Aquatic plants give ponds a finishing touch, and it doesn’t matter what size your backyard pond is. It could be small and simple or large and stylish. An elegant plant is the water lily, which will make your pond look very attractive with it as its centerpiece. Hardy varieties of lily will be suitable for temperate climates with the more tropical variety doing well in the heat. You could buy both types to ensure you have blooms over a longer time span. Your local garden centre or pond supplier should have some of the different types in stock.

If you want to know what bog plants are available then look no further than the water iris. It does best in shallow water, and in damp conditions where it is known to be a kind of natural filter plant. Prune it every few years to prevent it from taking over your pond.
If you want to add something different to your backyard pond then choose some floating plants. They are interesting plants to look at and you can choose from a wide range of different types. Some of them flower in thick blooms but some are subtler and are softer. They provide both shade and shelter for your fish and could protect them from predators. The fish will also have a little nibble on them so they really are very useful plants.
Good oxygenating plants are found underwater. They too, are good food and shelter for your fish, as well as providing a breeding site. Reeds and rushes have been around for ages and make excellent background cover.

When introducing your fish find out if they will leave peacefully together and if they will attack your aquatic plants. Pond fish include Comets, Koi, Shubunkins, Sarasa Goldfish and are really just different types of Goldfish. They are cold-blooded becoming more energetic in the summer. At this time of the year they should be fed about 3 times per day and slowly reduce this until just once per day in the winter months. Once the temperature rises you may start to feed a little bit more.
In order to maintain a healthy pond make sure you buy a good quality filter and pump. These will both clean and oxygenate the pond water by circulating the water.
You will never grow tired of your own garden pond and it will fascinate you on a daily basis and when the seasons are changing.