Tips and Tricks for Fall and Winter Pond Care

This is the time of year when across most of the country we are experiencing the beauty and crisp air that signals that it's fall. Have you noticed that this time of year your pond is the clearest that it's been all year? This is usually because of the cooler temperature and full, lush plants. To help your pond look great throughout the whole season, follow our quick tips, for easy pond maintenance and care.

• Prune and clean out any yellowed or dead area on all of your plants. You want to keep them going strong through the months to come.
• When winter makes it's appearance. Shortly before the snow has fallen and blanketed the ground. Cut out the rest of the dying and yellow plants in your pond. Bring in the tropical plants for the winter if they've not expired. Be sure to cut down your cattails just above water level, or leave them up. They become the holiday corn stocks look for your pond.
• Stop giving your plants fertilizer. This will let them know that it is time to get ready for winter.
• When your pond reaches 50 Degrees Fahrenheit, stop feeding your fish. Their bodies are starting to slow down for the winter, and over feeding them can cause problems with their health.
• Check your skimmer box more often than you normally would through the summer. This is to keep it clean of the fallen leaves, and other fall debris that can enter your pond. Try to clean up any excess amounts of leaves around and in your pond. It's ok to have some leaves about. It will offer protection to the insects and amphibians that call your pond "Home".
• If your pond is starting to turn brownish in color from the debris. Scoop out as much as you can, and use a activated carbon to clear up the pond.
• If you live in the north where your pond freezes every year. Now's the time to determine if you want to completely shut it down, or leave it on.
• If you choose to leave your pond on. Be vigilant about checking for ice dams, and a consistent amount of water. The ice formations that can form on your waterfall can be gorgeous, and well worth the work.
• One of the first things to do when shutting down your pond for winter is to unplug, and remove the pump from the water. Be sure to place it in a frost free location, and also have it submerged in a bucket of water. This will help to keep the seals moist, and prevent them from drying and cracking.
• If you have fish, be sure to have an aerator or circulating pump going to mix the water with oxygen. In colder area the bubbles from the aerator will keep a hole open in your pond. This allows the bad gases to mix with fresh air, helping to keep the fish alive and healthy. If you do not have fish than a aerator is unnecessary.
• If you live in the part of the country where winter lasts a long time. Consider getting a floating de-icer that's controlled by a thermostat. These units sense when the water is below freezing and turns on and heats up. Be sure to keep the de-icer away from the bubbler. The circulation will keep the de-icer on longer as the cold water circulates by it.
• Last but not least. If you are fortunate to live a area that stays warm all year long, you can skip most of these steps and enjoy your pond all year long.

The most important tip that anyone can offer is to, have fun with your pond. Whether it's winter or summer. There's so many treasure that can be enjoyed all year long from your pond.

Check here for great products to get your pond ready for the winter.