Seasonal services
Seasonal Services
We provide year-round professional maintenance for your water features.
Overview
Just like the changing seasons, your water feature has different needs throughout the year. From refreshing your pond in the spring to preparing it for the colder winter months, proper seasonal care helps maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem and keep your water feature looking its best. At Good Earth Water Gardens, we recommend four essential seasonal services: Annual Drain & Clean, Mid-Summer Maintenance, Fall Netting, and Winter Preparation, designed to take the guesswork out of pond care and help you enjoy your water feature year-round.
Watch
01Spring
Annual Drain & Clean
To keep your pond looking its best throughout the season, we recommend an annual drain and clean service. Over time, organic debris, sediment, and excess nutrients naturally accumulate in your pond, potentially affecting water clarity, water quality, and the overall health of your aquatic ecosystem.
An annual drain and clean provides a fresh start by removing accumulated waste, thoroughly cleaning rocks and gravel, and helping restore a healthy, balanced aquatic environment.
At Good Earth Water Gardens, our professional drain and clean services help ensure your pond is refreshed, revitalized, and ready for another season of enjoyment.
| Pond size | Surface area | Drain and clean |
|---|---|---|
| Small ponds | up to 80 sq ft | $800 to $1,000 |
| Medium ponds | up to 150 sq ft | $1,000 to $1,750 |
| Larger ponds | up to 300 sq ft | $1,750 to $3,500 |
The price ranges above will depend on a few factors including condition of the water feature, the presence of fish, and the need for landscaping. We are more than happy to come out and give you a specific estimate.
02Summer
Mid-Summer Pond Maintenance
By mid-summer, your pond has been working hard to maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Warmer temperatures, increased sunlight, and rapid plant growth can contribute to excess nutrients, algae buildup, and reduced water clarity.
While some pond owners prefer routine monthly or bimonthly maintenance, others take a more hands-off approach. Even if your pond is looking beautiful and functioning well, a mid-summer maintenance visit can help keep everything in balance and prevent minor issues from becoming bigger problems.
At Good Earth Water Gardens, our mid-summer maintenance services provide a seasonal refresh to help keep your pond healthy, beautiful, and enjoyable throughout the remainder of the season.
Our recommended mid-summer maintenance services include:
- Remove accumulated leaves, debris, and organic waste
- Lightly scrub rocks and boulders in streams and waterfalls
- Clean skimmer and filter pad
- Clean Biofilters and filter pads, along with other components as needed
- Inspect pumps and check for proper water flow
- Trim and prune overgrown aquatic plants
- Remove or treat excessive algae growth
- Adjust rocks and gravel to conceal exposed liner
- Visually inspect for signs of potential leaks
- Inspect underwater lighting, if applicable
- Add beneficial bacteria and other appropriate water treatments
- Top off water levels as needed
- Provide a detailed service record documenting work performed
A little attention goes a long way! A mid-summer maintenance visit is a great way to give your pond the attention it deserves, helping you enjoy clear water, healthy plants, and beautiful waterfalls throughout the rest of the season.
Pricing starting at $400
03Fall
Fall Netting
As autumn arrives and the leaves begin to fall, protecting your pond from accumulating debris becomes especially important. Without proper protection, falling leaves and other organic matter can quickly collect in your pond, eventually sinking to the bottom and decomposing. This buildup can negatively impact water quality, contribute to excessive nutrient levels, and create additional maintenance challenges.
At Good Earth Water Gardens, our professional fall netting services help protect your pond during the autumn months. We install durable, discreet pond netting designed to catch falling leaves and debris before they enter the water, helping maintain a cleaner, healthier aquatic environment.
Fall netting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your pond, reduce seasonal maintenance, and prepare your water feature for the winter months. Let us handle the falling leaves so you can spend more time enjoying your pond!
04Winter
Winter Preparation & Services
As temperatures begin to drop, preparing your water feature for the winter months is an important step in protecting your investment and preventing potential damage from freezing conditions.
While many ponds and waterfalls can operate beautifully throughout the winter, others may benefit from a seasonal shutdown. At Good Earth Water Gardens, we help homeowners determine the best approach based on their water feature's design, equipment, and maintenance requirements.
05Winter
Shutting Down Your Water Feature
For most fountains, or water features that require frequent refilling, shutting down for the winter is usually the best option. As water freezes, ice formations can trap water that would normally return to the reservoir. Because most fountains have limited water capacity, this can quickly deplete water levels, causing the pump to run dry, overheat, and potentially burn out.
When shutting down a water feature, we recommend removing the pump, cleaning it, and storing it in a frost-free location, such as a garage or basement, following the manufacturer's storage recommendations. Any plumbing or equipment susceptible to freezing should also be properly winterized.
06Winter
Keeping Your Water Feature Running
Many ponds and waterfalls can continue operating throughout the winter, creating breathtaking ice formations that are truly unique to the colder months. As ice builds up around flowing waterfalls and streams, it creates beautiful, ever-changing winter sculptures that add a whole new dimension to your landscape.
Interestingly, once a layer of ice forms over the flowing water, it can actually act as insulation, helping protect the circulating water beneath from freezing. With adequate water flow and proper conditions, your waterfall can continue running beneath these frozen formations, even during extended periods of freezing temperatures.
However, a little extra attention is important during freezing temperatures. Before a significant freeze, make sure your water feature is topped off to its proper operating level. Ice can still deplete water inside the feature, and insufficient water levels may cause pumps to run dry.
For ponds containing fish, we also recommend installing a floating pond de-icer to help maintain an opening in the ice, allowing harmful gases to escape. Proper air exchange will help ensure our finned friends breathe easy below the ice.
07Winter
Let Us Help You Prepare for Winter
Whether you choose to shut down your water feature or enjoy it year-round, proper winter preparation can help prevent costly repairs and ensure a smoother transition into spring.
08Repairs
Something is not right? We will come look
If you are dealing with a leak, water quality problems, a pump that has quit or anything else, we will come out for a standard service call to assess the feature and talk through any repairs worth considering. See Leak Diagnostics & Repairs.
“Came when scheduled and took care of winter shutdown.”
Frequently asked
Questions we hear
Something else on your mind? Call or text (816) 720-7577.
Visit Our FAQ PageHow often should a pond be cleaned?
We recommend a full drain and clean once a year, usually in spring. It flushes out the muck and nutrients that build up over the year, gives us a chance to inspect everything, and resets the ecosystem for the season. Between clean-outs, empty the skimmer basket once or twice a week and add beneficial bacteria regularly.
How much does it cost to have a pond cleaned?
Our published averages for a pond drain and clean are $800 to $1,000 for small ponds up to 80 square feet, $1,000 to $1,750 for medium ponds up to 150 square feet, and $1,750 to $3,500 for larger ponds up to 300 square feet. The condition of the pond, fish and any landscaping needs affect the final price.
What do I do with my koi during a clean-out?
We handle it. Fish move to a shaded, aerated holding tank of their own pond water during the clean, then acclimate to the fresh water temperature before they are released back into the pond.
What do I do with my koi over the winter?
In Kansas City you can usually leave them in the pond if it is at least two feet deep and you keep a hole in the ice with a floating de-icer, an aerator or a running waterfall. That hole lets harmful gases escape and oxygen in. Stop feeding when the water reaches about 50 degrees.
How do I refill a pond in winter if my hose is frozen?
Winterize outdoor spigots and bring hoses indoors so they are ready when you need them. Some clients carry buckets from the house or run a hose from an indoor spigot, and a hair dryer can thaw a frozen spigot.
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