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OCTOBER  IN  THE  GARDEN
 
By answering the questions that I have received, I'll probably be saying everything I need to say about  October in the Garden.
 
To winter over tropical water plants in the house is very challenging. They need mega light and are somewhat demanding for water conditions. I personally would send them to the compost pile and purchase new ones next year, if they were some of your favourites.  When you do not know which ones are tropical and which ones are hardy, it's even more difficult to decide.  I would let everything winter right there in the pond.   Next spring you will see what had wintered.  You will definitely know by late May.  I used to have a lot of water plants.  Now I only have hardy water lilies that get bigger each year and elodea, a ferny water plant that oxygenates the water and provides food and shelter to baby fish.
 
When ponds are 4 feet deep, they should be able to winter fish naturally.  The fish should swim down and hibernate near the bottom. But that does not always happen.  So people purchase pond heaters and/or air pump bubblers.  You do not need to have both.  The pond heater  creates an opening in the ice, which allows for air exchange. Toxins in the water can escape through the  opening, and oxygen in the air can be  absorbed by the water.  The toxins come from decaying plant matter, fish feces, food that is rotting in the water.  An opening allows that surplus of toxins to escape, especially carbon dioxide.
 
The air bubbler, should keep an opening in the ice, because there is constant air movement in that section of water, so an opening remains. I guess one way of looking at it is when the total surface freezes, it is like putting a lid on a bottle.  With no air exchange, the living fish suffocate.
 
I used to buy a floating water heater which kept about a four foot opening in the ice.  Make sure to purchase one with a wire ring around the floater, or it could melt your plastic or rubber liner.  I find that the water heaters last one to two years.  Also if you use a water heater, you will find that the pond comes to life, 3 to 4 weeks earlier in the spring.
 
I am not sure what kind of lights you have in your pond.   If they are
floaters, I would remove them for the winter.  If they are submerged, then you probably could just leave them in. As for timing, I like to have the garden. the pond the garden furniture all cleaned up and put away by Halloween.  Not that you can't do this in November, but October usually still has some nice weather, to work out in the garden.  I do not like doing this stuff when it is cold and wet.   Last year I just unplugged the waterfall pump and left it in the pond all winter.  It started up when I plugged it in, in May.  So, I will be leaving it in again this year. I will unplug it about mid October.
 
If I were to move perennials now, I would cut them back to about 6 inches and get them planted as soon as possible.  As far as cleaning up a perennial or butterfly garden, I would not.  By leaving the dead flower heads, you are probably providing some food for the birds. Also by leaving  them intact, you may see a lot of reseeding of those perennials in your garden, which you can dig up in early summer and move to another location, or let them grow where they may.  With this kind of reseeding, you may have to thin out the plants because you can only have so many in one space.  In the backyard, I leave everything standing, because of birds, and the winter landscape.  The front garden we clean up, because it is a neater and tidier look, more formal.  The backyard is more casual.
 
Things that are in bloom in my garden right now:
Fall Clematis, roses, annual pots and gardens, morning glory vine, lamium, hostas, hydrangeas, dianthus, garlic chives (tall white cluster flowers), chrysanthemums, asters, phlox and honeysuckle vine.
 
So enjoy your garden.  Fall is here and winter is approaching.  Have a great Halloween!!
 
Till next time  IN THE GARDEN,

Charlie

Plant Expert & Newsletter Columnist