Water Gardens


Water Gardeners

Water gardeners and pond owners can help protect our natural areas from invaders by following a few easy steps. Learn more about the link between water gardens and AIM, and be sure to share these tips with other water gardeners.

Getting Started

  • Build away from waterways and flood-prone areas to ensure heavy rainfall won’t carry your garden plants and animals to nearby waterways.
  • Choose regionally-native or non-invasive plants and animals. These species pose less risk and are easier to maintain.
  • Purchase from local, licensed nurseries. They are more likely to be aware of state and federal regulations.
  • Rinse plants in a bucket before planting to remove all other materials, including dirt, vegetation, animals and eggs.
  • Remove all dirt, vegetation, or other materials from animals before adding them to your water garden.

Safe Upkeep

  •  Ensure your water garden remains isolated from natural waterways and food-prone areas.
  • Relocate or install protective structures if your water garden is at risk of flooding.
  • Weed out any unwanted plants. They are likely invasive.

Removal and Disposal

  • Dump rinse water on dry land.
  • Freeze all debris, packing materials and unwanted plants in a sealed plastic bag before throwing them in the trash. This ensures the plants are dead before they are carried to landfills or other locations where living plants could still cause harm.
  • Do not compost unwanted plants. Their seeds and other reproductive parts may remain viable even after composting.
  • Find new homes for unwanted fish and other animals, such as a pet retailer, animal shelter, or other water gardener.
  • Contact a veterinarian or pet retailer for guidance if euthanasia is required.

These steps are adapted from the ANS Task Force guidelines.


Retailers and Wholesalers

Water garden and koi pond retailers and wholesalers can help protect our natural areas from invaders by adopting a few simple practices. Learn more about the link between water gardens and AIM and be sure to share these tips with your customers and other suppliers.

General

  • Comply with all federal, state and local regulations related to the import, sale, distribution and quarantine of aquatic animals and plants, including those governing areas where you sell and ship.
  • Determine whether existing stocks of organisms are invasive in the areas they’re stored and eliminate any invasive species.
  • Consider establishing a program that allows customers to give back plants and animals they no longer wish to maintain.

Buying and Receiving

  • Evaluate the potential invasiveness of every species before acquiring it for sale.
  • Purchase only those organisms labeled with scientific names.
  • Ensure that the organisms you obtain are correctly identified—ideally to species.
  • Purchase only animals and plants that show no sign of disease or parasitic infestation. 

Constructing Ponds

  • Comply with federal, state and local regulations for construction of all propagation, display and holding ponds.
  • Build ponds to ensure that they and their contents stay separate from natural or public water bodies.

Planting and Stocking Ponds

  • Rinse plants in a bucket before planting to remove excess material, including dirt, vegetation, animals and eggs.
  • Remove all dirt, vegetation or other excess material from animals before adding them to water gardens or ponds.
  • Quarantine new animals in a separate, filtered container for 2-4 weeks before adding them to your ponds.

Disposing

  • Dump rinse water on dry land or add ¼ teaspoon bleach for each gallon of water before pouring it down the drain.
  • Freeze all debris, packing materials and unwanted plants in a sealed plastic bag before throwing them in the trash. This ensures the plants are dead before they’re carried to landfills or other locations where living plants could still cause harm.
  • Never release unwanted plants or animals into natural or public water bodies.
  • Contact a veterinarian or pet retailer for guidance if euthanasia is required.

Selling

  • Promote regionally native or non-invasive plants and animals.
  • Avoid selling or shipping organisms to areas in which they are invasive—not all invasive species are regulated. Visit the Alternatives, ND STAIR, Predicting Invaders, and Meet the Invaders pages or contact your local natural resource managers for more details.
  • Label all plants and animals with accurate scientific and common names.
  • Avoid selling organisms showing signs of disease or parasitic infestation.
  • Ensure that customer purchases, including containers and packaging materials, are free of dirt, vegetation, animals, eggs and other excess material.

Educating Customers

  • Share your knowledge of AIM and the steps water gardeners can take to prevent their introduction and spread.

These practices were adapted from preliminary water garden retailer guidelines developed by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council.