Winter is almost here. It's time to get your pond ready for the cold weather. If this is your first winter with a pond, you might think you can skip the maintenance. That's not the case though. In fact, without proper maintenance, your pond might not survive the winter. Here are some tips to help you get your pond ready for winter.
Clear the Leaves and Debris
Now that the temperatures are dropping, you need to clean your pond. During the fall, your pond has filled up with leaves and other debris. Unfortunately, leaving the debris in place can damage your pond. It can also harm your fish. That's why you need to clear the pond before winter arrives. If you installed a leaf net, you can remove the net. This will clear away the debris. If you didn't use a leaf net, you can use a pool skimmer to remove the leaves and debris.
Empty the Skimmer Basket
Now that you've removed all the debris, you'll need to inspect the skimmer basket. You could have some leaves and debris hiding inside the basket. Remove the debris and wash the basket. Check the skimmer basket about once a week until all the leaves have fallen from the trees. Then, you can check the basket about once a month during the winter months.
Trim the Water Plants
If you have water plants in your pond, now's the time to get them ready for winter. If you have dead foliage in the pond, you'll want to remove that right away. If you have tropical plants that will freeze this winter, place them in pots. Then, you can store them in a warm location until spring. Water lilies should get trimmed back to the crown and then moved to the deepest end of the pond. This will protect them from winter damage.
Change the Bacteria
If you're doing winter maintenance for your pond, don't forget to change the bacteria levels. Warm water bacteria can harm your pond during the winter. That's why you want to add winter bacteria to your pond. Winter bacteria keep your pond healthy once water temperatures reach the freezing point. Once spring arrives, you can adjust the bacteria levels for warm water conditions.
Prepare the Fish
When it comes to preparing your pond for winter, be sure to protect the fish. You don't need to remove the fish for the winter. But, you do need to take some extra steps. The first thing you want to do is make sure your fish are healthy. You'll want to feed your fish their normal diet until the winter temperatures settle in. When the water temperatures reach 10 degrees Celsius, or 50 degrees Fahrenheit, stop feeding your fish. Your fish will go into a dormant phase until spring arrives.
For more information on pond maintenance, contact a professional near you.
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