Winter pond care is not complicated but there are essential tasks to look after to ensure your fish and plants survive the cold, winter months. I’ll show you what to do in fall, winter, and spring.
This is part of a series on Backyard Pond Ideas, which has everything you need to build and care for your fish pond.
The Secret to Keeping Pond Fish & Plants Alive Year-Round
When I got my first pond, I kept hearing that there was no way I could keep the fish alive (and happy) all year round in a cold climate in a pond that was less than 2-feet deep. Thankfully, that was not correct.
The basic principle for winter pond care is, as long as the water is circulating and there is an air hole, fish and plants should be fine.
It doesn’t matter how deep the pond is, it just matters that the water is moving and not frozen, so long as it’s deep enough that any winter predators cannot reach in and grab the fish.
The fish we’re talking about are cold water fish such as goldfish. You would not keep tropical fish in a garden pond in a cold climate.
Pond Care Tips & Project Ideas
In the Fall
1. Place the plants and recirculating pump
Hardy plants (not tropical) and cold water fish can survive in a cold pond so long as they don’t freeze. The fish will go dormant, gathering near the bottom of the pond. The pump will keep the water moving, preventing it from freezing up. On warmer, sunny days, the fish may be more active near the surface.
Tropical pond plants should be removed and stored indoors.
During the Winter
2. Check the pond daily.
Make sure the pump is running and there is always a hole in any ice surface that forms over the pond. Unhealthy gases can form under pond ice and poison the fish. Plus, the wildlife in your garden will rely on this fresh, moving water for hydration. It’s amazing how many animals come to drink at my pond on a cold, winter day!
3. Buy an additional recirculating pump so you have a backup in case your main pump stops working. If the temperature is below freezing, you won’t have much time to swap out pumps so always have a spare on hand.
4. Optional – You can also use a floating pond heater.
Pond heaters
I use de-icers (pond heaters) in both of my ponds. You do have to watch for warmspells though because the added heat will then encourage algae growth. But, in the cold winter weather, they are excellent for keeping a section of the pond water liquid and not frozen.
In the Spring
When the risk of freezing temperatures is over, raise the plants back up to their usual positions, clear out any algae (I used a forked hoe), clean the pump filter (see my trick here for filtering pond water without chemicals), and the fish will take care of themselves.
Winter pond care is pretty simple. If you take care to keep the water running, your fish and hardy plants should be fine when spring returns.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
Next
- Advice For Starting A New Garden Pond | Good advice for getting started.
- DIY Build a Garden Pond in a Raised Bed | Excellent option when you don’t want to dig!
- Turn a Bathtub into a Water Garden | Vintage goodness at its best
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Sandy says
February 14, 2019 at 5:03 pmI love your article on the goldfish pond in the winter. We are thinking of doing this because our goldfish is growing and we don’t want to keep getting tanks. So we were wondering what state you live in? We live in Wisconsin and want to know if the less then 2 feet thing would work for us?
Melissa J. Will says
February 15, 2019 at 2:03 pmI’m in Ontario, Canada. The fish survive if the water never freezes. It might be possible in less than 2-feet but that also leaves them vulnerable to predators (who can reach them).
In the winter the fish are in a sort of hibernation state where they just rest at the bottom of the pond and may move only slightly unless the day is really warm.
I have overwintered fish in a small, shallow pond. I put a board across half of it to give them a safe hiding space. Then, I keep a pump running and a deicer going (pond warmer) to ensure nothing will ever freeze. We get down to -30F here sometimes.
Catching and moving fish is stressful for them, so this could be a better option for that reason.
Kimberly MacLaren says
October 5, 2018 at 9:52 amI am tickled pink by your site ! So many great ideas !! Has my mind bubbling with excitement, finally someone who thinks like I do and can see the beauty in nature and the wonder in the gift of growing ??? ??Very happy to find this site ! Love your ideas , made the come flowers and starting the pond … I am taking back my yards ! This was the first year I planted cucumbers, peppers and chives also marigolds …its a start ! My cherry tomatoes were tremendous huge, they grew over neighbors fence and into his yard ! The best of all my Rose of Sharon clippings rooted and produced flowers !! HALLELUJAH! Thanks for all the encouragement ? ? Shareing the Love , Kim a green thumb sister in the USA.
Melissa J. Will says
October 5, 2018 at 10:39 amThank you, Kim, and lovely to have you here!
Renee Fuller says
January 6, 2016 at 7:05 pmGreat pond tips!
Paul @ Eco Stores Direct says
December 8, 2015 at 12:47 pmThese are fantastic tips. I’ve found that through the winter if you just pay attention to the pond, you should be fine. Break any ice that’s on the surface and make sure that your pump is still operational.