By thePond Lady
Signs of fall are reverberate up everywhere . Leaves are turning colors , birds are gathering for their flight south , pumpkins and apples are being harvested and the blanket are being put back onto the bottom . Sunscreen is being traded for sweaters and sweatshirts . Water lilies and other vegetation in your pond are slowing their growing and attenuation . They are mother ready for quiescence . Fall is upon us . fourth dimension to bulge preparing our ponds for winter and our fish for their long winter ’s nap . Transplanting and dividing of your pond plants should be left until spring . Now is the time to remove all fading leaf from marginal plants . I do not trim my marginal plants down until after the first frost . In areas where the water lily beetle is predominant , they love nothing better than the dying foliation of your marginal plant where they can hide for the winter . Do not fertilize your industrial plant anymore . Remove and wreak indoors your tropical bare plant before the first frost . To protect your hardy piss plants , lower them to the bottom of your pond .
Now is the meter to install a protective lucre over the pool if you have a lot of falling leafage . Plastic bird netting is available at most garden substance . you’re able to tuck a stick or garden rake into a potted industrial plant to give your net a eminent point , like a collapsible shelter . This will allow the leaves to be swept from the net . Do not grant the net to drape into your pool . Fish and frogs can become entangled in the net . Remove the leaves on a regular basis from both pool and net . Keep them nibble up from your thou so that the wind does not vaunt them in the pool . Repair any damages and leak before winter . Reseed your biofilters with bacterium . This will help conserve good weewee quality during fall . I practice a product by Microbe - lift called Autumn Prep . This is for winterization of your pond and works in water temperature under 55 ° atomic number 9 . It will help to decay the leaves , trash , deposit , and other organic matter during crepuscle and winter . It is also all born , nontoxic and nonpathogenic and contains psychrophilic which is a cold weather condition bacteria . you could buy this at almost any nursery that sells pool supplies . There are other ware out there but I have never used them . Remove all beat leafage and such from your pond . If you have a Panama you will want to clean it at least once day to prevent blockage .
commence feeding your fish food that is gamey in sugar and lower in protein . saccharide will fatten your Pisces up for the long winter . Your Pisces do not hibernate during the wintertime . Their metabolism slow down as the water - assuredness down . If we fill out them up before we quit prey them they will have enough to live on through the cold winter month . take off feeding your Pisces only once a day until the water system temperature stabilizes below 55 ° . DO NOT FEED THEM AGAIN UNTIL natural spring WHEN THE weewee TEMPERATURE WARMS UP ABOVE THAT POINT . Even if we have some warm days during wintertime , do not feed . Several new pool owner suffer their Pisces this retiring winter because they could not resist the temptation to feed their fish . Now your fish do not have the cover of the plants to hide from predators . Keep an optic undefendable . The herons can still get to your fish through a net . Try some sportfishing occupation around your pond , about six in from the priming coat . Crisscross the line across your pond also . A milk cartonful , big plantation owner ferment upside down with a jam in the side , drain pipes or anything else that your fish can hide in will protect them from raccoons and other predator . verify there are n’t any bumpy edges for your Pisces to cut themselves on . I use four big pots with a weighted down flat solid of plywood laid on top ( non - deal woodwind instrument ) . This gives my fish someplace to hide under for condom to feel safe and also protect my industrial plant . you may also use a smooth shade to darken your pool . This will also keep the fit of algae down in the sunny winter day and other spring .
scavenge your filters and lay in any pumps or equipment you wo n’t utilise during the wintertime . Remember to store oil colour - encapsulated pump in a pail of water that wo n’t freeze to keep their seals from drying out . localize your de - icer or bubblers in the pool . Whatever method you utilize , remember to always keep an first step in the meth ( pond ) so that the gases can escape . Your Pisces will last in as little as 18 inches of water as long as it does not freeze solid .
love the fall colors but do not get enchant out in the cold .
The Pond Lady / Darlene Jennings
President , Mid - Michigan Pond & Water Garden Club
MSU Advanced Master Gardener
How to take a Pond SiteDesigning a PondEdging for a PondPumpsSpring CleanupPlantsSummer CleanupWaterfallsWater GardensWinter
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