Keep Annoying Leaves Out of Your Pond This Fall

Tory Jon - Pond Academy

by Tory Jon | Last Updated: August 25, 2024

Ah, fall—the season of pumpkin spice, cozy sweaters, and... leaves. Lots and lots of leaves. While they look great on trees, they’re not exactly a pond’s best friend. But don’t worry; keeping those annoying leaves out of your pond is easier than you think.

Let me walk you through it.

  1. Pond Netting: Think of it as a safety net for your pond. Stretching some fine mesh pond netting over your pond keeps most leaves from taking a dip. Secure it around the edges, and voilà, your pond is leaf-free. Well, mostly. The netting does the heavy lifting, so you don't have to.

  2. Trim Those Trees: If you’ve got trees hanging over your pond, give them a trim. This way, fewer leaves end up in the water. Make this part of your fall routine, right before the leaves start to fall.

  3. Leaf Barriers: Sometimes, it’s all about redirecting traffic. Set up some low fences or plant some hedges around your pond to catch leaves before they take the plunge. It’s like a leaf speed bump.

  4. Pond Skimmer: Now, for those inevitable leaves that found their way into your pond, we need to remove them. If you’re into gadgets, a pond skimmer might be your new best friend. This handy device pulls in leaves and other floating debris automatically, so you don’t have to. It’s like having a little robot doing your dirty work.

  5. Regular Skimming: Grab a pond net and give your pond a quick skim every day. It doesn't have to take long, just a few minutes to a clean pond. Plus, it’s kind of satisfying, like collecting free-floating nature confetti.

  6. Pond Vacuum: For the overachievers out there, a pond vacuum is your secret weapon. And a tool I recommend a lot on this site! It’s like a vacuum cleaner for water, sucking up any leaves that have sunk to the bottom. It’s a bit more work, but hey, your pond will thank you.

Mix and match these methods, and you’ll have a pond so clean, even the fish will be impressed.