Winterizing your
Water Garden!
It is the time to put your
pond to sleep. Keep leaves and debris out of the water. Do not
empty pond water completely, as it can crack or warp the pre-formed
pond liner.
Pumps and Electrical
Equipment - Remove pumps when ice starts to form on edges of the
pond.
Fish - Stop feeding
fish when water temperature drops to 50-55 degrees. The pond
must be at least 24" deep to winter over fish. The pond must not
freeze over completely. Heater/De-Icer's are one way to keep water
from freezing over solid.
Hardy Water Lilies - Water
Lilies need at least 18" deep water to over winter successfully.
As the foliage yellow at the end of the season, remove the old leaves
so they do not decompose in the pond. Place them in the deepest
part of your pond.
Perennial Marginals and
Bog Plants - Perennial Marginals can be over wintered in water at
least 18" deep. After frost has killed the foliage, set
plants in the deepest part of your pond. Do not cut back the stems of
Cattails, Rushes, Reeds, or other plants with hollow stems, cut these
plants back in the spring.
Floaters - Water
Hyacinths and Water Lettuce should be treated as annuals, they are
very difficult to over winter. Remove them as soon as frost has
hit them.
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