Steps to Winterizing Your Outdoor Water Feature

Winter preparations need to be made for all aspects of your landscape, including your water features. Taking the time to protect your fountain or other outdoor water features from the risk of damage from water and freezing temperatures will protect your investment.

Size matters

If a water feature is large enough, it may be best to keep it running all year. This may be a necessity for water features containing fish. If you have a pond with fish, check during the winter to make sure there is a space for them to get oxygen if the water freezes over. To do this, you can get a de-icer that floats or aim the pump toward the surface to create an open area for the fish to breathe.

For smaller water features, it is easiest to drain and properly protect it for the season. Otherwise, water can settle, freeze, and expand, causing cracks or damage to your water feature.

Follow these simple steps to winterize your outdoor water feature:

• Empty the water from the water feature and make sure the pump is fully drained.
• Store the pump in a dry location like a garage or shed.
• Remove any leaves or debris.
• Use a cleaner such as Simple Green and scrub to remove dirt and algae.
• Dry it out with sponges or towels, or let it air dry.
• Remove any pieces that are unsteady or at risk of toppling over in the snow or wind.
• Get or make a cover for your water feature. Ideas include using burlap sacks, towels and a tarp, or a plastic waterproof cover. Tuck towels or covers into it, and then cover with a regular tarp or an appropriately sized waterproof cover.
• Secure with string to keep the cover taut. Make sure there is some airflow to the water feature and that it isn’t completely sealed.

Once spring arrives, it will be easy to get your water feature up and running again for another year of enjoyment.

At Frontier Landscaping we design, install, and maintain a wide variety of water features. We construct large multi-featured waterscapes as well as smaller, simpler set-ups. Give us a call for an estimate on your new water feature project.