A winter pond cover provides protection from extreme winter temperatures. If you live in an area that experiences cold temperatures like we do, a winter pond cover can be a life saver, literally. We have covered our main pond during the winter for several years, and have great success. The winter pond acts like a greenhouse, warming up significantly on sunny days, and trapping the heat inside during the night. It also eliminates cold wind from sweeping across the pond, pulling heat from any open water.
The picture to the right was taken in mid January after a very cold night. As you can see the pond was completely free from ice and remained so all winter long . We still recommend using a Pond Heater / De-Icer, Small or Large Aeration Kit.
The components of the frame can be purchased at most building supply stores
Number of Arches: You will need to calculate how many arches you need depending on length of your pond. Arches should be placed 3′ to 3-1/2′ apart.
Arch Height: The height of the arch depends on the width of the pond. A general rule of thumb is that the arch height must be at least 60% of its width.
For example: an arch that spans a 12′ wide pond should be at least 7.2′ tall
If you live in an area that receives large amounts of snow, it is critical to shovel the snow from around the base of the dome. If the snow is allowed to pile up too much around the base, the excessive weight can put too much pressure causing the plastic to split or the frame to warp or bend.
Also check out Get Ready For Winter page
