Water Feature Care and Maintenance

Having a water feature or fountain in your home garden adds a touch of elegance and tranquillity. To ensure your water feature remains a beautiful centrepiece for years to come, it's important to perform regular maintenance. Fortunately, water feature care and maintenance is relatively low effort compared to many other gardening tasks. By incorporating a few simple steps and utilizing effective cleaning products, you can keep it working beautifully for many years.

One of the key aspects of water feature maintenance is keeping the water clean and properly topped up. It is recommended to drain and replace the water in your water feature on a monthly basis, or more frequently if it doubles as a bird bath. While some people resort to harsh additives and enzymes to clean their water feature, a safer and non-toxic option is using a Barley Straw based cleaner. This type of cleaner is ideal for water features that may house fish or other aquatic life.

Regularly cleaning the basin and surfaces that come into constant contact with water is essential to prevent the growth of algae and other organisms. When you notice a slippery feeling on these surfaces, it indicates the presence of unseen algae within the fountain walls. Use a sponge with a scouring pad and a small amount of dish soap to scrub these areas. However, you shouldn't need to scrub your water feature every month.

The pump is the workhorse of your fountain, so it requires proper maintenance to ensure optimal performance. Depending on the water quality in your water feature, it is recommended to clean the pump thoroughly at least once a year. Before storing the pump for the winter or if the water has become excessively dirty, follow these steps to give it a good cleaning:

• Soak the pump in a mixture of vinegar (preferably malt vinegar) and water for a few hours to loosen the grime. Wipe away the residue with a cloth after the vinegar treatment.
• If possible, remove any accessible parts and use a toothbrush with dish soap to clean them.
• Cycle a bucket of clean water through the pump to further clean it. Repeat this process until the water runs clear.
• Replace any damaged parts or hoses as needed.

To prepare your water feature for winter, it's important to drain the water, remove the pump, and clean the fountain thoroughly. Store the pump indoors during the winter months and reinstall it when setting up the fountain again in spring. While most fountains are designed to withstand the elements, it's advisable to bring smaller decorative water features indoors to extend their lifespan. If your fountain is too large to move indoors, protect it from severe frost and temperature extremes by using a cover. Additionally, ensure any electrical outlets powering the pumps are sealed and winter safe.

If you have any doubts or questions about caring for your water feature, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Simply visit our Contact Us page and drop us an email, and we'll be happy to assist you.