It is HAIL season!
Although it can hail anywhere between April and September the most likely time for hail, here on the Front Range in Colorado, is in June.
Hail can damage your pond and fish! Read on to learn how hail affects the pond, your fish and equipment as well as how to be prepared.
May 2023, Longmont, Colorado was hit by the worst hail storm I had ever seen. Golf ball size hail rained down and pummeled everything and destroyed flowers, and spring plants alike.
How does hail affect waterlilies?
The hail seriously shredded the water lilies. Luckily, the only lily pads out were the first spring leaves (they come out red and small). Although I am sad to see them shredded, I know they will send up new shoots and be beautiful soon. I will allow leaves that have managed to remain attached (even shredded) for a bit because they are still processing the sunlight which feeds the plant.
How does hail affect your fish?
Hail does not normally affect the pond that much, however, the hail can hurt the fish if the weather goes really nuts.
Fish can be hit by hail and be physically injured by it. Of course, we hope they are smart enough to go hide in the fish cave where they are safe, however, the storm that hit our house was so bad that I certainly did not go outside to see what the fish were doing!
The If the pond takes on a lot of hail, it can bring the water temperature down too fast. You may find some or all the fish dead within a few days if the water temperature drops too quickly.
You can't stop the hail, but you can be prepared for it
- *If you are aware that hail is on its way cover the water lilies with floating pads. We use the same pads to deter raccoons. Although they may move around in the pond a bit during a storm, they can protect the waterlilies from being shredded. These pads can also protect fish from being injured by the hail itself.
- *Make sure there is no exposed liner. I know people who had exposed pond liner that was punctured by large hail. Use 3/4 inch gravel to cover any liner showing, even under the water.
- *Make sure the lid is on the skimmer and secure it so the wind does not blow it off.
- *Cover equipment and electrical outlets with fake rocks. Secure these fake rocks so they don’t easily blow over.
Did you know that lightning causes molecules to separate? Yes, according to PBS learning media.org, , “The high temperature of a lightning bolt can break the bonds of atmospheric nitrogen molecules. Free nitrogen atoms in the air bond with oxygen in the air to create nitrogen oxides, which dissolve in moisture to form nitrates that are carried to Earth’s surface by precipitation.” It is literally raining nitrogen (read fertilizer) when there is lightning! And here I thought the green that comes after a storm was just due to the rain!
What to do after hail has hit the pond
1. Floating hail? – After the storm has passed, if there is floating hail in the water, net it out. Usually, this is not possible as it melts once it hits the pond water.
2. Cloudy water – You will find that the water is cloudy after a hailstorm. This is generally because the hail kicked up debris on rocks and in shallow areas of the stream or waterfall. It will subside.
This is a photo of lilies damaged by hail previously. This last storm was earlier in the season when the first lease of the waterlilies were still purple. They shredded them so badly there was nothing left to take a photo from!
3. Shredded water lilies. If the hail damaged the waterlilies, (it seriously shredded our waterlilies) do not immediately cut off all the leaves. In a couple of days, the very damaged parts will turn brown. However, the part that remains green is still processing sunlight, which feeds the plant. If you cut off one that is fine. It will encourage the plant to make new leaves. But do not cut them all off at once. They will send up new shoots and be beautiful soon.
Equipment and Aftercare
4. Equipment – Make sure that equipment like lights and liner were not damaged by the hail. Keep an eye on the water level just to make sure the system is not losing water. Exposed liner runs the risk of being broken by large hail.
5. Keep the ecosystem healthy -Add additional beneficial bacteria. Yes, give it an extra dose right after a hailstorm. Lightning creates a situation in which nitrogen (fertilizer) is raining down from the sky. Any guess what this will cause? Yes, ALGAE! So put in additional beneficial bacteria after a storm. (https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nves.sci.earth.nitrate/lightning-produces-nitrates/)
Kristi's Tips
Has your property received hail so large it damaged your roof? Read Roof Replacement and Your Pond.
Don’t run out in the hail, even to save water lilies. You can be hurt. Seriously, you should have seen me out in the hail like a maniac! And I did get hurt. Luckily it wasn’t worse!
Hail in Colorado can come at anytime but is most likely between April and June.