How To Store Pond & Fountain Equipment

• All lights, filters and pumps should be removed from the pond.
• Clean all equipment with brushes and rinse with clear water. If at the end of the season the pump is used to empty a pond or fountain, it is very important to have clear water pumped through it so that the pump doesn’t have dirt or grit left inside.
• Store the dried pump in a clear plastic bag over the winter months (above freezing temperatures).
• To prevent lime, calcium and other minerals present in our water system from having a chance to harden around the impeller, it is recommended that the best maintenance for the pump is to soak the pump in a half-water and half-vinegar solution for four(4) days before storing.
• Concrete bowls should be drained and covered with wood/styrofoam.
• Fibreglass pools, polyethylene pools and liners do not need to be drained.

What To Do With Fish

• Stop feeding fish when the water is 50′F (10′C).
• Fish can be netted and brought indoors where they can be enjoyed all winter OR fish can survive in a pool provided that the pond does not freeze solid.
• If leaving fish outside, it is important to net and remove debris. Removing all matter that will decompose (ie. dead plant growth, fall leaves) is very crucial to ensure that there is not excessive gas build up. We recommend the use of tree netting (which has holes that will allow the pond to breathe) over the pond in the fall to prevent leaves from ever entering the pond.
• To ensure the survival of fish over the winter, a patch of ice can be left open using pond heaters.
• An alternative method of keeping the fish alive is to provide them with air using an air pump. This provides the fish with needed oxygen and will keep a patch of ice open for most of the winter months.

What To Do With Plants

• As water plants yellow and die, pinch off the entire stem close to the crown of the plant.
• Netting stretched over the water surface keeps falling leaves out of the water.
• Scoop out all leaves and sludge from pool bottom with a large fish net. DO NOT EMPTY THE POOL.
• Most hardy bog plants can be left in the pond on the shelf for the winter. If the pool will be empty for the winter, then remove the bog plants and bury in soil in a flower bed (keeping them in the pot).
• Pools less than 18″ in depth should have all water lilies removed for the winter. The lilies can be stored indoors in a cool place wrapped in burlap to keep the plants consistently moist all winter. DO NOT STORE IN WATER OR THE PLANTS COULD ROT. Tropical water lilies will need to be stored in a greenhouse or similar condition OR treat these plants like annuals.
• The ensure the survival of water lilies (the crown of the plant cannot freeze) in a pond, an aerator or a heater can be added to the pond.

Winter Concrete Care

• It is best to bring your concrete fountains or other features inside for the winter. If this is not possible due to weight or size restrictions, special care must be taken to prevent water from freezing inside your concrete item.
• Remove any water from bowl or container, water must not freeze in any bowl. Bowls or containers left outside must be covered with a tarp or plywood. Plastic is not suitable as it does not breathe. If a tarp is used, first fill the bowl with spruce boughs or straw or newspaper etc. to prevent the tarp from falling into the bowl or container.
• Plywood is an excellent cover. Cut a piece of plywood slightly larger than the outside diameter of the bowl or container. A 2 or 3 piece fountain should have the smaller bowls moved inside or turned upside down on plywood.
• Remove all water from pumps and either store inside or dry in a plastic bag. If water is allowed to remain in concrete over the winter, it will freeze and cause your beautiful fountain or statue to crack!