It doesn't have to be a big chore to winterize your pond. Primarily, you're going to do a thorough fall cleanup. Start by removing leaves and debris from the bottom of the pond and clean the skimmer basket. Next, trim dead or dying foliage from your aquatic plants. Remove any tropical plants that won't survive the winter and cut the rest back. Hardy waterlilies should be cut back to 2' above the crown and moved to the deep part of the pond.
After you've cleaned and covered everything, consider adding a beneficial bacteria formulated to survive to the point of freezing. This should help keep your water clear and balanced so that unpacking in the spring is less of a hassle. Before the first freeze, turn off your pump, clean it and check its condition. This is a good time to manage any repairs or maintenance, before you store it in a safe place for the winter. Make sure hoses are disconnected and the pump is dry if you're storing it outside.
