Here’s a quick reference checklist to help guide you in getting your pond ready for the  winter season.

• Remove leaves, debris and any other organic materials from the pond.
• Cut back hardy plants, but leave any tall grasses for landscape appeal through the winter.
• Remove tropical plants from the pond.  Treat most as annuals and discard, but some can be treated as houseplants and moved indoor for the winter.
• When the water temperature reaches 55 degrees F, stop feeding your fish altogether.
• Decide if you are going to run your waterfall for the winter or shut it down.  While a winter waterfall can provide some beautiful ice sculptures, it can also create ice dams and cause other freeze problems.  Know the issues and maintenance upkeep before deciding to keep your waterfall running through the winter.  If you live in a climate where your pond experiences long periods of ice cover, then it’s probably wise to shut your waterfall down for the winter.
• Disconnect the power to your pump and drain the BioFalls by unscrewing the check valve fitting.
• Remove the pump and store it in a bucket of water in a frost-free location.
• Remove the skimmer mats and brushes; thoroughly clean them and then store them in a dry place.
• Remove filter mats and biomedia from BioFalls, clean thoroughly and store in a dry location.
• Add an air pump, bubbler, or de-icer to keep a hole in the ice for gas exchange and to add oxygen to the water if you have fish and plan to leave them in your pond for the winter.
• Enjoy your winter pond if you decide to keep it open!

The Winter Pond