Autumn and winter pond maintenance

• The most important task in autumn is to keep the water free from decaying vegetation. Remove dead and dying foliage regularly and prune back excess growth of submerged plants. Place netting over the pond where practicable as this can help autumn maintenance by keeping leaves and debris from falling in and fouling the water.
• During the winter months ice may form, trapping methane gas which is released from submerged decaying vegetation and is potentially lethal to fish. Ice also exerts excess pressure on the sides of concrete ponds, often causing them to crack. Ensure that the pond remains free of ice by floating a ball on the pond’s surface, or use an electric pool heater. This gives out just enough heat to maintain a small area of open water.

If you are concerned at all about your pond during the winter months please do give us a call.