Stop fertilizing plants several weeks
before the weather turns chilly in the fall. This way they consume the fertilizer and
leave little nutrients for algae to form after the plants go dormant.
Lets start with the plants in your
pond. Plants are the number one factor creating decay in your pond and must be dealt with
before or right after the first frost. Remove all foliage from aquatic plants. Water
lily leaves and blooms should be snipped at the container level and discarded. The
containers then placed in the deepest section of the pond. You may find wearing pond
gloves will help to protect your hands and arms from the cold and keep them dry.
Clip marginal plants 2 inches
above the water line. You may want to winterize these plants last, in case the weather
suddenly warms and causes them to grow. This will eliminate the need to cut them again. In
the colder climates you may want to take your plants inside as most are tropical and would
not survive.
Remove surface plants and
discard. Most are tropical in nature and will not make it through the winter months.
Submerged or oxygenating plants can survive under certain conditions. Usually the deeper
your pond the more likely they will survive. Again in colder climates it is best to remove
them incase they die off and decay causing harm to your fish.
Remove fallen leaves and debris
thoroughly from the pond. A skim net will help. Leaving this debris in your pond will
foul it and create more work for you in the spring not to mention harm your fish.
