There is a cycle to plant life in any pond, but the cycle can easily be disrupted by one or two species of plant life that refuse to remain within the limits of that sequence. If your pond is small, it may be easier to control the spread of unwanted or invasive species of vegetation than if you pond includes acres of water. The good thing about most of the pond vegetation is the limitations nature has put upon them during the following four seasons.
Winter
There is generally no need for aquatic weed control during the winter months because sunlight is limited or negligible. That means plant life is decaying or dying. If ice and snow cover the area, toxic gasses from the decaying vegetation is growing and can harm the fragile environment.
Spring
As the vegetation begins to bloom, oxygen and nutrients are pumped into the water that allows for wildlife, fish, and insects to grow and flourish. The dead winter plants continue to decay and provide essential nutrients for the following year’s growth cycle.
Summer
Blooms may abound everywhere as the weeds, plants, and algae all vie for a spot in the sunlight. Tall plants such as cattails provide hiding places for small fish while inviting insects to enjoy the water. Floating plants like the water lily and water hyacinth encourage insects to come and pollinate the area around the water. Sometimes alga becomes a problem and must be dealt with in the summer.
Fall
Temperatures begin to drop, and the cold water encourages the death of the once thriving plants. The death of the vegetation will provide the pond with a new level of muck and nutrients for future seasons of plant nourishment; however, there may be too many muck plants to manage, and some may need to be removed for the health of the pond.
If you have any questions about maintaining your pond, contact an aquatic management team. They can even introduce you to some new plants that can improve the health of your pond for years to come.