As the temperature outside begins to cool down, it’s important to take steps to winterize your pond. If you don’t properly prepare your pond for winter, the water can freeze and expand, causing damage to the liner. In extreme cases, the entire pond can collapse. Fortunately, winterizing your pond is a fairly simple process that only takes a few hours.
Step 1
Begin by removing all of the plants from your pond. Be sure to remove both the aquatic and marginal plants. If you’re not sure how to tell the difference, marginal plants are the ones that grow in the soil at the edge of the pond. Once all of the plants have been removed, give them a good cleaning and place them in storage until spring.
Step 2
Next, you’ll need to remove all of the fish from your pond and transfer them to a holding tank. If you don’t have a holding tank, you can use a large Rubbermaid container or plastic cooler. Be sure to fill the container with water from your pond so the fish can acclimate and add an air stone to aerate the water. Once they’re in their temporary home, reduce feeding to once every other day as their metabolism will slow down in the cooler water temperatures.
Step 3
The next step is to clean out your filter media and add a winterizing bacteria treatment to your pond. This will help break down any leftover debris and ensure that your pond stays healthy over the winter months.
Step 4
Finally, you’ll need to lower the water level in your pond by about half. This will help prevent ice damage and reduce stress on your pump. Once you’ve dropped the water level, cover your pond with a heavy-duty tarp or Pond Netting Kit. Be sure to secure it well so that it doesn’t blow away in high winds.
Work with a Pro
If you don’t feel comfortable winterizing your pond yourself, you can always hire a professional like one from Sculptured Earth. They’ll be able to do the job quickly and efficiently, and they’ll also be able to give you advice on how to keep your pond healthy over the winter months.
Hiring a professional is always a good idea if you’re not sure
By following these simple steps, you can winterize your pond and rest assured that it will be safe from freezing temperatures this winter.
