Search

A Guide To Winterizing Your Water Features

Royal city nursery backyard pond

The fall gardening checklist tends to involve a lot of maintenance and preparation before winter sets in, including winter bird care. If you have a water feature in your landscape like a fountain or a pond, you will want to ensure you winterize it in order to avoid any headaches next spring. This feature involves a step-by-step guide on how to winterize your water features before the snow flies.

How To Winterize Your Water Fountain

If you have a water fountain, make sure it is completely drained before any major freeze here in Guelph. Any water left over will expand and contract when it freezes and thaws, which is likely to cause your fountain’s basin to crack. Here are some simple steps to follow to ensure your water fountain is properly winterized this year.

1. Pump Maintenance: The first order of business is to unplug your pump and give it a good scrub. If you wish to remove it completely for the winter, now is the time. Be sure to clean off as much debris as possible using a cloth and warm, soapy water. Or, if it’s caked on, you can soak it in a mild solution of vinegar and hot water to loosen the debris, then wash and dry everything before storing it for the winter.

2. Drain Your Fountain: This is easier if it already has a quick drain feature, but you can also just scoop the water out with a bucket or cup (depending on how large it is).

royal city nursery bird on a fountian

3. Give It A Scrub: Give your fountain a little TLC with a scrub brush and some warm soapy water, rinse, then do a second rinse with some vinegar and water to remove any calcium and lime buildup (avoid this last step if you have a copper fountain as it will tarnish the finish).

4. Tuck Your Fountain In For The Season: If your fountain is small enough, store it in a dry place for the season. If it is too large to move, line the basin with burlap sacks or old towels to help absorb excess moisture. Then, put on a fountain cover to avoid any additional moisture getting in over the winter. 

 

Winterizing Water Features: Ponds

Just like with fountains, if you have a pond as a water feature in your landscape, it is important to properly winterize it–especially if you have fish! Try to complete this step-by-step checklist prior to any lengthy frost. 

skimming pond for leaves royal city nursery

1. Remove Leaves & Other Debris: Fall colours are always followed by fallen leaves, and you don’t want to leave them in your pond all winter long. Use a skimmer net or a large fish net (preferably one with an extension handle) to regularly clear any debris from the water of your pond as temperatures start to drop. You can also purchase netting to throw over your pond to reduce clean-up requirements.

2. Pond & Pump: Pond drainage is not necessary, and pumps do not always have to come out of the pond in winter. Pumps should be disconnected from the waterfall and placed just below the surface of the pond; this way the bubbles break the surface and add oxygen to the water. But first, remove the pump from the pond, and conduct all necessary maintenance, which varies from pump to pump. 

If you have fish in your pond, chances are you had it designed with them in mind! If that is not the case, and you’re not sure if your fish will survive the winter in your pond–there are a few things to consider. Fish can only overwinter in ponds if they are large enough that they will not freeze completely, and some types of fish are hardier than others. If your pond is at risk of freezing completely, you should invest in a pond de-icer. A pond de-icer can be added to your pond now, and then plugged in once the weather begins to cool to freezing temperatures.

If it is big enough, you need to reduce their feeding as temperatures drop. Stop feeding them completely once the water temperature is consistently at or below 10°C as their digestive systems stop working properly beyond that point. The last piece to remember is to never let your pond freeze over completely through the winter months, as the gas buildup created can be toxic to your fish. The addition of cold water bacteria, such as Microbe Lift, on a monthly basis will also help break down debris in the pond through the winter months.

 

If you have any more questions about how to winterize your water feature in Guelph, feel free to stop by Royal City Nursery to chat with an expert. We’ll be happy to build and help execute a winter plan, and we also offer pond closing services! 

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is empty
    X