Spring has finally arrived in the Midwest and many water features are in need of a good spring clean-up. The Key word being "good". Depending on the location and amount of unavoidable debris that may have accumulated at the bottom of your water feature, you may be in need of a thorough cleaning. Now is the time to get this job done, before your ecosystem gets up and running and you have to disturb it.
Start by removing any fish and frogs that you can get to with a full pond. (pondless owners can skip this step) Place fish in a large container of pond water such as a garbage can lined with a trash bag or an old wash tub or get a cheap kid pool for this task. Begin draining your water by siphoning the water out with a garden hose, use an extra pump or disconnect your pump from the backflow and attach it to an extra coupler and pump the water out.
As you pump the water out look for additional fish and frogs etc. Be careful handling your fish and avoid over aggressive grabbing of the fish and scraping them against rocks. By taking your time you will find them huddling quietly at the bottom where you should be able to get them in a fine net and release them into your holding pool. Once all of the fish are removed, continue removing the water but continue to look for fish that may be hiding and overlooked.
Power wash the water fall rocks down and remove the old algae. Wash the bulk of the heavy debris off into the pond. Wash the pond rocks and clean the edges. Remove the extra water in the bottom of the pond from the cleaning with a pump, bucket, cup or sponges. A wet / dry vacuum works well to get the bottom of the pond clean and to remove the heavy sludge from the bottom. Wash the base area several times till the water stops turning brown. Try to agitate the gravel to get decayed leaves up but don't worry about getting every little bit of dirt.
Remove the filters from the skimmer and the bio-falls and spray them down and remove the dirt from them. Vacuum the boxes out removing any sediment on the bottom. Wash the lava rocks thoroughly and let them drain. Replace the filters and the lava rocks and reconnect the pump to the check valve.
Begin filling the pond as soon as your done. if you have a good water supply this should take a few hours. If you have a well or a slow supply, consider buying water from a delivery service that will bring a truck out and pump it right into the pond for you. If you use chlorinated water, remove the chlorine by adding a de-chlorine product at this time.
It is not necessary to remove your plants or water lillies during this process. Fertilizer tablets can easily be added to you plants at this time. Take the time to replace any pond lights and adjust them prior to filling the pond. Once the water fills enough to keep the skimmer full, begin running the waterfall to get the pond circulation going.
Now, you can add the fish back into the water. If there is a great difference in temperature, you can add some of the pond water to your holding talk to bring the temperatures closer so the fish aren't shock when released. Carefully place the fish back into the pond. Monitor the fish for signs of infection from scrapes or stress from the cleaning. A .30% salt solution can help protect the fish as well as a parasite or bacterial treatment if signs are observed.
Videos of Our Ponds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp3g4PTpRHk&feature=plcp
Add pond bacteria at this time directly into the skimmer so it dissolved and is introduced into the pond via the falls.
Good luck and happy water gardening!
Walter Falls
Call The Falls Group For an estimate on your pond or water feature clean-up today.
1-877-Mr Falls
1-877-673-2557
1-440-543-1990
1-216-210-5024
http://www.thefallsgroup.com/
www.mrfallstree.com
www.mrfalls.org
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Tree Maintenance / Pruning
Pruning Mature Trees
Pruning is a common if not neglected part of healthy tree care. Trees in the forest have their own way of pruning themselves such as limb die off and falling to the ground. We will also have this same natural selective process in our yards, if left unattended, however, we don't want to see trees full of dead limbs nor have branches falling on our homes and cars below. Many injuries and deaths have occurred due in part to poor tree maintenance.
Proper tree maintenance can improve the health of the tree, improve aesthetics and create a safer tree by opening up the canopy preventing wind damage and hazardous branches.
Because each cut has the potential to change the growth of the tree, no branch should be removed randomly. In most cases mature trees are pruned for corrective or preventative reasons. A qualified professional will assess the overall tree condition and develop a plan for that tree. Remove branches that touch and rub, opening up the canopy and letting in more light, reducing the foliage to relieve stress on the roots having to sustain unnecessary leaves and branches, especially in a high stress condition. Remove redundant branches and branches growing back, inward, to the center of the tree. Clean out dead limbs and hazardous branches as well as note damage or decay up in the tree not visible from below. A well installed and placed tree may still need some pruning to shape and guide the tree to fit the surrounding structures.
Most routine pruning can be done any time during the year with little effect on the tree. As a rule, growth is maximized and wound closure is fastest if pruning takes place before the spring growth flush. Sap is flowing heavily at this time and will also leak from the wounds more during this time. Although the wounds will drip and sap will run, there is now damage from this condition. Pruning of some oaks and maples should be avoided at this time and during high spore transmission periods because the excessive open sap and transmit disease between trees more easily.
Also heavier pruning just after the spring growth should be avoided. Trees have just put a lot of their energy from the roots to the new growth and removing excessive leaves and branches can stress the tree. Allow some time for the new growth to harden off before a vigorous and excessive pruning program.
The benefits to a tree maintenance program are numerous!! Don't delay and get a plan for your trees. You'll see the benefits immediately and the trees will thank you!!
Tip; Add Bayer All Tree Protection to your trees for a systemic control to protect your trees through the season before the damage occurs. http://www.bayeradvanced.com/
Walter Falls
www.thefallsgroup.com
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