- 1). Fill the pond with water. Stir the water one to two times daily for the first three days to encourage any chlorine in the water to evaporate, making the pond suitable for plants and fish.
- 2). Set water lilies and other floating-leaf plants in the pond, using at least one lily for every five to 10 square feet of water surface. Lilies and similar plants shade the water, which helps prevent algae problems. Use lilies potted in pond baskets or pots, so you can move them around if desired.
- 3). Plant marginal or bog plants around the edges of the pond to soften the shoreline. Water iris, horse tails and cattails are examples of common marginal plants. These plants also provide cover for wildlife.
- 4). Set pots of submerged pond plants in the pond, such as anacharis. Submerged plants purify and oxygenate the water. Plant one bunch or pot of submerged plants for every two square feet of pond surface.
- 5). Fertilize the plants as recommended for each particular plant variety. Use fertilizer pellets for the soil, or a liquid fertilizer you add to the water.
- 6). Place a bundle of barley straw, available from pond care suppliers, in the bottom of the pond if algae becomes a problem. Barley straw provides natural algae control as it breaks down in the water.
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