It’s the holiday season..but wait! Don’t forget to winterize your outdoor fountain for the season too. This past year so many gardeners have added water features to their yards. We love the visual calm that a fountain can add to a space and the sound is delightful. Bud did you know that you have to tuck your fountain in for the winter? We’ve received lots of calls asking about how to properly winterize your fountains, so we put together a step-by-step process to help you out.
Step One: Drain Your Outdoor Water Fountain 
The first thing you need to do is drain your fountain. Most fountains will have a plug or rubber stopper in the bottom reservoir so all you need to do is find the stopper and pull it out allowing the water to drain. Then leave it unplugged. If your fountain does not have a stopper you can use a shop vac to remove the water out of the reservoir and all other areas of the fountain with standing water.
Step Two: Dry Your Fountain
Next, you will need to dry and clean your fountain. Make sure to completely dry any remaining water with towels or rags. We would also suggest placing old towels or blankets in the bowls to absorb any moisture that may end up in the fountain over the winter from any precipitation or condensation.
Step Three: Cover Your Fountain 
The last step is to cover your fountain aka tuck it in! We suggest using a cover made specifically for your fountain so that it fits properly. If you do not have a cover or have access to one you may use a tarp. Just make sure the tarp doesn’t have holes in it! You may need to take the top finial down and place it in the bottom bowl to ensure it doesn’t get knocked down during or after the tarping process. Place your cover or tarp over to protect your fountain and make sure it is straight and taut, giving no chance of water or snow to pool on the fountain cover. Secure the cover tightly to the fountain with bungee cords or string.
Over the course of the winter months, we also suggest periodically checking on the fountain to make sure your cover is still securely fastened. Take special care to check on them after it rains or snows.
We are always happy to answer any yard or gardening questions you may have. We cover relevant topics and answer your questions every week during our Facebook live, Ask Erica, so make sure to join our Facebook Group so that you don’t miss out on them! You can also send us a message, give us a call, or come down and see us in person!
Happy Holidays!
Other useful links and resources:
Best Plants for Your Winter Garden
How To Recover From Winter Burn Without Replacing Your Plants
