Preparing Your Pond for Winter

Preparing Your Pond For Winter

If you are in a region where the winter nights are firmly setting in, you need to think about your winter pond preparation.

Now’s a good time to start making a checklist of things you’ll need to ensure that you’re prepared to handle all the tasks related to winterizing your pond. 

Your checklist should include the following:

• Pond thermometer
• Pond netting
• Pruning tool, nets & skimmers
• Air pump, aeration kit, pond de-icer

Water Temperature

Since water temperature plays a huge role, especially if you have fish, it’s always a good idea to check if your pond thermometer is working properly. Water temperature is your cue to when you should stop feeding your fish all together. 

Fish Feeding

As the water temperature of your pond falls, the fish will require less food. Watch their food intake and adjust your feeding. Stop feeding your fish completely when the water temperature of your pond reaches an average of 45 °F (7 °C). At 47-50 °F (8-10 °C) the fish will begin to hibernate at the bottom of the pond. Regardless of the outside temperature or if your fish come to the surface during the winter do not feed them. They are surfacing for oxygen not food. If you feed them during this period, the food will not be digested.

 

 Pond Netting: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

One of the best ways to make maintenance easier is to place a pond net of over your water garden to capture falling leaves. This way, you don’t have to toil as hard later on to collect scattered leaves, especially those in the deep end. You can find a list of Laguna pond netting here.

 

 

 

 

If you follow all the above recommendations, you’ll be well on your way to making a seamless seasonal transition into winter!

Getting Ready for Fall

Summer is not quite over yet, but you may have noticed that the days are getting shorter, nights are cooler, and leaves are starting to change colours in some areas.

All telltale signs that autumn is just around the corner.

Now’s a good time to start making a checklist of things you’ll need to ensure that you’re prepared to handle all the tasks related to transitioning to autumn, which will make winterizing so much easier later on.

 

Your checklist should include the following:

• Pond thermometer
• Pond netting
• Pruning tool, nets & skimmers
• Air pump, aeration kit, pond de-icer
• Fish Food for Fall Feeding

Water Temperature

Since water temperature plays a huge role, especially if you have fish, it’s always a good idea to check if your pond thermometer is working properly. Water temperature is your cue to when you should switch to feeding fish food specially formulated for fall feeding. More about this below.

Pond Netting: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

One of the best ways to make maintenance easier is to place Laguna Pond Netting over your water garden to capture falling leaves. This way, you don’t have to toil as hard later on to collect scattered leaves, especially those in the deep end.

Pond Netting

Pruning tool, nets & skimmers

Ensure that you have the proper maintenance equipment to get the job done. A pruning tool is excellent for trimming plants. Nets are perfect for handling fish, skimmers are ideal for capturing surface debris.

Air pump, aeration kit, pond de-icer

Take stock of your winterizing equipment and ensure that all is working well for the upcoming winter season.

Fish Food for Fall Feeding

As mentioned above, tracking water temperature is critical heading into colder weather. Pond fish have special nutritional needs when the air cools  and the water temperature gets into the 8° to 10° C (47° to 50° F) range – they need more wheat germ in their diet. So make a mental note to pick up a bag of Laguna Spring/Fall Fish Food with Wheat Germ.

If you follow all the above recommendations, you’ll be well on your way to making a seamless seasonal transition. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the summer!