Autumn Care of the Pond
It will start to get cold soon in Georgia as it will in most parts of the US. With the change of season comes changes in the water garden and pond fish. We’ll notice as the old season plays out our water plants will start to brown at the tips and our water lilies will produce less and less leaves and blooms. As water temperatures drop we’ll see less of our froggy friends and our fish will stop eating like piranhas and start pecking at their food like picky children. We may also think that we’ve “finally” won the battle over green water algae when we notice our pond clearing up. I hate to burst your bubble but green water algae goes away naturally when the water gets cold.
Here are few things to expect during this transitional time of year and things that should be done before it gets too cold:
- Plants will begin dying back. Throw away the hyacinths and water lettuce before the first freeze to prevent them from falling to the bottom and becoming muck. Cut back any browning leaves on the marginal plants. Eventually they will die back for the season to grow back next spring.
- Don’t fertilize after September unless we have one heck of a warming spell. Plants will be busy storing energy in their roots and preparing for their winter rest.
- If you have trees around your pond throw a net across the surface before the leaves begin to fall or skim them off as they fall. Don’t allow them to accumulate on the bottom of the pond where they will become smelly and anaerobic. We have some really nice quality netting that lays like cloth and is easy to handle. Click HERE to see the netting.
- Do a thorough pond cleaning after all the leaves have fallen and before the water gets too cold. Now’s a good time to schedule your Fall cleaning if you have a service do it.
- When the water temperature goes down to 64 degrees start feeding your koi and goldfish wheat germ-based food and, if you’re feeding them more than once a day, drop it to only once. Our brand, M-Wheat, is wonderful seasonal nutrition and very reasonably priced.
Click here to order M-Wheat from our online store.
- Begin now if you’re planning a big Fall pond project.
- Don’t let your bird feeders run out of seed or suet. You’ll see many migrating wild birds that you normally do not see congregating around your bird feeders.
- Algae will become less of a problem. Green water algae does not care for cooler water temperatures and will magically clear up on its own. String algae may keep hanging around -- even during winter. Kill existing string algae with AlgaeFix and help prevent it from growing back with barley bales or barley extract.
- As the surface of the water becomes void of greenery predators can spot the fish more easily. You’ll do a lot to protect them by netting your pond and keeping the net on throughout the barren winter. Also consider placing large PVC pipe in the bottom to give them hiding places or construct a cave where they can hide.
- Do not yet spray biological filter material with chlorinated water. Nitrifying bacteria is still very active and, as long as the fish are still eating, respiring and seasonally active, this bacteria is necessary to keep the ammonia and nitrites in line. It’s best to wait until water temperatures have dropped below 50° when the bios are inactive and the fish are semi-dormant.
- If you choose to forgo a thorough pond cleaning until Spring at least remove as much debris that has collected on the bottom of the pond as possible. Use Microbe-Lift's Autumn / Winter Prep to help your pond digest any left-over leaves and muck. It will also help kick-start your pond in early spring.
Dividing Plants in Fall
Spring is probably the best time (generally) to divide plants but some folks prefer to do that type of maintenance in fall at the same time that they clean their ponds.
Water Lilies — Best time is early spring when corm is just sprouting leaves but can be done now by cutting the corm into separate leaf bunches.
Lotus — Don’t do it yet. Wait until late spring.
Most Bog Plants — Now’s a very good time to divide them. Take a sharp knife and cut through the entire plant and root, dividing as you would most regular perennials.
Irises - Separate by sections. Each section will practically pull apart. No need to cut back the leaves unless they are "unruly".
It's not quite time to close the pond for winter or to winterize it. That should be done before the first freeze. See the following article for more on winterizing the pond:
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