Closing Your Pond for the Fall cont.
Getting your water garden ready for winter..Brrrrr!!
Caring for your pond pump, underwater lights, filter etc......
If your pond pump is not being used over the winter, it can be stored in any
ice free area of the water garden or in a bucket of water indoors until the spring.
Any underwater lights should be moved to an ice-free area also, or they
can be pulled out and set along the edge (out of water) of the pond till spring.
UV (ultra-violet) lights are especially susceptible to damage from ice forming
in their chambers and bursting their delicate bulbs or quartz sleeves. It is
important to disconnect and drain your UV light unit thoroughly before any heavy
freezes. Store the light in a dry location where it will not freeze over the
winter. (UV lights can normally be allowed to run undamaged through frost and
light freezes (30-32 degrees), but should be disconnected before any hard
prolonged freezes). Water garden de-icers with exposed heating elements should have
any hard water deposits cleaned from the elements before storing. Usually
wiping the element with a soft rag after soaking them over night in vinegar
will do the job.
Cover it UP...
We highly recommend placing a net over your garden pond in the fall before heavy
leaf drop! Just stretch it over the pond and secure it with stones, stakes,
or whatever else is handy. If a heavy load of leaves causes the net to sag,
just scoop them off with a broom or hand net. You may see your water discolor
(turn a tea color) from the pigments of the leaves-- this is harmless and will
dissipate after the leaves are removed. Your goal is just to prevent those
leaves from collecting in the bottom and fouling your water. If you have trees
with very small leaves (Locust etc.), choose a net with smaller openings
(3/8" or less).
What not to do...
A couple words of caution. Never, use a hammer, stick, etc. to break a hole
in the ice if at all possible. This can cause a panic to your finned friends,
making them more susceptible to an infection during the winter months when
their immune systems are very low.
Secondly, there are many other little tricks you may read or hear to keep
an air hole open for fish during the winter. Suggestions such as, floating
rubber balls, bales of straw, etc. also can be effective in a mild winter
but we would not recommend you depend on them (if you are attached to your
finned friends) in a severe winter!
Finally, Another Spring Arrives...
Once the chance of prolonged freezing spells are past (late-March), you
can return your pump(s) and underwater lights to their regular locations.
Any pond plants can also be retrieved from their deep-water winter bed and placed
in their regular locations. Resume feeding your fish (if desired) when water
temperature reaches 50 degrees. A wheat based food is also best to use for
cool, early season feedings. April/May is also good time to do any dividing
of pot-bound plants and don't forget to give all your pond plants (except oxygenators)
an application of fertilizer every spring!
Good luck and enjoy your pond!
More...[1]
[2] [3]
| 
