The Most Important Winter Prep Step You Can't Skip
The key to a healthy winter pond happens before winter arrives: thorough fall cleanup.
Why Fall Cleanup Matters
Every leaf, stick, and piece of dead plant material left in your pond becomes a source of toxic gases under winter ice. The cleaner your pond enters winter, the safer your fish will be.
Essential Fall Tasks
Remove debris: Net out leaves daily during fall. Use a pond net cover if you have heavy leaf fall.
Aquascape Protective Pond Netting
Clean the bottom: Vacuum or manually remove sludge and accumulated organic matter from the pond floor.
Matala Power-Cyclone Pond Vacuum
Trim plants: Cut back dead and dying plant material before it sinks and decomposes.
Clean filters: Give your filtration system a thorough cleaning before shutdown or winter operation.
Add Beneficial Bacteria
Before water temperatures drop below 40°F, add beneficial bacteria to help break down remaining organic waste. This reduces the toxic load your pond will carry through winter.
Microbe-Lift Autumn Winter Prep
Don't Wait
Fall cleanup isn't something you can catch up on later. Once ice forms, debris is trapped until spring thaw. Take time now to set your pond up for winter success.