a waterfall type of display, disconnect the pipes and drain them, but let the pump tube bubble toward the top of the pond to keep water moving. This sometimes prevents the pond from freezing. If you decide to cut off the pump, drain it and take it inside for the winter.

Joe Hunnings is the Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture in the Montgomery County Extension Office in Christiansburg. If you have questions, call him at 382-5790.

by CNB