Let's talk about Pond Plant Winterisation.
Shorter days and falling leaves indicate the next season is coming. Winter is on its way, and your aquatic plants need a little time to get ready before the cold creeps in. Before it gets too cold, don your hip waders and prepare for Pond Plant Winterisation. Following a few simple steps, you can ensure that your pond plants stay healthy, thrive all winter long, and flourish again in the spring.
Here are the top tips on Winterising Pond Plants.
In this blog:
1. Winterising Tropical Pond Plants
Winterising Tropical Pond Plants such as water lilies, water hyacinths, and water lettuce is the most challenging task, as they prefer warm temperatures all year long. These plants are native to tropical regions and cannot tolerate cold weather. If the temperature dips below 10 degrees Celsius, these plants will begin to die.
All the Tropical Plants in your pond will need to be removed and relocated to an indoor space protected from the cold. An aquarium or large bucket inside a warm area of the house, heated garage or workshop would be a suitable location. Your plants will need to remain in this indoor space until the temperatures outside rise again in the spring.
All you have to do when the warmer season approaches are leave it soaking in a warm and sunny area until it grows its first leaves. Once you see those leaves and roots, place them into shallow pots and fill them with water. Then, plant them in containers filled with garden soil. Return the Tropical Pond Plants to the water once it heats up to 20 degrees Celsius.
2. Winterising Hardy Water Lilies
Hardy water lilies can endure cool temperatures compared with your tropical varieties, but they're best adapted to overwintering in a place that won't freeze. Remove the plants from the pond, trim the foliage to 1 or 2 inches above the root ball, and submerge them as low as they will for winter. Come spring, a Hardy Water Lilly will reestablish itself from its roots once again.
3. Winterising Bog Plants
As the winter season approaches, you'll want to trim your Bog Plants back to just above the soil with garden shears. If they're in containers, lower them into the deepest part of your pond where water doesn't get frozen during the winter. If planted into the ground, leave them untouched until the spring.
4. Winterising Marginal Plants
Primarily ornamental, Marginal Plants that give lots of colour and interest should be wintered at the bottom of the pond or in two feet or more of water. If your pond is not deep enough to overwinter, your Marginal Plants can be kept cool, dark and moist by placing them in your garage or workshop. Please do not forget to keep them moist and cool by occasionally covering and watering them.
5. Winterising Submerged Pond Plants
When Winterising your Submerged Pond Plants, you only need a quick trim to stop excessive rotting and dying foliage. Cut any container-grown plants up to two inches above the pot and submerge them into the pond.
6. Winterising Floating Pond Plants
As their name suggests, Floating Pond Plants float on the water's surface, with their roots hanging down like a curtain, and, as you can expect, they won't survive the winter. Be prepared to remove them from your pond after the first hard freeze. Take care not to leave them in the water for the first hard freeze and then pitch them into your compost pile. If you leave them in the pond, the dead vegetation will quickly break down and cause water quality issues.
Winterising Pond Plants - Recap
Winter is a tough time of year for many pond plants. But with some preparation, your plants can make it through the winter months just fine. When the weather starts to cool off and the leaves begin to change colour, it's time to start thinking about Winterising Your Pond Plants.
Adequately taken care of in the winter, your plants will grow and be able to add beauty to your pond as soon as the weather warms up. Please remember that Pond Plant Winterisation is easy and effective when planned in time before the first frosts arrive. Would you like to have a worry-free winter? Prepare your Pond Plants for the cold season in Autumn, and while Winterising Plants, take some time to do a little autumn clean-up around your pond.
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