Fall is here and winter is approaching. If you have an outdoor fountain in a place where it gets cold, you may need to take a few extra steps to care for your fountain.

As the fall leaves come down, either make sure that your wall fountain is in a place where it will not be filled with leaves, or clear the leaves out of the fountain daily. If you leave the leaves in the fountain, they could clog up the pump and make the water a slimy mess as they decompose. This is why it's best to place your fountain in a place where leaves will not fall in it daily. If your fountain's location is not negotiable, however, you can make a daily trip to it to scoop out the leaves. This will keep your water clean and your pump safe and running properly.

Since winter is coming, it's best to clean your pump now before it gets too cold. Use a toothbrush to clean the outside of the pump and the inside, if you can open it. Pull out anything that may have gotten stuck in the pump.

As the fall gets colder and winter approaches, think about draining your pond. This will prevent the water from freezing. Get a fountain cover to protect your fountain from harsh weather conditions. Unless you live someplace very warm, like southern California, you should drain your fountain for the winter. Otherwise it will just freeze!

Remove tropical plants from ponds, as they will not survive a cold winter. When they die they decompose and release nitrogen in the water. Too-high concentrations of nitrogen in the water can kill your other plants that otherwise would have survived.

If you don't want to turn off your fountain or pond, consider getting a heater for the water. You can put the heater inside the fountain or pond, and it will keep your water warm enough to prevent freezing over the long winter months. You can buy a heater at a specialty shop.

If you want to keep your garden looking beautiful all year long, be sure to get a fountain rated for outdoor use. Wall fountains are designed to survive all kinds of weather conditions. Tend to your plants and your fountain throughout the winter, and prepare in the fall for the upcoming cold months. In the spring it's time to turn your fountain back on!