NORTH HILLS WATER GARDENS – POND
WINTERIZATION
The summer is almost over and fall is right around the corner. Fall
is the time of the year we stop thinking about string algae and green
water and we start thinking about battling the cold temperatures. Cutting
the plants back, adding fall netting, placing a de-icer in the pond
and stop feeding the fish are all part of the fall season. Here are
some pointers on how to winterize your pond this season!
I. When to Winterize
A. There are two (2) options when to begin winterizing your
pond
1. When the water temperature reaches 50 degrees Fahrenheit
2. When the leaves begin to fall
II. Basic Winterization
A. Mechanical Considerations:
1. Shut down the pump
a. A decrease in water temperature will produce an increase in
its oxygen content
b. The pump may run until freezing water occurs
1) Summer: Lower temperatures occur at the bottom of the pond
2) Winter: Higher temperatures occur at the bottom of the pond
c. If the pump is left running all winter, it should be shut
off if excessive ice forms. If ice forms you may deplete the pond of
water by diverting it out of the system
2. Leave the pump in the pond or store indoors in water to prevent
the seals from drying out.
a. If left in the pond you will need a minimum of 18” of water
depth
3. Shut down the Bio-Filter
a. Clean thoroughly and store
b. Filters will need to be “re-seeded” in the spring
4. Remove the thermometer
5. If you have a back flow preventer on your pond it must be
disconnected or your plumbing may freeze and break
B. The vent hole (especially when wintering fish or frogs)
1. Purpose: To allow oxygen exchange and release harmful gases such
as carbon dioxide
2. Methods:
a. Aeration Kit
1) Aquarium aerator, agitates water to keep vent hole open*
2) Small pump near surface*
*Both work in all but extreme weather
b. De-icing Unit: Opens a vent hole 12” to 18” on pond
water surface
1) These are thermostatically controlled to only turn on as needed
C. Fish
1. Need a minimum of 18” of water depth
2. When water temperature reaches 50 degrees, torpor or decreased
metabolism begins:
a. Remember that water temperature changes much more slowly than
air temperature
b. DO NOT FEED fish below 50 degrees water temperature unless
wheat germ food is used.
c. You may feed your fish wheat germ food until the pond water
temperature reaches 40 degrees.
d. You should stop feeding the fish all together when your pond
water temperature reaches 40 degrees.
e. Theoretically, goldfish never need to be fed; even in the
summer months…you only feed them to increase their size.
D. Frogs and Other Amphibians
1. Leave them alone, they will do fine on their own
E. Cover pond (net cover lets in light) – Optional
1. Pre Packaged Netting: Small debris can still get through and
fish can get caught in it
2. Bulk Netting: Better quality with smaller holes, Can be cut
to size
3. Regular screening can also work
III. Plants
A. Divide your plants in the spring or fall
B. Stop fertilizing your plants when your pond water temperature
reaches 60 degrees
C. Types:
1. Discard Hyacinths and Water Lettuce
2. Parrots Feather and Anacharis needs no special attention
3. Hardy Marginal Plants (ex: Flags, Rushes, Sedges and grasses)
need to be cut back and sunk into deepest parts of the pond.
a. Hardy plants may be cut down to 2” and sunk.
b. Cattails, Iris’ and grasses can be left alone
4. Tropical Plants (ex: Canna, Taro, Umbrella Palm, Dwarf Papyrus)
can be over-wintered indoors and treated as any common houseplant.
5. Marginally Hardy Plants have a less chance of survival.
a. Water Clover – Leave alone
b. Variegated Cattail – Cut and sink
6. Water Lilies – Two (2) varieties
a. Tropical: Try to winter by storing tuber only in sand at 50
degrees air temperature (like a bulb)
b. Hardy: Cut and sink Rhizome to bottom of pond
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at either
of our store locations:
North Hills Water Gardens
1615 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh PA 15209
412-821-6525
North Hills Water Gardens
4195 Old William Penn Highway
Monroeville PA 15146
412-666-0199
For a beautiful backyard…Just add water!
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