Do you have a backyard garden pond in your New Port Richey, FL, home? While most homeowners around the country prepare theirs for cold conditions, you’re lucky enough to continue enjoying it through the milder winter months. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some steps to prep it for when the chillier temperatures sweep through the area. Read on to learn what you should do to ensure your backyard garden pond is ready for the upcoming cooler weather.
Remove Debris
Spring and summer storms in New Port Richey, FL, can blow all kinds of debris around your yard. That’s why you should be doing this chore throughout the year. Remove leaves and other debris from your pond. If they decay, they can pollute the water. You can install protective netting over the pond’s surface to make removal easy. If you don’t have a net for your backyard garden pond, remove the leaves and debris with a long-handled net, like the one you’d use for a pool.
Cut Back Plants
To minimize how many leaves and other foliage find their way into your backyard garden pond, cut back all the plants surrounding it. When your lilies and other hardy plants stop growing, trim their dying foliage to right above their base.
Protect Your Fish
When the water temperature dips below 60 degrees, fish metabolize and digest slower. Wheat-germ is a type of fish food that’s easier to digest. You can feed them this through the chillier months. Since the water temperature in Dunedin, FL, rarely dips into the 40s, you don’t have to worry about your fish hibernating and not feeding to survive the winter. When in doubt about how to feed your fish through the winter, consult an expert for detailed instructions.
Floridians are luckier than most when it comes to maintaining your backyard garden pond. Our mild winters allow us to enjoy our gardens for most of the year. To learn more or stock up on backyard garden pond supplies, visit Tampa Bay Ponds & Rocks.
Image provided by flickr
