Winter Pond Care

As the temperature of the water begins to cool, stop feeding your pond fish. A slower metabolism requires less food, and fish can survive the winter under the ice in a state of semi-hibernation. The koi and goldfish do not actually hibernate, but their body functions slow down to the point where they do not expend much energy. As their body metabolisms slow down with the dropping water temperature, the pond fish cannot process food as quickly or as efficiently.

Koi and goldfish can withstand the winter cold and the dropping water temperature, but the pond must be at least three feet deep to prevent it from freezing solid. If your pond is shallow and you live in an area where the water will freeze, consider moving your pond fish to an indoor aquarium for the winter.

Cut back the dead leaves of the water plants including the water lilies, arrowhead, and any other marginal or potted plants. Discard the annuals such as water hyacinths and lettuces, and sink any potted plants to a depth of at least three feet to keep them below the water's freezing zone in the pond.

If the pond is not at least three feet deep, winter over the perennial water plants in an unheated garage or basement. Remove the plants from the pond, cut away the dead and dying leaves, and then place the potted plant in a large gallon-size plastic storage bag. With the bag opening facing up, store the plant on a garage or basement shelf.

Leave the bag open to allow air circulation, and check the plant periodically over the winter. If the plant begins to dry out, add a little water to keep the root system moist. As spring approaches, move the plant back to the pond.

Removing the dead and dying plant matter from the pond helps to minimize the amount of decaying materials left in the water. Depending on the size of you pond, covering the surface area with bird netting will prevent falling leaves from accumulating and sinking to the bottom. Remove any fallen leaves found floating on the surface before they sink to the bottom.

As the leaves settle to the bottom of the pond, the decaying material can alter the quality of the water, especially after ice covers the surface. Decaying plant matter depletes the oxygen content, making it difficult for the fish to breathe. Use a plastic spring rake (the kind used to rake leaves from the lawn) or long-handled dip net to remove as many sunken leaves as possible before the ice forms on surface, being careful of the liner, fish and potted plants.

If the pond has a skimmer, check the basket often to remove the fallen leaves and other debris.

Take the time to winterize your pond's filtration system properly. The exact steps and tasks will varies depending upon the type of filtering system you use. My filtration system uses submerged pump to feed the pond water to a canister style filter, and the outflow from the filter forms the beginning the stream that feeds the waterfall.

As winter approaches, I remove the canister filter from its hiding place under a faux rock. A small section of flexible hose replaces the filter, allowing the pump to feed the waterfall directly and keeping the water flowing.

Clean the filter completely before storing it for the winter. Take precautions to seal the inflow and outflow ports to the filter. The small opening is very inviting to a mouse looking for a winter home.

Pond fish remain active all year. Though their metabolism and body functions have slowed down, they still need oxygenated water to survive.

There are several methods to prevent a section of the pond's surface from freezing, including adding a pond heater, but I prefer to keep the stream and waterfall running year round, aerating and circulating the water to help remove trapped gases.

The small stream in our pond runs between several large granite boulders before spilling into the water below, and the cascading water from even our modest waterfall creates enough movement on the surface of the pond to keep a small section free from ice all winter.

The splashing waterfall creates curtains of spray, which freeze in the cold weather. As the freezing spray builds up, it forms a thin wall of ice around the waterfall. It does not take long before the waterfall is encased under the ice. After a light snow covers the ice, the waterfall disappears from view but the splashing sounds can still be heard.

The photo to the right is taken from approximately the same spot in the yard as the photo of the snow covered stream and waterfall above. The stream flows down the crevice between the two chunks of ledge and behind the Janpanese maple, splashes down into the pond. As the seasons change, and views and focal points also change, adding interest to the garden.

Though snow and ice covers most of the pond, winter still offers its own unique appeal and attraction. Sometimes, fish can be seen swimming slowly under a thin layer of ice, their shapes and movements distorted by the refractions of sunlight through the ice. Birds, squirrels and deer visit to drink from the stream feeding the waterfall, leaving trails of footprints in the snow.

Spray from the waterfall freezes, forming tunnels of ice for the flowing water. And through the quiet of a winter morning, you can still hear the sound of your water garden.

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