Drain all of the water out of the pond.

Set the fish and other critters aside in an appropriately sized clean container with pond water. Examine the fish for overall good health.

Scoop the majority of the debris out of the pond with a skimmer net.

Do not rinse the pond. Chlorinated water will destroy beneficial bacteria. You may sweep the pond with a broom.

Fill the pond with fresh water and add dechlorinator.

Cut back the plants if it is time. If they are brown, cut the marginal plants a few inches above the waterline. For lilies, cut off the brown leaves and stems and set the pots in the bottom of the pond. Remove and discard, or winter indoors all tropical plants.

Return the fish and other critters to the pond.

Make a decision about bringing the pump in at this time. If your pond is significantly deeper than the freeze line and your pump rests on the bottom, you can leave it in and running until the temperature drops to freezing. At that time, turn the system off. If your as deep as the freeze line or less, remove the pump and any other appliances and bring them inside for the winter.

If you live in an area that freezes, install a de-icer. Breaking the ice can create a shockwave that could harm or kill the fish.