[NOISE]
When you have your pond drained down this time of the season,
it's a great time to make some changes in say, your aquatic plants.
Part of, part of an ecosystem pond is really kind of water gardening, and there's so
many different plants to choose from.
Sometimes this is a good time to say hey, I've had enough of this plant.
Let me try something new.
Cuz what I don't like to do is put too many plants in the pond,
I like to have these different specimen plants worked throughout the pond.
So, if you find a plant that you fall in love, and
spring pond care time is a great time to introduce new stuff.
So, what I'm gonna do right here,
is this is a new variety plant, this hasn't been in this pond before.
This is called golden buttons.
And I'm gonna put two of them together, and make a nice big cluster.
And I'll plant these guys right here, and it'll be a nice splash of green.
And then right in front of me here, I've already planted some Japanese acorus.
And if you notice there's about three one gallon pots that I've put together
to make it look like one specimen plant.
That's my best way to do it.
[SOUND]
This particular plant, I'm gonna leave in the pot.
A lot of times [SOUND] In an ecosystem pond, [SOUND] We'll take the plants out of the pot,
but on occasion, you might pick a plant, and leave it in the pot.
See I have this plant right here.
It's in a dormant state.
And this plant's gonna make the pond pop, and when this new plant comes up,
we can pop this plant back out.
So, I'm just [SOUND] Gonna put a couple of rocks around it.
[SOUND] And support it, [SOUND] So that it will fall over.
[SOUND] And also disguise the black pot.
I don't want to see the black pot.
So, I'm jut gonna go like this.
And that gives us the opportunity to take it out later,
[SOUND] When make other plant comes out of its dormancy.
[SOUND]
So, we spent a couple of hours rinsing the heavy sludge behind the, the rock work, and
we've turned the gravel around, and
got out all the sedimentation that's been built up over the season.
You know, we planted some new plants, we inspected all the lights,
we cleaned the skimmer, did the pump, we've done a lot of those details.
Right now we're going to start doing the final fill on the pond.
We're gonna go grab a bit to eat while it's filling up, and
then we'll do the last bit of work.
[SOUND] Let me wrap this up.
[SOUND]
Now, that we got the pond filled to the optimal water level, and, and
the pump's running again we're gonna adjust the auto fill.
[SOUND]
This wingnut is, loose.
So, I'll have someone turn the auto-fill on, for me.
[SOUND] And now, we have water coming into the system.
So, what I'll do is, this pivot right here, allows the flow to shut the water off.
So, I'll pull that pivot up, and then I will tighten this wingnut.
[SOUND]
And that sets our auto-fill.
So, this flow comes up, and
we will have vaporization that will fill up on it's own, done.
[SOUND] Now,
that you have your pond all clean, and everything's back in order.
What I'm gonna want you to do is put some liquid bacteria in the pond, everyday for
two weeks.
Now, what this does is it just kinda super charges the pond, and gets it ready for
your season.
So, this one, we're just gonna squeeze up the, an ounce.
This is approximately 1,000 gallon pond.
And we'll pour it in front of the skimmer.
And that will lead up to the biological filter,
and that will help just get it all super-charged, and kickstarted.
Now, I'm gonna want you to use beneficial bacteria, the dry bacteria in and
around the gravel.
Now, you saw how that, that dirty sludge was kinda building in behind the rocks,
and in the gravel.
So, that's why it's a good practice to do this spring pond care.
Now, what I want you to do is use this dry powder, once a week in your pond.
If you sprinkle it around the edges it sinks down to the bottom, and
it helps to digest the sludge, and debris, and the fish poop, and the dust, and
the pollen that settles down into the bottom of the pond.
So, it's a good practice.
It keeps your pond much healthier through the season.
So, don't forget to use your beneficial bacteria,
when you get this pond kickstarted for the Spring.
[MUSIC]