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Re-potting oxygenators
It is a good idea to trim back oxygenating plants especially crispa and Canadian pondweed as these plants can become very long. We recommend taking the top 6 – 8 inches of lush green growth and re-planting these into pots containing soil and topped off with pea gravel. When placing pots back into the pond, plant in approximately 30-45cm of water to prevent any frost damage to the tips of the plants. |
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Marginal Plants
Most marginal plants require little attention other than a good trim to keep them tidy. Some marginal plants will benefit from being divided and re-potted into larger containers using new soil. It is a good idea to place more delicate marginals into deeper water for greater frost protection during the winter months. Remember to bring these plants back up in the spring. |
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Floating Plants
To over-winter some of the more tender floating plants it may be necessary to give them frost protection for example by placing them in a greenhouse in a tray of water. |
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Water Lilies
As your water lilies die back in the autumn remove any decaying leaves. Water lilies generally require re-potting every 2 – 3 years and benefit from a change into new soil. When trimming over grown water lilies we recommend cutting the corm approximately 4 – 6 inches from the strongest growth point. This leaves the lily with plenty of stored energy for re-growth in the spring. |
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Major Pond Cleanouts
When ponds become very overgrown it may be necessary to completely remove all plants and trim/re-pot as required and remove any excess sludge from the base of the pond. Autumn is the best time to do this as it gives plants time to re-establish during the winter months before their next growing season. |
Due to low water temperatures in the winter months, treatments tend to have little or no impact on parasites. Your fishes immune system will be at it’s weakest at this time of the year and parasite problems can be difficult to keep under control. We recommend a five-day course of anti-parasite treatment such as Erad-ick in the autumn months. A low level of pond salt can also help to reduce stress/parasites and can be used safely in conjunction with other anti-parasite treatments. Salt should be dosed at a rate of 1 kilo per 1000 litres (220 gallons).
It is recommended to feed a Wheat germ based food in the autumn. This is easier for the fish to digest in the cooler temperatures when they are less active. When the water temperature drops to 6°C it is advisable to cease/reduce feeding. It may be possible to feed on milder days during the winter when the fish are looking more active but try to feed at midday as this is the warmest point of the day and will give the fish time to digest its food before the temperature drops again.