Autumn Pond Maintenance Plan

1. Clear leaves and debris (weekly)

• Use a pond net or surface skimmer to remove fallen leaves and plant debris.
• Consider adding a pond cover net to catch falling leaves.

Prevents sludge build-up and water contamination.

2. Vacuum the pond (Early autumn)

• Use a pond vacuum to remove sludge, decaying matter, and fish waste from the bottom.
• Don’t remove all sludge from a neglected pond in one session—leave some for beneficial bacteria if filtration is new or recently cleaned.

Try: Pondotec or Oase pondovac

You might also find the following video useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH7_T8NwIKI&list=PLpQZ640JWJ_NqO99U1iWENxMOQolWpbwr

3. Switch to a winter diet/wheatgerm food (when water drops below 15°C)

• Feed easily digestible, low-protein food like wheatgerm.
• Reduce feeding frequency as temperatures fall; stop feeding below 8°C.

4. Dose beneficial bacteria (after cleaning)

• Add a bacterial treatment to support your pond’s biological balance after vacuuming or water changes.

5. Prune & Trim Plants (mid-autumn)

• Cut back dying foliage and remove submerged debris. Leave at pond side overnight to allow any wildlife to return to the water before composting.
• Move tropical plants indoors if needed, including tender floating plants.

6. Perform partial water changes (10–20%)

• Use a dechlorinator and remove up to 20% of pond water after cleaning or every few weeks to reduce nutrient levels.
• This helps dilute accumulated waste, removes potential algae fuel and refreshes water quality.

7. Prepare Equipment for Winter

• Check pond heater (if used), air pump, and filters.
• Clean and store any equipment that won't be used during winter, including draining UV clarifiers which will be damaged if allowed to freeze.

Autumn Checklist Summary:

For any specific concerns about your autumn pond maintenance, or general advice speak to your local Maidenhead Aquatics store team.