With autumn tints all around, and leaves falling fast, now is the time to make sure that your pond is ready for the months ahead.
1) Preparation
- Remove old and dying leaves from waterlilies and marginal plants
- Net out fallen leaves and stretch a cover-net over the pond if further leaves or herons might be a problem over the autumn/winter
- Check that pumps are below potential ice level and that pump strainers are clean
- Ornaments and pond equipment vulnerable to frost should be stored or appropriately protected
- You may wish to turn off fountains or waterfalls, but it is best to leave biological filter systems and UV units running
2) Feeding Fish
- Reduce feeding frequency and quantity as the temperatures drop
- It is best not to feed fish once the temperatures drop below 8-10 degrees Centigrade
- Avoid feeding fish during short mild spells in the winter
- More details about feeding fish can be found on our FAQ page
3) In Case of Frost
A few days of ice rarely causes problems in ponds, but more persistent ice can upset fish and wildlife or damage plumbing and equipment. If filters and UVs are kept running they are less likely to freeze up and can help to keep the pool water aerated. If the weather is too severe to run pumps, or you have no pump fitted, we can fit a small pool heater to keep an area free from ice.
Our help sheet on frozen ponds gives more advice about coping in severe weather.
Seasonal Blooms:
Aponogeton distachyos – the Water Hawthorn
Water Hawthorn is an attractive waterplant that often flowers right up until the first hard frosts, and is one of the first to reappear in the spring.