Before winter, I take out all my plants except the submirged ones. Scoop out as much muck off the bottom as I can, turn off my filter and drop in my pond de-icer.
I live in Alabama. I'm not sure I know what winter is .
I've seen a picture of a man with a model T on the local lake, but that's as close to a heavy winter as we get.
I do think that it depends on the depth of the pond, though. If you are planning on having fish, you need to make it deep enough so that there is still plenty of room for them if the water does free.
Yes, summers can be a pain! My pond is fairly deep, but in June thru mid July, I have to hang a tarp over it. Just until the monsoons arrive! Then we have hot mornings until the clouds come in around noon and pour lots of rain.
I'm in my own microclimate. We have a creek on one side and 5 natural springs on another. Most of the time, we are one of the coolest places in the area. I have to admit it was awfully warm (I mean HOT) this year, though.
Excuse my lack of official terms, but I have a little bubbly thing to prevent ice forming. Winters are mild here but it can still ice over. I always test that early.
my wife makes me take the pumps out. I leave everything else in. Fish, plants. This is their third winter, going strong. Winter here is a gamble on what you get. We had some single digit days. I would just go out with a spade bit and make a couple or exhaust holes for the fish.
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But do you have to worry about your fish getting too hot in the summer?
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