By Guest Author Ricky Peterson
The winter months can be a tough time for wildlife, especially for the fish who live in your garden pond.
Luckily, pond fish are pretty hardy things and can survive the winter without too much input from you. But there are a few things that you should do to help your fish and plants thrive again come spring.
Keep your garden pond free of ice
Pond life will all but shut down during the winter months as the fish hibernate and the plants stop growing until spring returns. They won’t require as much oxygen as usual – but they will need some. And if your pond is covered with ice, oxygen will be in short supply, and harmful gases will be locked in the water.
If your garden pond is at least three feet deep, chances are it won’t freeze, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. There are a few ways to ensure your pond stays ice-free:
- If the garden pond freezes over, place a pan full of hot water on top to melt a hole. This should be enough ice-free space to ensure your fish and plants get the oxygen they need.
- A heated de-icer will do this job for you – it floats on top of the water and keeps the area around it warm enough to prevent ice from forming. This is a great option if you’re going to be away from home.
- Keeping your pond pump running can be enough to stop ice from forming too, though you should consider reducing the flow rate of water to around 50% if your pump has this facility.
Cover your garden pond
Pond covers will allow you to protect your pond from snow and debris, but it will also block out your pond life’s much-needed light source. Alternatively, a net will keep your pond clear of debris while also allowing light to reach your plants. It won’t keep the snow away, though, so if any snow settles on the pond when it is covered with ice, clear it away quickly, as this will also cut off the plants’ light source.
Clear out the organic matter
Apart from saving yourself a job in the spring, clearing your garden pond of dead leaves and foliage will help to ensure that the quality of your pond water is good. Excess organic matter will decompose and add nitrates to the water – for this reason, it’s also a good idea to get rid of some of the sludge from the bottom of your pond, which contains fish waste and decaying plants. A partial water change is also wise.
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Stop running the pond filter
We’re not talking about the Instagram app on your phone, but about your pond filter, which could break in the freezing water. Your fish and plants won’t really need it during the winter months as their activity is so reduced, but they will need it again come spring – and if it breaks, you’ll have to fork out for a new one. The UV filter is especially important to remove, as the quartz sleeve is very delicate.
Keep an eye on your plants
Check which varieties of plants are in your garden pond to see whether any are frost sensitive, as these should possibly be removed for the coldest months. For instance, hardy water lilies should be placed into the deeper areas of the pond, while non-hardy varieties need to be covered and stored in a cool, frost-free place. Do all of this before winter sets in.
About The Author: Ricky Peterson is an expert on gardening and is an aquatics advisor at Swallow Aquatics, Great Britain’s #1 Aquatics Experts.