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Spring Startup & Exploratory Drain and Clean: How Superior Ponds Prepares Your Water Feature for a Stress-Free Season

A Simple Call for Spring Maintenance Turned into a Game-Changer

Jessica had been dreading the work her pond would require after winter. Nestled in the backyard of her Lakeville home, her pond had been the highlight of her summer in her newly purchased home—but after months of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, she wasn’t sure what state it was in with no idea how to even start her pond back up again.

When she received a postcard from us at Superior Ponds about our Spring Startups and Exploratory Drain and Clean Service, she was intrigued. She had been meaning to call someone to check on her pond, but she worried about spending money on a service before knowing if she even needed it.

She decided to reach out and was pleasantly surprised when we told her we could provide an initial virtual consultation using pictures—saving her time and avoiding unnecessary visits. With a few quick photos and a short discussion, we assessed her pond’s condition, gave her a price range for service, and scheduled her Spring pond cleanout appointment—all without an in-person visit.

For pond owners like Jessica, spring startup maintenance isn’t just about making a pond or other water feature look good—it’s about ensuring the entire ecosystem is ready for a stress-free season. Whether you’re a seasoned Minnesota pond owner wanting to skip the hardest part of the year or you’re completely new to ponding, here’s everything you need to know about how our Spring Startups and Exploratory Drain and Clean Service works, how we schedule it, and why it is the most efficient way to get your pond running smoothly for the year ahead.

Prefer to listen instead? Tune in below as Andrew and Emma discuss this article on the Ponderings Podcast!

comparison Minnesota koi pond spring cleaning

The Virtual Consultation: Saving You Time Before We Even Arrive

Many pond owners are busy and worry about scheduling evaluations and estimates when they simply want their pond cared for right. That’s why our process starts virtually.

How It Works

This allows us to eliminate unnecessary trips, provide a more streamlined quote, and schedule cleanings more efficiently. Our approach ensures we focus on quality service rather than wasting time on additional site visits.

Getting a Spring Startup and Clean for our regular clients and an Exploratory Drain and Clean for our new clients is super important to the health of their water feature. According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals, a standard spring cleaning can prevent up to 80 percent of water clarity and equipment failures that occur in summer due to poor seasonal transitions (NALP). Getting ahead of problems before they happen so don’t have to worry later!

Scheduling: First Come, First Serve with Location and Service Tier Priority

Our Spring Startup services fill up fast. We operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, with adjustments made for location, and also prioritizing our VIP Maintenance Members, ensuring they get the first available slots before we open up to general scheduling. These clients are recurring maintenance members year after year that have come to enjoy their water feature hands-off (they’re trying to avoid The 5 Most Common Mistakes DIYers Make). They get scheduled in January before general scheduling.

How Our Scheduling Works

  • VIP Members get first priority. We start with our annual maintenance members, ensuring their ponds are set up before moving on to new clients.
  • We then open our general schedule based on first-come, first-serve as well as location to optimize our service routes and ensure efficiency, further saving you money.

As we say, the sooner you book, the sooner your pond is ready for spring! As we provide winter fish health checks and equipment checks with our Peace of Mind visits, we are a full season pond contractor. While we may not be doing as much service work during the winter, it is still busy as we are lining up schedules and getting equipment ready because once warm weather hits, there’s no stopping again until next winter. Minnesota’s spring thaw can be unpredictable. Scheduling early ensures your pond is cleaned before debris and algae growth become problems.

What to Expect on Cleaning Day: Our Standardized Process

When we arrive for your Spring Startup and Cleanout or for your Exploratory Drain & Clean Service, we follow a proven, step-by-step method to ensure your pond is fully prepared for the season and avoid all of The 7 Pond Myths. This isn’t just a basic cleanout—it’s a thorough evaluation of your water feature’s health, catching issues early before they become expensive repairs.

Step 1: Assessing the Condition of Your Pond

As we begin draining and prepping equipment, we conduct a full inspection to identify any concerns:

  • Identifying leaks or liner shifts that could cause water loss
  • Checking for winter equipment damage, including pipes, pumps, and skimmers
  • Assessing excess debris buildup that could impact water clarity and circulation
  • Evaluating fish health and activity levels, if applicable

The reason we provide a diagnostic service with every pond clean is so that we can get ahead of potential problems. Early-season inspections can prevent up to 50 percent of summer maintenance issues caused by undiagnosed leaks and equipment failures (University of Minnesota Extension).

