We love driftwood and have several pieces around the pond. Position it on rocks somewhere
around the pond, it will look natural and enhance the pond.

Joann

If you go to Google, you can do a search for DIY driftwood. I've used driftwood in my indoor aquariums for years! It takes a good long while to get it prepped though. First, you want to boil it. If it's small enough to fit in a pan. If you can't boil it, put it in a 55g drum with a MILD bleach solution and let it sit there for a couple days. Then drain the solution and refill with clean water.
Once boiled or soaked in bleach, continue soaking in the drum (or pond, weighted down with rocks) for two weeks to a month, depending on the type of wood it is. But since you're going to have it partially out of water chances are it won't stay waterlogged so the typical prep for aquarium driftwood probably won't work in your case.
You could always do what I did since I'm too impatient to wait the month, lol. Take a piece of slate, drill a hole into it and screw it onto your wood. I don't know why slate, I think I just used regular old rock.
Just be sure you take some waterproofing silicone or the like to seal the screw so it won't leach rust into your pond water.

Good luck!

azponder, I think the chances of having problems from wild fungus or bacteria on it is remote. I would just pitch it in and not worry about it.

Ponds are subjected to wild fungus or bacteria daily when birds visit your pond. You best protection is to maintain a healthy pond and not overcrowd your fish.

azponder, I have had several pieces of driftwood in both of my ponds. My father lived on the beach and had several pieces throughout his garden beds. When he passed away several years ago, I brought those pieces of driftwood home with me and put them in my small pond. Never had any problems with the fish from it. When I built my new pond, I put it in there and still have had no problems. I have mine sticking up out of the water near some irises in the shallower end of the pond and it's a real conversation piece. If you can, you might want to let it sit out in the sun for a week or two before you put it in, but I think it will be fine. Just make sure you've rinsed all the sand, etc. off of it.

Cindy

If it were me I would rinse it off with a hose and scrub brush, let it air dry in the sun and then use it in the pond.

Hahaha, I'm laughing at myself!

Catfishman, as usual the simple answer is the best. :D And as usual, this silly girl forgot about that!

"Ponds are subjected to wild fungus or bacteria daily when birds visit your pond. You best protection is to maintain a healthy pond and not overcrowd your fish."

One of those "duh" moments of me overlooking the obvious! ;)
Azponder, I agree with catfishman.

I hose mine off, maybe scrub it down with a little Ivory liquid water, maybe not, let dry for a week or so in the sun. Never had a problem, but I don't have fancy fish to worry about, either.

Wouldn't it be safer to clean with vinegar versus using bleach/chlorine?