Ponds, sprinklers need some care during the chill

LONG ISLAND NEWSDAY
In-ground sprinkler systems should have been winterized in the late fall. If lines weren't flushed, pipes in the system probably have cracked already. About all that you can do now is pull the plug on the timer and turn off the water supply valve. And be ready in the spring -- you'll be replacing plastic pipes and sprinkler heads in April.
If your garden pond is completely frozen over, it can still be salvaged, says Bob Bon Giorno of Suburban Water Gardens in Dix Hills, N.Y.
The first step is to pour boiling water near the deepest part of the pond to create a surface opening, he says. Then drop a de-icer into the opening and allow the unit to run. The electric-powered de-icer floats on the surface and generates enough heat to keep the pond from freezing. Next, pump out about 2 inches of water from the pond. This will create an insulating layer of air between the iced surface and the water. The layer of air between the ice and water will allow the pond to de-gas.
"As soon as a self-enclosed pond freezes, several things are trapped, among them ammonia," Bon Giorno says. "And this ammonia buildup can destroy the pond."
Use properly rated extension cords plugged into a properly wired outlet to run the de-icer and pump. When the temperature warms, add water from a garden hose to the pond as well as a dechlorinating product.
Never create an opening in the ice with a hammer, Bon Giorno says. This shock or impact can seriously stress fish. Once spring comes, be sure to properly clean the pond.