Water garden maintenance is a four season hobby. Even though it may not be starting to bloom and take shape until Spring and really kick into full gear until Summer, there are still many things to be done in the fall and winter seasons too. Knowing what aspects of the pond need to be done during the winter can help keep the pond in good running order throughout the year. This helps reduce possible headaches and glitches in the water garden system that may pop up without checking on the four season maintenance schedule.
Water Garden Maintenance
Now is the time to turn off any of the fountains, running water features, water falls, etc that are focal points in the pond or water garden. These will need to be shut off until Spring, and have their components tested. If the water garden is prone to freezing a good trick is to float a few gallon milk jugs with 2/3 full of water in the pond; that way if the pond starts to freeze over these can be thrust out and allow for air and a break in the ice.
Water Plant Maintenance
Take all the water tropical plants into the house and bed them down for the winter; they won’t be coming back into the garden until Springtime. Also take the not so hardy plants and sink them deeper into the garden; they have less chance of freezing this way. This is all that will need to be done (weed, pinch off any diseased or damaged areas to the plants, and do a little deadheading if it is needed, but it really shouldn’t at this stage).
Pond Animal Maintenance
Make sure that there is a water heater, that it is turned on, and that it is working properly. This will insure the life of the fish and other pond inhabitants; as well as keeping the water from freezing. If this should fail, hopefully the milk jug trick mentioned in Water Garden Maintenance will keep the pond from serious damage.
Pond Equipment Maintenance
Keep the filters that weren’t used clean and watch for any repairs that may be needed. The pump and the filters should be in great working order.
During the Winter, the pond is basically “sleeping” but that is no reason not to keep on top of things, and to make sure that it is in fine shape to open up the Spring with. For more information, see “Sunset Water Gardens”.
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