Spring, summer, fall, and winter pond care calendars.
Complete step-by-step guide to opening your pond in spring. Learn when to start, how to safely handle fish, clean your pond, and prevent algae blooms.
Read the guideSummer pond maintenance tips for the Philadelphia area: managing water temperature, algae, aeration, fish feeding and more through the hottest summer months.
Read the guideStep-by-step guide to winterizing your pond in fall. Learn how to protect fish, equipment, and water quality through a Pennsylvania winter.
Read the guide
Straight walls and stone coping take the full push of expanding ice. Why formal and raised ponds handle winter differently from naturalistic ponds, what damage to watch for, and how to protect the masonry and the fish.
Water expands when it freezes, and fountains are where that hurts most. Which fountains are at risk in a Pennsylvania winter, what to drain and store this month, and when it is safe to leave one running.
Fall pond work is driven by water temperature, not the calendar. Here is what to do at 60, 55, 50 and 45 degrees, in the order it needs doing, for ponds in the Philadelphia area.
Hardy marginals, waterlilies, lotus and tropicals each need something different before winter. A plant-by-plant guide for ponds in the Philadelphia area, which sits in zone 7.
The Philadelphia area has real winters. What you do in October and November matters more than anything you will do from December through February.
Ice sculptures you could never design on purpose, or a pump quietly emptying your pond into the yard. Both are real outcomes. Which one you get depends on three things about your feature.
People book a fall cleanout, then are surprised when a truck shows up and the pond gets taken apart. Here is the whole visit, step by step, and the right order to schedule it in.
Netting a pond takes an afternoon. Undoing a season of leaves that already sank takes a full cleanout, and your fish spend the winter paying for it. Here is why the window is narrower than most homeowners think.
A water feature should earn its keep in February as well as July. Here is how we design ponds and waterfalls that look intentional in every Pennsylvania season.
Cooling water, stable oxygen, and a slow metabolism make autumn a gentler time to introduce koi to a new pond. Here is how we time it in the Philadelphia area.
Fall is one of the best windows of the year to build a pond in the Philadelphia area. Here is what a late-season install looks like and why the results are often better than a summer build.
Think you missed the window this year? You have not. Late summer and early fall are one of the best times to design and build a pond or water feature in the Philadelphia area.
Late summer is a make-or-break stretch for koi ponds in our region. Here is your August checklist to keep the water clear, the fish healthy, and get a head start on fall.
Think July is too late to install a pond or water feature? Here's why summer installations still make sense—and why AquaReale still has installation dates available this year.
Bought a home with a pond you didn't plan for? Here's what every new Greater Philadelphia homeowner should know about your first season as a pond owner, including when to renovate and why a maintenance agreement is the smartest first move.
Spring koi feeding is the most misunderstood part of pond ownership. Feed too early and you can kill fish. Feed the wrong food and you stunt growth all year. Here is the temperature-based feeding schedule we use on every pond we maintain in the Philadelphia area.
A winter aerator is the single most important piece of equipment for koi survival in Pennsylvania and New Jersey winters. Here is why it matters, how it works, and what happens when you skip it.
Spring is here and your pond is calling. Before you fire up the pump and start scrubbing, read this. Here are the do's and don'ts every Philadelphia-area pond owner should know before opening their water feature for the season.
As the weather heats up and the landscape comes to life, it s the perfect time to give your pond a fresh start. With birds chirping and the warm sun shining, your garden sets a beautiful scene for a pond makeover. Spring is when your aquatic plants wake up and koi start to play, making it
Feeding Your Koi Through Philadelphia s Winter and Spring Keeping your beloved Koi happy and healthy throughout the year requires adjusting their care to the changing seasons. Winter in Philadelphia brings colder temperatures and slower metabolisms for your fish, impacting their feeding needs. Here
As the chill of winter sets in, it s not just the perfect time for cozy fires and hot cocoa; it s also the ideal season to plan your dream pond. Contrary to popular belief, winter is a golden opportunity for homeowners to begin conversations with pond contractors. Here s why. Benefits of Winter Plan
When the temperature starts to plummet, pond owners ask themselves how they can keep their pond running properly during the winter months. Follow our winter tips to keep your pond running optimally throughout the season. Keep a hole in the pond ice Once the temperature starts to drop below freezing,
With spring finally upon us, you may be noticing some changes within your pond. Your fish are slowly coming back to life and you may even see some new plant life popping though. When you understand what is happening to your pond during this time, maintaining a healthy ecosystem is even easier! You m
A fall shutdown is the visit that decides how your spring goes. Here is what gets done, what it costs, and the narrow window in the Philadelphia area to get it on the calendar.
What do pond fish do in the Philadelphia Winters? It’s the question we get asked the most, so here are some answers: The warm weather is obviously the best time to be able to enjoy Philadelphia pond fish. During this time, pond fish and koi are active, lively, and highly visible. Many pond fish and
Summer Pond Care Why is Summer Pond Care so important? Your summer pond s water temperature might feel just right to you as you dip your toes into it after a long day of work. But once the water temperature rises above 80 Fº, you may run into problems. An obvious sign of an undesirable issue
Philadelphia Spring Pond Maintenance time is upon us! The maintenance tasks listed below can help prevent future problems from arising throughout the pond season. Some pond enthusiasts enjoy performing their own maintenance, but you can always hire a professional to take care of it for you. Do a Phi
Philadelphia Spring Pond Cleaning So it’s spring time and you are wondering what maintenance is needed for your backyard pond. Every pond is unique and will look different. A few questions to start How do you want your pond to look? Some people prefer pristine while others prefer a more rustic,
What should I feed my Koi Pond Fish in Spring? Koi Pond Fish Diet in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware Fish often are a big part of your pond and they provide a beautiful connection to nature and animals. Just like people, Koi Fish thrive with the right diet. Should you feed them the same
Koi Fish Pond Care for the Summer The dos and don ts of taking care of koi pond fish or regular pond fish in the summer. Koi pond fish and as well as all pond fish aren t too difficult to care for in the summer. It s important to know, however, some important items for optimum health
Everything a Philadelphia pond needs to get through winter, from the fall cleanout to keeping a hole in the ice. What to do, when to do it, and the mistakes that cost people their koi.
