Here it is August and there are few urgent tasks we really need to deal with this month. Alright, relax and watch the progress of your pond! If your pond has fish and both sexes of course, it's teaming with FRY, [small fish] right now. Be sure to provide plenty of hiding places so you can give the strong a chance to survive.

YOUR AUGUST CHECKLIST

• Check and prune Water lilies
• Take care of young fish
• Look in the mornings for signs of overnight fish problems

WATER LILY CARE

Look at those water lilies grow! This vigorous growth has caught up with flowering and large pads may start to obscure summer buds and blooms. Alos, the previous leaves and blooms are now starting to disignegrate with age. Remove teh discolored leaves and also some of teh congested flowers, by using a sharp knife but BE CAREFUL. Light pruning does not harm the plants and will actually improve the overall apperance.

Watch out for leaves or plants turning black and startingto rot! This is especially true with the yellow varieties of lilies. This could be signs of water lily crown rot, a serious disease that causes the rootstock to decay. Plants affected must be burned, and the soil dispursed elsewhere in teh garden. Do NOT use to replant water lilies or any aquatic plants.

TAKE CARE OF YOUNG FISH

If you have a good population of mature males and females, you can expect young fish [Fry] to be present with spawning taking place mid spring through this month. Some of that depends on water quality, temperature and other factors. Your results may vary, but generally this is a good guide.

The "Fry" at this point are vulnerable to say the least. Generally the numbers are so large that a good number will survive allowing you to start naming a few ;>) You know you do that! The stronger will be the ones that obviously survive ans nature would have it. So don't get to attached until they survive this season and make it through the Winter months until next spring. However, by teh time they are about 6 weeks old, they can be considered to be relatively safe and pretty much self-sufficient.

OVERNIGHT FISH CASUALTIES

Let us say right off the bat that you MUST be providing ample oxygenated water right now so as no lose your precious pond pals! This can be handles using fountains or aerators. Not only do teh fish need it but so do the plants, so we can not stress this enough. But sometimes in warm/hot weather dead fish may be found floating in the mornings. The larger the fish, the more it's chances to succomb first, while smaller fish are found at the surface gulping for air. Submerged plants provide needed oxygen during the day, but at night, releases carbon dioxide. Always leave a fountain, pump or aerator running at night or one morning you may not like what you see! 

Primula Rosea