Hello all!
I'm new to this forum & ponding and have some questions regarding winterizing a pond up here in hopefully not too soon to be very cold Winnipeg, Manitoba. We're located about 2 hours north of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Average winter frost penetration is about 6'. My pond is about 27" deep so bringing the goldfish indoors for the winter is, I think, a foregone conclusion. Considering the late start that my hardy lilies had (late June) they have done extremely well this year, continuing to flower even in less than optimum conditions with more shade than sun. My question is what to do with them for the winter? They are quite expensive here ($25 each), I'm greatly envious when I read about the $1.25 PetSmart variety which unfortunately we do not have available to us here. I would like to ensure that the lilies make it through the winter months ahead. I've heard some have had success with just letting them freeze in the pond (easiest), others bring them indoors and keep them in water, some in sand, etc. Any recommendations?
On another note, the pond water temperature has fallen to around 60F with the shorter day light hours and cooler nights. The fish are still very active and have voracious appetites. Should there be a change in food, frequency of feeding, etc. as the temperatures drop? At what temperature do you recommend transferring them indoors?
Great forum!
