Pond lilies add beauty and grace to a pond that cannot be matched by other water plants. They also help keep the pond water healthy and give fish and other aquatic animals a place to hide or cool down on hot days.

photo credit: dtsomp

Pond lilies are easy to care for and reproduce freely. By dividing the plants you will have a constant supply of new plants that are quick and easy to transplant into new holding pots. And if you have too many it’s the perfect excuse to trade plants with the neighbors.

How to divide water lilies

If you’re not that familiar with water lilies you may not know they are planted in water baskets. Begin by lifting the entire basket of water lilies from your pond in the early spring. You will want to do this before they flower, but after new leaves have developed.

Set the basket on a tarp, plastic or the grass. This can get messy so I prefer a tarp to make cleaning up easier and the lawn or work area clean.

Begin by pulling the plant out of the holding basket by the base of the stalk. You will need to be careful not to damage any young shoots when removing the plant. Provide support to the plant with your free hand.

Next cut through the root ball with a large sharp knife. When you make a cut check first to make sure each section has new growing tips attached. Make as many cuts as necessary to return the lily root ball to the original size.

Each section can now be replanted to create a new lily.

How to plant the new water lily plant

1. Line the new basket or pot with hessian to prevent the soil from being washed away.
2. Fill the pot with aquatic soil mixture and insert the new lily plant.
3. Carefully cover the rootball with soil and fold the hessian over the top of the pot. Make sure you allow the stem and leaves to emerge from the top.
4. Add a layer of gravel on top of the hessian to prevent it from floating. Pack the soil and gravel in place.
5. Submerge the pot or basket in shallow water. The new shoots on the pond lily should rest at the surface of the water.

You will want to move the potted plant to a deeper section of the pond once the leaves and stems have grown long enough to reach the surface.

Your new lily plant should begin blooming in June. To keep you pond healthy and clean check the plant and remove deep leaves to prevent debris in your pond. This step will save you time later on.

Stunning shows of color floating on the water in you pond will add peace and tranquility to your own backyard. And the varieties of lilies available will give you a wide choice of color to add to you lawn and pond garden area.

Note: Do not use regular potting soil in the baskets for aquatic plants. The nutrients in the soil will cause algae to grow in your pond. This will cause you problems later on and also expense of trying to rid the pond of algae.

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Everyone has their own idea of what a Backyard Oasis would be but to me it’s my own private paradise that is a few steps away at all times. It’s so relaxing to head out the door in the morning and take in the fresh air and listen to the wildlife that also enjoys my yard.

photo credit: TenaciousR
One area that my backyard is lacking in would be a water garden, ponds and a miniature backyard waterfall. These features will be added to my backyard design this spring. Until them I can only look at gardening catalogs and dream of creating a backyard oasis filled with the sounds of running water and backyardfish.

This you tube about a Backyard Oasis Paradise that features ponds, beautiful water garden plants and a backyard waterfall caught my attention. Between its beauty and relaxing music it’s like being out in your own backyard oasis. It gave me ideas for my garden plans while I am waiting for the snow to melt.

At this time I am leaning towards adding a small water garden with Koi Fish and water plants, particularly water lilies and lotus plants. I can grow lotus plants in my zone 5 growing zone but I place them in a wire basket and move them in the winter. It’s a little more work but there is something about lotus plants and their striking beauty.

As spring approaches for many of us it the perfect time to make plans to add a water garden to your backyard garden oasis. The entire family and your friends will find your yard the perfect place to relax.

Technorati Tags: backyard design, backyard garden oasis, backyard oasis, backyard waterfall, koi fish, lotus plants, ponds, water garden, water lilies