June is a great time to take a good look into taking care of  your backyard ponds.  After all of these rains we’ve had, your pond is probably not in good shape.  There is a good chance that it has run over the levee or pier during the heavy rain.  Checking those problems should be your first priority.  

 

Next, you should look at fertilizing and liming the pond.  Water soluble fertilizer is great to use.  Numbers for this usually are really high in phosphorus.  This is insure growth of the good vegetation for the fish.  Once the fertilization program has begun, be sure to always continue the program or face possible severe weed problems.  Any kind of lime can be used also.  Most ponds in our area do need lime.  A liquid lime is the easiest way to go.  Cal/flo  is a great one to use.  It is even recommended by Minden’s own wildlife biologist Peyton Igo.  Easy to use.  Taking a water sample is also a good idea.  

 

An aquatic dye is a great way to enhance the color of your pond.  Apply Feb. thru Nov. for early season treatment.  It also helps with the control of alge and unwanted weeds.  Easy to use, just pour in the pond and walk away.  It is fun to watch it take over the pond.  Use 1 gallon per acre of pond.  

 

Algae is a real problem in our area.  Copper sulfate products help control this.  You can use a liquid copper for control or you can use a granular copper.  When you use the granular, just throw along the edge of the pond where the problem is worst.  Don’t treat the total area of the pond at one time.  This may result in killing the fish when the algae dies and the oxygen is depleted.  Treat about 1/3 of the area at a time and wait a week or so to treat more area.

 

Weed control is a major deal.  Identifying the weeds is one of the hardest jobs to do in this situation.  To kill the weeds, use a non-selective herbicide during the early season.  Diquat is a chemical that is used a lot.  One quart treats 1/4 acre of water.  It is also excellent for use as a spot treatment also.  Like the algae, don’t spray over the whole pond at once, you don’t want to reduce the oxygen level.  

 

If you control the weeds and algae the backyard pond is great to have.  The blue colorant also makes it beautiful.  Not everyone is fortunate to have a pond that enhances the looks of the property.  The fishing can be great also.  You can stock catfish, bream, bass and other fish.  Always use a reputable fish farm.  Feeding fish also helps the fish to grow and multiply.  It’s fun to watch them eat.  Kids love it.  Of course I do too.  Fish feeders are available and can be set to throw feed out at the same day every day.