Winter is coming, and that means it’s time to make some preparations. Don’t leave your pond, and its inhabitants, out in the cold. Save yourself a headache in the spring and take some steps to plan and prepare for the coming season. We want to give you an idea of the most important tasks to prepare your outdoor pond for winter.
Pond Netting
Before leaves begin to fall, make sure to put a net over your pond’s surface. This can help protect your pond from leaves and other debris that could accumulate in your pond. These extra debris can cause a multitude of problems including clogging your pond and making the water unsafe for any fish living there.
Beneficial Bacteria
Cold water bacteria is an important additive to give your pond before winter sets in. Liquid bacteria is great for the nitrification cycle, and cold water enzymatic packets can help eat up any leaf debris that does get past the net and into the pond.
Feed Fish
If your pond has fish and is deep enough to protect them through the winter, 24 inches deep at a minimum though 30-36 inches is preferred, they can survive outside until spring. To get their bodies prepared for a winter spent outside, make sure to feed them wheat germ food leading up to winter. This type of food will fatten them up and give them the energy to come back next spring happy and healthy.
Pond De-Icer
There are many types of de-icers available for all sizes of ponds. Now is the perfect time to plug one into your nearest GFCI outlet so it’s ready when the cold weather hits. Most pond de-icers have a thermostat so that it can turn on and off as needed throughout the season. In the spring, all you have to do is unplug it, clean it off, and store it until next fall.
As the seasons change, it’s important to take care of your outdoor living spaces, which include your outdoor water features. Spring will be less of a hassle if you put in some time preparing your pond for winter, before it gets too cold. With a few simple steps you can set up your pond for winter success and you’ll thank yourself later. Stop into Lurvey Home & Garden and our experts can help you find everything you need to prepare your pond for winter.
