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Professional Rochester, NY on Oct 23, 2012

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10 Tips for preparing your Pond for the winter

Here are a few suggestions to help get your Fish Pond or Water Garden ready for the months ahead. Click here for more info:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/acorn-landsc...

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Tip #1 Use a long handled Skimmer Net to remove as many leaves as possible to prevent them from decomposing in the Pond.
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Tip #2 Cut back all Aquatic Plants in the Pond including your lilies. You can also do this with Perennials located near the Pond.
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Tip #3 If you do not intend to run your Pond during the winter, you can remove, Inspect and clean Filter Media & Pump. Place your Pump in a bucket of water and sto...
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Tip #4 Add some Cold Water Bacteria to help keep your Pond looking good during the winter months.
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Tip #5 Stop feeding your fish when the water temperature gets below 55 F. Their digestive systems have slowed down and it is not healthy for them to eat.
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Tip # 6 If you have Fish, add an Aerator or small Re-circulating Pump that bubbles at the surface to oxygenate the water and allow gases from decomposing leaves...
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Tip #7 If you live in the north where temps are extreme, add a floating heater to keep the surface from freezing over. They have a built in thermostat and tur...
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Tip #8 Cover your Pond with Pond Netting during the big leaf drop period. It can be removed after most of the leaves have fallen. You can elect to keep your...
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Tip #9 Install an Aquascape Pond Skimmer. Your Pump will be protected inside the skimmer. Leaves will be drawn from the Pond surface. They can be easily...
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Tip #10 Here are a few of my favorite Aquascape Inc. products for Fall/Winter Pond Preparation.

13 Comments

Lisa I Woodcliff Lake, NJ

Thanks for sharing such extremely helpful tips! I know next to nothing about water feature maintenance, so I never would've thought of half of these things.

on Oct 23, 2012 · Like 1
Miriam I New York, NY

Love your post! Thank you for the great tips. I know some people who will love to see this. Sherrie S :)

on Oct 23, 2012 · Like 1
Lisa I Woodcliff Lake, NJ

Speaking of people who should see this, Aquascape Inc. !! All of your products in action! :)

on Oct 23, 2012 · Like 1
Sherrie S Debary, FL

Miriam I Thank you. I always appreciate pond tips. Although I live in Florida I do have to take special care of two fish (plecos). They require the water to be over 50 degrees so I use a solar blanket as soon as it becomes 60 degrees. Koi & goldfish don't have this requirement. I also turn off the waterfalls & put a small pump with a little filter in the pond during the cold periods.

on Oct 23, 2012 · Like 1
Aquascape Inc. Saint Charles, IL

Great post!! You've covered all the steps for fall maintenance. Gonna share this post on our Facebook page today.

on Oct 23, 2012 · Like 4
Rocky Mountain WaterScape Erie, CO

Great tips, Tom!

on Oct 23, 2012 · Like 1
Lentzcaping, Inc. Warrington, PA

Thanks for the tips on winterizing ponds, very helpful.

on Oct 24, 2012 · Like 1
Patricia C Ayer, MA

We had been told to leave the leaves on the floor of the pond and just clean them out in the spring. We have done this for the past several years and have had no problems.

on Oct 24, 2012 · Like 1
Rocky Mountain WaterScape Erie, CO

Patricia C, do you have fish? It is better for them to remove the leaves in the fall, plus keeping your pond clean means less maintenance in the spring and fewer big clean outs...

on Oct 24, 2012 · Like 3
Acorn Landscaping Rochester, NY

Hi Patricia, I am going to agree with Rocky Mountain Waterscape in that your fish(if you have any) will be better off and you will have less to do in the spring by keeping the leaves out now. Thanks Rocky Mountain for clarifying.

on Oct 24, 2012 · Like 2
Aquascape Inc. Saint Charles, IL

I concur with Tom and Rocky Mountain. Decaying leaves on the bottom of the pond can become toxic for fish. Best to remove them now - it's easier than waiting until spring, too.

on Oct 24, 2012 · Like 3
Deck and Patio Company "O... Huntington Station, NY

Love it. Great info for pond lovers like me!

on Oct 24, 2012 · Like 1
Hamtil Construction LLC Saint Louis, MO

Great tips, and timely!

on Oct 26, 2012 · Like 1