One of our most commonly asked questions is whether or not pond water treatment is necessary throughout the year. In general, your location and local weather is the best determiner of whether or not you need consistent treatment throughout the year. Here’s a quick look at what we recommend based upon your location.
The Southern U.S
Virtually all southern states, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, both Carolinas, Virginia and Texas, really do need pond water treatment throughout the year. Certain areas in southern Kentucky and the southern and southeastern portions of West Virginia also might need treatment throughout the year.
This might surprise some pond or lake owners as it does often snow in some of these states occasionally and freezing temperatures aren’t out of the ordinary. Still, the states typically are prone to temperature spikes during the cooler months and prolonged days where the temperature drops below freezing are rare. Therefore, pond water can experience the growth of unwanted green organic matter just about any time of the year.
Hawaii
Hawaii is a unique state in so many ways. In most locations, we would recommend that you treat your pond water throughout the year, as temperatures are warm enough to affect pond water and facilitate the growth of floating organic matter. Still, the Hawaiian Islands actually have ten different climate zones, including everything from a hot desert to the glacial temperatures at the summit of Mauna Kea. In general, though, if you have a pond or lake, it’s mostly likely found in a climate zone that would require pond water treatment throughout the year.
Other 12-Month Treatment Areas
Several other states, including Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona also typically need pond water treatment throughout the year. While these states do have colder winter weather and some areas have snow, temperature spikes can occur and this can affect the quality of your pond water very quickly.
At higher elevations, such as in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, both of which can receive a decent amount of snowfall, it might be acceptable to skip treatment during the coldest months, but the daily high temperatures still average above 40 degrees during these colder months, so it can be a good idea to continue treatment.
Ponds and lakes in Southern California and the tip of southern Nevada also should be treated continuously throughout the year. At certain elevations in Southern California, it might be consistently cold enough to skip a few months of treatment, but throughout most of this region, winter temperatures, while cool, aren’t cold enough to inhibit the growth of organic matter.
Eight-Month Treatment Areas
In some areas, 12-month treatments probably are not needed. In Northern California, most of Nevada, western Utah, Washington, Oregon and portions of Idaho, we recommend treatment from about April 1 until about November 1, as these are the months most prone to the growth of floating organic matter.
Many states in the northeast and Mid-Atlantic also need treatment during these months, including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and most of Ohio. A portion of West Virginia and perhaps a small area in northern Indiana also fit into this category.
For some states, eight months is needed, but from March 1 to October 1, as a slight shift from the areas mentioned above. These states include Kentucky, most of Indiana, most of Illinois, Missouri, most of Kansas, most of Colorado and the eastern half of Utah.
Six-Month Treatment
In areas where winters can be quite prolonged, pond water treatment typically is needed only during six months of the year, from about April 1 until September 1, although if you are experiencing a warmer than typical September it might be wise to treat for an extra month.
At any rate, these “colder” states include our own beautiful home state of Minnesota, as well as Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and portions of Idaho and northeastern Colorado.
Temperature Spikes
While areas with very cold winters rarely experience temperature spikes from November through February, other areas of the country certainly can experience an early spring or a late autumn. For these areas, we highly recommend keeping extra pond water treatment products on hand to ensure that you are ready for anything.
Basically, any time the water in your pond rises about 45 degrees; this can create conditions ideal for the growth of floating organic matter. This green matter can reduce oxygen levels in your pond which can lead to fish kills, water odor issues and affect the appearance of your pond or lake water.
The easiest way to prevent pond issues is to treat your pond, and at Healthy Ponds, we have an assortment of products that can make it easy to keep your pond or lake water healthy, balanced and beautiful. Our natural products, such as our AquaSphere®PRO, are chemical-free and use beneficial bacteria that are safe for fish, wildlife, livestock, pets and humans.
Our pond water treatment products are used on farms, golf courses, parks, private land and more. To discover which treatment options are the best fit for your pond or lake, go to https://healthyponds.com/treatment-plan/.
