A must-have for even the smallest of ponds, water lilies need dividing every few years. Keep them healthy and prevent the pond from becoming overcrowded by dividing and replanting.
What to do
Before the flowering season in spring or early summer, lift the water lily out of the pond and remove from its pot.
Using a bread knife, divide the roots, making sure that there are small growing tips on each piece.
Fill the bottom of a pot or aquatic basket with specialist aquatic compost.
Gently place the new plant in the middle of the pot, or aquatic basket and firm it in with more compost.
Place a shallow layer of grit on top of the basket or pot to prevent it from floating away.
Carefully put the new water lily back into shallow water in an an open and sunny position.
As the plant grows it can be moved to a deeper part of the pond.
