To have a healthy pond you must have pH balance water, to get this balance after the pond is filled you must proceed like this:

Analyse the water.

The first time you fill your pond, the water might contain chemical pollutants and minerals that are toxic for the fishes and the plants. Those chemical substances are the chlorine, the chloramines, the ammonia and many more found in the tap water. The chlorine found in tap water dissipates generally after a few days. But for other chemicals like a combination of chlorine and ammonia, take much more time to decompose.

Before introducing plants or fish in the pond, you must analyse the water. After the pond is fill, wait at least one week before testing the water. You can detect almost every toxic substance in the water when testing the pH, the ammonia, the chlorines and the hardness of the water. The pH is the measure of the acidity or the alkalinity. The scale goes from 0 (very acid) from 14 (very alkaline), 7 is neutral and it means that the water is pure. A healthy water has a pH that range between 6.5 and 8.5. You can buy the test kit in pet store, where you bought your pond or online. The indication included in the kit will tell you witch water conditioner to use to correct the situation.

Rectify the water parameter

A variety of water treatment is offered to balance the water pH and eliminate the toxic substances from your pond. But you should not use them unless the test tells you to. Some fish and plant retailer suggest that you put a conditioner in the pond before you introduce the fishes or the plants in the pond, just for precaution. However, if the test marks that the water is correct, it doesn't need conditioner. If you decide to go with the conditioner anyway, follow the instruction on the label.

Labels: garden, pond, vegetable, water

Flowers are one of the great beauties that you can find in nature. As there different varieties it is quite possible for you to have a personal favorite. This preference can be based on the scent of the flower or it can be the color. You may even like the flower because it brightens up your room. The lilly flower is one type of flower that holds an appeal for many people.

The lilly flower is not confined to one particular look as with roses. You can find the lilly flower in different colors, shapes and even sizes. For instance you are probably familiar with the common garden lilly flower - that is the Lilly of the Valley - or as it is called in French, Muguet. This tiny lilly flower is seen in the early spring months. The delicate white flower clusters give off a sweet scent that fills the air.

This lilly flower is used for perfumes as well because so many women seem to adore having some lilly scent on them. The other types of lilies that you can find include the Calla lily, which is said to be a very fragrant flower.

This lilly flower has a golden yellow center to its petals and the outside of the petals which curve around the stamen of the flower is a royal purple color. This lilly flower would look very beautiful in your garden. Besides ground growing lilly flowering plants there are different varieties that grow in water.

These water lilly flowers are well known in many cases. You have heard of the white water lilly flower. This lilly flower grows in mud filled lakes where the current is not that fierce. The lotus flower that many of us have heard of is also a lilly flower. This water lilly has different shades that you can buy and plant in your garden.

The lotus water lilly flower is usually a pale pink in color. You can however find this water lilly in a soft butter yellow and a snow white color as well. The scent from these lillies is very mild yet you will still feel the scent wrapping its way around you. The water lilly flower also comes in a magnificent blue color.

Other than using lilies in perfumes and table décor, there is one other use that a lilly flower can be seen to have. This is in various funeral flower arrangements. Since the lilly flower is symbolically linked with death you will see different varieties being used for this purpose.

Regardless of the many different uses for the lilly flower you will find some beautiful flowers like the tiger lilies in their varying shades to have in your garden or even your home pond. These elegant and fragrant flowers are wonderful additions to any garden.

Labels: flower, garden, gardening, gardening tips, lily

Seed selection can make or break your garden. If you choose the wrong seeds you can end up with a very pitiful looking garden. What goes into choosing the right seeds?

If you are saving your seeds from you own plants you have a little more control over what plants the seeds come from. You will want to choose plants that are hardy and contain a good number of blooms. Choosing seeds from a plant that is a little puny looking but with one or two very lovely blooms is not likely going to give you a plant that is hardy with more lovely blooms. Seeds usually produce plants like their parent plant. A good trick to know which plants to use for seeds is to look at your plants: size, hardiness, and blooms (or yields for vegetables). When you find the ones that exhibit the qualities you would like in your new plants tie a string on the plant, when it is harvest time you will know which ones to get the seeds from for your next year's garden.

If you are buying your seeds you don't have as much control over the plants that the seeds come from, but there are things you can look for to choose the proper seeds. The first thing you should look at is size, the larger the better. The next thing would be the plumpness or fullness of the seed. Using these two indicators will give you more certainty of a good plant for your garden. Each part of a seed, called a cotyledon, stores the food that the little plant will need until its roots grow enough to do their job. So the larger and plumper the seed the more likely it is to have enough food to sustain the tiny plant.

One thing to consider for the viability of your seeds is their age. Seeds will only be viable for a few years. Of course if you are buying your seeds you have no control of this, but if you buy from a reputable seed house you should not have to worry about this. If you are saving your own seeds make sure you label when you saved them to be able to use them before they are no good. Another viability issue is to make sure the seeds are picked when they are mature, picked to early and they will not germinate. Also make sure the seeds are not frozen, if frozen most seeds will not germinate.

With careful consideration of your seeds you should have a beautiful garden full of blooms or with a plentiful bounty.

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Labels: garden, gardening, gardening tips, seed, tips