How do i keep my fountain water clean for birds?
Outdoor fountains, particularly those designed specifically for birds, bring beauty and serenity to the overall garden scene. The falling water, swimming birds, and overall image are visually appealing and calming to the ear. When water turns green and slimy with algae, it no longer only loses its beauty, but also becomes a source of odors, a mosquito breeding ground, and a serious health hazard.
You should clean and refill your outdoor bird fountain with new water on a regular basis to keep it bright and clean. However, the majority of individuals struggle to locate the appropriate cleaning solution for their bird fountains. The huge variety of cleaning substances makes it difficult not only to discover the best, but also to make a decision.
Why is it important to have a clean fountain?
Clean water, on the other hand, is more appealing to birds and will attract a wider range of species to your yard.
How Often Should a Fountain Be Cleaned?
The first step in maintaining a clean bird fountain is to ensure that it does not become soiled.
While you will eventually have to create a cleaning technique for it, you can reduce the amount of filth and the amount of time it takes to polish it.
Cleaning a fountain depends on a variety of circumstances, including the weather, the quality of your water, the position of the fountain, and the amount of birds that use it.
The best recommendation is to clean it multiple times during the summer and every couple of months during the winter.
Cleaning Your Bird Fountain with Hydrogen Peroxide: A Step-by-Step Guide
After you’ve put everything together, proceed to the next step:
1. Existing Water Should Be Drained
The first step in cleaning a bird fountain, like cleaning a pond, is to remove the already tainted water. Remove any previously stagnant water that could be polluted. Make sure the water doesn’t get anywhere where birds can get to it before evaporating. Organic things such as algae, dirt are always present in such water, which may be safe for your backyard flowers and plants. You can either throw it away or recycle it to liven up the remainder of your garden.
- Get rid of any debris.
Any fountain, as is to be expected, will have debris and lost stuff at the bottom. Remove substantial deposits of dirt, spilt seeds, and other impurities from the bird fountain with a disposable rag or scrub brush. When these efforts are combined with the use of a high-pressure garden hose, they can be quite effective.
- Scrub with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and bleach
The majority of homeowners are familiar with cleansing their bird fountains with soap or bleach solution. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, can be useful in a variety of situations. It reduces the formation of bacteria and algae in your fountain, as previously stated. It also aids in the cleaning of the fountain’s surface, making it simple to eliminate algae that has already grown.
One part bleach chlorine and nine parts water should be used to make an efficient bleach solution for individuals who use it. If your bird fountain is near flowers or other plants, you need always be cautious because it can cause damage. Scrub any area where birds land, drink, or bathe with the solution.
- Give the Fountain a good rinsing
After you’ve finished scrubbing the bird fountain, rinse it well with a power washer until there is no more foam. Unlike hydrogen peroxide, chlorine has a long-lasting odor. However, with proper cleaning, it will neither harm or deter birds from diving. The bird fountain should then be allowed to dry fully before being refilled with water. Fill the fountain with clean water to encourage birds to return to drink, bathe, and enjoy the fountain.
Reduced growth is probably the greatest strategy to minimize algae collection in your fountain. Here are some simple ways to stop algae from growing in your bird fountain.
- Remove algae as soon as you notice it
If it is not eliminated as soon as possible, it will continue to develop unchecked. To avoid an infestation, spot-treat algae as soon as you discover it. If you see algae forming at the bottom of your bird fountain, empty the water, remove it, and replace it with new water.
- Use biodegradable balls
The balls are meant to keep algae out of the water that has gathered. Simply drop the ball into the fountain, and it should keep algae at bay for the following 30 days.
- Perform modest maintenance
Removing mild algae growth from your bird fountain does not necessitate extensive dismantling. Wipe algae away with a cleaning cloth or sponge with a light abrasive impact. If the water becomes foul after the algae has been knocked loose, consider changing it with new water.
- Use environmental preventive tactics
As you may know, algae are photosynthetic, and it thrives on sunshine, despite the fact that it lacks the leaves and roots of other garden plants. Algae cannot grow without sunlight. As a result, positioning your fountain in the shadow is the simplest strategy to prevent algae growth. If your backyard lacks shade or trees, situate it near structures that obstruct sunlight.
To attract warblers, thrushes, and other migrating birds that don’t attend feeders, a birdbath or fountain must be strategically placed. While they aren’t afraid to drink, they are cautious about bathing in settings that appear to be quite safe. Mine was placed near a grove of huge spruce trees. A thicket of raspberries grows beneath them, providing plenty of places for the birds to hide if a hawk flies by. My yard is cat-free because it is fenced in; we have a dog, as do two of our neighbors; and our city has a cat-leash law.
