Also at the end of September cut the remaining foliage off of the lilies and sink the plant to the bottom of the pond. All margin bog and emergents can be cut back and sunk to the bottom of the pond or below the freeze line. Don't cut back your Water Hawthorn, they love the cold and will grow and bloom until the first frost.

When the pond water temperature is between 50-60 degrees farenheight, your fish should be eating just wheat-germ based food. When the pond temperature drops below 50 degrees farenheight - stop feeding the fish.

I recommend covering your pond with netting for the winter, to keep blowing leaves and debris out of the pond. It is very important to keep the debris out of the pond. If left to accumulate in the bottom of the pond, the debris will decompose in the spring as the water begins to warm and will release toxic gases. It will become a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites as well.

You may turn the filter system off on a naturally balanced goldfish pond for the winter. This is a good time to thoroughly clean the filter system.

The Koi pond must be filtered for the winter, but raise your pump to do midlevel filtering. You don't want to remove the warmer water from the bottom and cool it through the filter system.

Never break the ice on the pond's surface, breaking the ice will give the fish a concussion, resulting in the death of your fish. You have to have an opening so the fish and pond can get oxygen. Use a de-icer (heater), turn a waterfall on, or use a ball or piece of wood to float on the surface of the pond.