Winterize your Pond
10 easy steps to get your water garden ready for the cold months
Easy-to-follow pointers for a stress-free transition into winter.
Watching your pond turn from blue water and green plants to white snow covered water and brown plants can cause a little sadness, especially if you are very attached to your pond and fish. You can ease the transition for yourself and the pond by following these easy steps.
- Begin feeding your fish a special high carbohydrate low protein fall/spring diet. Once the water temperature dips below 50 degrees, don’t feed them at all. Your fish are entering hibernation which means the food may not digest properly. Feeding them could kill them.
- Before the first frost bring tropical plants indoors. Cut your hardy plants down to about one to two inches above the water line.
- If you shut down your pump for the winter make sure you have some way of getting oxygen to your fish if the pond freezes over. DO NOT break the ice. This will shock the fish. One idea would be to take a hot pan and place it on the ice. This will melt a hole allowing oxygen to get in.
- If your fish come to the surface on a warmer winter day, resist the temptation to feed them. They will return to hibernation once the temperatures dip again.
- Place a net over the pond if you live in an area that is home to Blue Heron and Hawks. Once the cover of plants is gone, the fish are more vulnerable and the birds are hungrier. Make sure the net is taut and stakes are two to three inches apart.
- Fill your pond with water before the first frost and find a way to fill it up if you experience a dry winter.
- Don’t worry if your fish look listless and are lying on the bottom of the pond. This is perfectly normal. They are hibernating and will perk up as soon as the water temperatures rise.
- If you shut off your pump for the winter, remove the plants growing in your waterfall and place them in your pond. You don't want them to dry out.
- Once you cut down your plants, find an alternative hiding place for your fish. You could build a cave made out of rocks. Or you could buy a "koi castle" at the water garden store. It is a metal dome with wire mesh around the top and sides.
- Finally, enjoy your pond during the winter months! Winter gives you a break from all the water garden chores, and the view of a white pond is dazzling. And look what you have to look forward to next spring!
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The copyright of the article Winterize your Pond in Water Gardens is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Winterize your Pond must be granted by the author in writing.
