How to Keep Leaves Out of a Fish Pond with a Pond Cover

Keeping leaves out of a backyard fish pond can save a lot of cleanup in the fall and help prevent leaves and other debris from collecting on the bottom of the pond over winter.

We installed a tent-style fish pond cover over our pond in the fall, just before the leaves really started dropping. It was easy to assemble and has turned out to be a simple solution for keeping leaves, twigs and other debris out of the water.

Why We Use a Tent-Style Pond Cover

The pop-up, dome-style cover is made from strong black nylon mesh. Unlike flat pond netting, the raised design helps keep leaves above the surface of the water rather than allowing them to collect in the pond.

The black mesh also blends in fairly well with the surroundings, and we can still easily see the fish while the cover is in place.

A large zippered opening on one side provides access for feeding the fish and basic pond maintenance without having to remove the entire cover.

Keeping Leaves and Debris Out of the Pond

Before using a pond cover, cleaning accumulated leaves and muck from the bottom of the pond every spring was always a hassle. Covering the pond during peak leaf season greatly reduces the amount of organic debris that gets into the water in the first place.

Keeping excess leaves out can also make winter pond maintenance and spring cleanup easier, since there is less decaying plant material sitting in the pond.

When We Remove the Pond Cover

We don’t leave ours up all winter. Once the surrounding trees have finished dropping their leaves and we’ve completed our fall cleanup, we take the cover down.

The tent-style frame is simple to collapse, and the entire cover stores fairly compactly until the following fall.

Depending on your climate, pond setup and winter conditions, you may choose to use pond netting for a longer or shorter period. Our primary reason for using it is fall leaf protection.

An Added Layer of Pond Protection

The mesh cover can also provide an additional physical barrier between the pond and herons or other animals. We don’t rely on it as the only form of predator protection, but having the pond covered provides another layer between the fish and wildlife.

These covers can also be used over small gardens and vegetable beds, and they are available in several sizes.

Is a Pond Cover Worth It?

For us, yes. The biggest benefit is simple: fewer leaves in the pond means less cleanup later.

If you have a fish pond surrounded by deciduous trees, putting a mesh cover over it before the leaves begin falling can be much easier than trying to remove leaves after they’ve sunk to the bottom.

You can check current fish pond cover sizes and options on Amazon.