Winter pond Care Tips

22.1.25

It’s a tough old world, especially in winter. Just ask your garden pond. We love all things aquatic at the Aqua Contractor and our winter pond care tips should keep the water healthy, the fish laughing, and the good aquatic plants happily swaying. Yes, you can help them make it through the cruelest season. We covered some winter-relevant stuff in our Autumn pond care blog, so you might wish to check that one out too.

Level with us

Water levels plummeting because of evaporation and seepage is common winter sight. Timely top-ups with dechlorinated water are a sure-fire way to keep those levels up. If it gets too low, it can stress aquatic life out. Imagine how you’d feel if your house started shrinking. It’s good for striking an eco balance too.

de-icer is nicer

A floating de-icer can help keep sneaky old Jack Frost away from your pond and your fish and aquatic plants happy. As well as saving your pond from freezing over, it prevents any drastic shifts in the water temperature. Shattering the ice with an implement can distress the fish so it's not an option. But creating a small ice-free area with a device like this, allows a healthy gas exchange to stop harmful buildup under the ice, so, again, this is eco-friendly for the pond’s inhabitants.

cover vision

A breathable pond cover or mesh locks out dead leaves, other detritus and predators. It can also help keep fish all nice and cosy in winter. Cue mental image of a fish in a scarf smoking a pipe.

Pipe down

Talking of pipes, external pipework or water features, like fountains, ideally need extra winter insulation. Foam pipe covers, for example, can help prevent freezing and the slew of resultant damage.. As far off as spring is when such cracks and leaks can show themselves. The sneaky so-and-sos!

a winter retreat for fish & friends

We spoke about this in our other pond care blog, but it’s even more important in winter that you take the time to submerge bundles of hollow plant stems or artificial fish shelters. They provide safe wee refuge for fish and their companions, so that they can all coorie in and not worry so much about the woeful winter weather.

don't go chasing waterfalls

If you do have a fountain or waterfall in your garden pond, you might want to think about turning it off in winter. Too much circulation can cause rapid cooling of the water, whereas you ideally want a stable thermal layer in your winter garden pond.

it's a no snow

A light dusting of snow on your pond looks lovely and can provide some more insulation for its inhabitants, just as long as it’s not too much. Heavy snow build up blocks an already scarce amount of daylight from reaching submerged aquatic plants.

what's the crack?

What’s that noise? It’s the sound of your winter-brittle pond liner cracking. It’s worth taking the time to check for any signs of wear and tear and calling in reinforcements in the form of new liners if necessary!

know your winter onions for spring

Winter pond care is also about setting your pond up for a healthy spring. Regular checks and maintenance now mean fewer problems once the thermometer begins cheering up.

Sources:

rhs.org.uk

pondkeeper.co.uk

fishkeeper.co.uk

environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk