How to Prepare Your Water Garden for Winter

Water gardens are a great way to add interest, beauty and a natural ecosystem to your yard. However, they do require a bit of maintenance before the first freeze sets in to protect your investment and hard work. Make sure you take these important steps to winterize your water garden to keep your plants and fish healthy during the cold winter months.

The first step you should take is to remove debris that has fallen into your pond. Leaves, branches and other organic materials give off toxic gases as they decompose, which can damage the fish and plants in your water garden. Ponds should never be installed below a tree unless fallen leaves are removed daily. Rake around the edge of your pond to decrease the amount of debris that falls in.

Keep track of the water temperature 'stop feeding fish once it reaches 45 degrees. Their metabolism will slow down and they will stay in the deepest, warmest part of the pond until spring.

Don't let the surface of your pond freeze over completely. You should make a hole in the ice to release trapped gases. Never break a hole in the ice, as this can shock and kill fish - use boiling water at the edge of the pond.

Since ponds are usually deeper than water fountain basins, you can leave the pump running through the winter to keep the water circulating. Check for a flow adjustor switch and slide it to the lowest setting. Elevate the pump with bricks, rocks or an upside down terracotta pot with the end of the tubing about one to two inches below the surface. Do not place the pump at the bottom of the pond if you have fish - it will pump the warm water to the surface, making the water too cold for them to survive.

If you live in a climate where the pond is likely to have more than six inches of ice or freeze completely, you should remove all of your plants for the winter. To store your plants until spring, remove the plants (pot and all) from your pond and place them in large clear plastic bags. Double bag them, seal them, and label the outside. Storing them in a dark location such as a basement or garage where the temperature stays between 50 - 60 degrees is ideal.

If you live in an area with a mild climate or you don't expect more than six inches of ice to form in your pond, you can leave most of your plants in it provided the roots will be below the ice level; it's best to sink them into the deepest area of the pond. However, all tropicals should be removed. Some hardy tropical aquatic plants such as lilies can be stored over the winter by removing them from their pots, placing them in a bucket of water and changing the water daily. Once the bulbs harden, store them in a small bag of moist sand and store in a dark location between 50 and 60 degrees.

For more tips, pond care, fountain care and accessories, check out KineticFountains.com.