Protect Pond Customers from Common Overwintering Mistakes
By Patricia Morris Buckley
 Overwintering ponds seems like a simple process, but there are many places where hobbyists go wrong. If pond product retailers help customers avoid certain missteps, they will be ready in the spring to continue investing in their ponds.
Pond and water garden experts reported these common customer mistakes:
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| Build customer loyalty and enthusiasm by helping pond owners avoid common overwintering mistakes. (Courtesy of EasyPro Pond Products) | Timing — Customers start winterizing their ponds late, said Rick Smith, director of sales for EasyPro Pond Products in Grant, Mich.
“Winterizing activities cause the fish to become more stressed, using up valuable energy they are going to need to get through winter,” he said. “Owners shouldn’t put off winterizing until November or December. Start the process early, like in September.”
Pump Removal — Owners should remove and store regular pumps during the colder months, said Jeff Krenner, owner of Paradise Ponds & Waterfalls in Atlanta. Keeping pumps running could ruin them because the tubing can freeze, he said.
“Plus, an aeration pump uses one-quarter the wattage,” he added.
Fish Food — Inga Thurston, store manager at the Virginia Water Gardens in Fredericksburg, Va., advises her customers to stop feeding their pond fish in the fall.
“You don’t want them to go into hibernation with food in their stomachs because their digestive systems slow down,” she said. “In the spring, they’ll be sickly.”
Treat Ice Gently — “If it freezes, don’t pound on the ice,” said Hanna Sparks, treasurer of Pond World Distribution in Ft. Collins, Colo. “It can concuss the fish, resulting in nerve damage. It can actually kill them.”
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Protect Pond Customers from Common Overwintering Mistakes
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