Q&A: Pool Pumps

A: No. I know plenty of water-gardening fanatics who say you must have a pump and filter to keep the water clean, but that's not true. What you do need is a balance of submerged water plants and some fish. Just be careful not to add too much of either. A good rule of thumb is to include one plant per square foot of surface area and one inch of fish per square foot. If the surface area of your pond is 10 square feet, you'll need 10 plants and five two-inch fish.

As long as you maintain those ratios, you can enjoy a healthy, natural pond that not only looks great, but also doesn't require any electricity or chemicals of any kind.

--Paul James, master gardener and host of Gardening by the Yard