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June / July Newsletter

Winter and Your Pond

>With our rather mild climate, the beginning winter can be frustrating at times for pond owners. Beautiful fall foliage and blooms have given way to woody skeletons and dead, rotting plant material. Plants become dormant in and out of the pond as a form of protection to survive the winter months. We can, however, enjoy our ponds throughout the winter because of our rather mild climate. There are two important things to do as the temperatures drop.

Dormant plants in the pond and deciduous trees / shrubs outside of the pond can all add to the biological load of a pond. It is important to remove any dead or dying plant material as soon as possible. It is never too late to remove dead leaves and rotting foliage. Remember, algae is a plant that mother nature so kindly provides us with to compete with excess nutrients in the water.

It is mportant to know your water temperature. Stop feeding Koi at about 55 degrees. Koi also enter a semi-state of dormancy or hibernation as water temperatures fall. Koi cannot digest food very well below 55 degrees. Not only will the added food add to the biological load, Koi can become ill from food rotting in their intestines.

With heavy rains, we must be careful not to allow mud and or mulched material into our ponds. If you are experiencing a change in water colo,r you should contact Sweetwater immediately. Remember, our ponds are a closed system, meaning we do not want water runoff entering our water systems.

Taking these steps and a spring clean will make the rest of the year very relaxing and an enjoyable pond experience.