Step 2: Safe Drain and Temporary Fish Relocation

If you have fish, we safely relocate them to a temporary aerated holding tank while we clean. We call this the “Fish Spa!” With the aerator providing necessary oxygen, and a net clamped over top for fish safety, the fish love having their own mini aquatic vacation. Our priority is their safety and minimizing stress, ensuring they are returned to a refreshed, stable environment.

(If you don’t already have protection from predators for your fish in the pond, you might want to learn the Secret to Protecting Your Fish)

Step 3: Full Pond Cleanout and Equipment Inspection

We conduct a thorough, high-powered cleanout to remove accumulated debris while preserving beneficial bacteria for a balanced ecosystem. Our process includes:

  • Power cleaning rock surfaces and boulders to remove excessive buildup
  • Flushing the skimmer and biofilter system for improved circulation
  • Inspecting all plumbing connections for cracks, leaks, or winter damage
  • Checking pumps, skimmers, and filtration systems for optimal performance

A thorough cleaning and equipment check can extend a pond’s lifespan by five or more years compared to ponds that receive minimal maintenance (Aquascape Inc.). It should be noted that while we heavily clean, we curate ecosystem ponds. These are ponds that are not 100% purged of living matter during the cleaning process. Our goal is to work with nature, not against. While we clean excess, we do not want to reset the biosystem in your pond.

Step 4: Refilling and Reconditioning the Water

Once the pond is clean, we refill it with water from the Fish Spa holding tanks, with any additional fresh water needed from the closest hose spigot. We then add essential water treatments to restore balance:

  • Dechlorinators to remove harmful tap water chemicals for fish safety
  • Beneficial bacteria treatments to jumpstart water clarity and ecosystem health
  • Flocculant is occasionally used to clump suspended particles that will be passed through the system within 24 hours

Step 5: Final Adjustments and Service Record Report

Before we leave, we ensure every part of your pond is operational for the season as well as ant areas of concern communicated. This includes:

  • Evaluating the automatic water fill system and ensuring proper function
  • Trimming and removing dead aquatic plants and water lilies to promote healthy regrowth
  • Replacing displaced gravel and adjusting minor rock placements to maintain the pond’s structure
  • Providing a detailed service report (written and/or video) with diagnostics, recommended repairs, and product replacement needs

By following this standardized cleaning process, we set your pond up for a worry-free season—whether you’re a first-time customer or a long-time maintenance client.

What Makes Superior Ponds Different?

Many companies offer spring cleanings, but our standardized cleaning and inspection process ensures that every pond gets the same high level of care. We’re all about Avoiding the 4 Hidden Pitfalls of Pond Projects in every service we provide. Being water feature specialists, this high level of care is an every day practice since it’s all we do.

Key Advantages of Our Service

  • Virtual consultation saves time—no unnecessary visits, faster service.
  • Standardized cleaning process—every pond gets the same high-quality treatment.
  • Full equipment and leak check—prevents costly mid-season failures.
  • Transparent scheduling with regular updates—no long waits when you book early and ongoing weekly emails keeping you in the know.

Neglecting a spring pond cleaning can lead to increased algae growth, equipment breakdowns, and emergency repairs by mid-season. A proactive startup and cleaning sets your pond up for a stress-free summer.

Is Your Pond Ready for Spring? Book Your Startup Service Today

Minnesota’s unpredictable spring weather means waiting too long can cause preventable issues like algae blooms, murky water, or pump failures. The earlier you schedule, the sooner your pond will be crystal clear and problem-free.

How Superior Ponds Can Help

Spring slots fill quickly. Waiting until Spring means waiting even longer. Contact us at Superior Ponds today to secure your cleaning on our service queue and get your water feature ready for a beautiful, worry-free season.

Have You Had a Spring Cleaning Before?

What has been your experience with getting your pond ready for the season? Have you noticed a difference in water clarity, equipment performance, or overall pond health after a professional cleaning? Share your thoughts in the comments below!