How to Maintain Your Water Feature and Keep It Algae-Free

Use these tips to get your water feature ready for summer.

When you installed that fountain, koi pond or lazy river in the backyard, you probably never imagined that someday it may look like a backdrop for a Hollywood B movie. If your water feature is starting to look a little neglected, it’s time to discover that maintenance for water features can be a lot easier than you imagine.

For most people, algae is the biggest problem with water features. To prevent this, it’s necessary for you to clean the feature every other day. Remove debris and other organic material that facilitate algae growth.

Before you get your waterfall going, you may want to spring clean your entire water feature. Scrub the walls of your water feature before you refill it for spring, and don’t let the water remain stagnant for very long.

Depending on the size of your fountain, it’s also a good idea to remove the pump and tubing every week and rinse it with white vinegar before you put it back in completely submerged. This will keep your fountain free of debris and allow the parts to operate without obstruction.

Finally, if you don’t have fish in your water feature, you can even add a little vinegar directly into the water which will further help keep algae from growing. If you do want some life in your water feature, waterlilies and other floating plants can actually help prevent algae growth, and fish like koi can eat some of the algae.

At Rosehill Garden, we have been splish splashing around water features for a long time now, and we would be happy to lend a hand and our expertise in keeping yours sparkling clean throughout the summer.