Garden Pond Design

Ponds and outdoor water features are becoming very popular, and many people are looking at do-it-yourself ponds. A beautiful pond is easy to design and create.

Choices For D-I-Y Ponds

When looking at the available choices for a D-I-Y pond, consider a few essential questions. What area is available for the pond? Certain types of pond will require more space. Koi ponds for example, not only need to be deep, but they also need to be large enough to hold a minimum of 1000 gallons of water. Another consideration is how many hours of sunlight the area receives. If your D-I-Y pond will mainly contain aquatic plants, it is important to locate your pond where it will receive maximum sunlight. Some plants require all day sun, while others can go with as few as three to four hours a day.

Once the area has been selected, design the shape of the pond by laying out  a garden hose or string or draw it on the ground with spray paint. One of the best ways to create a D-I-Y pond is to dig the area out and dig a shelf on the outside of the pond about a foot wide. The pond itself can gradually slope down; with shelves or terraces created every few feet. These terraces can be used to place containers of aquatic plants. The outside terrace is used to house the plumbing for the filtration and pump that is required in the pond.

The pond will need a liner. These can be purchased at almost any home improvement store. There are even one piece pre fabricated liners that can be laid into the ground. It is a good idea to place old blankets underneath the lining to help prevent it being punctured it when the water is put in. Rocks can be used to hold the liner down. Pots are needed to plant the aquatic and marginal plants incorporated into a pond. Floating plants do not need to be potted. Specific plants have different soil needs. Follow directions for planting the water plants for best results.

A filter and pump are two necessary items in D-I-Y ponds. This will help maintain the quality of the pond water, keeping plants and fish healthy. Without a filter and pump the pond will be invaded by algae. Plants will no longer thrive as oxygen is not being circulated throughout the pond.

A feature such as a waterfall can also be added and may be able to use the existing pond pump. Home improvement stores carry easy to install waterfall kits. To finish off the outside of the D-I-Y pond, place rocks and plants around the edge.

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Once you’ve decided you want to discover how to make a pond in the garden, there are a couple of choices to help in making the pond. There are make-a-pond kits available that include everything. All you need to do is dig a hole and you’ll have a pond going in a matter of hours, depending on the size. There are also make-a-pond kits for larger pond sizes that may require the use of heavy construction equipment. You can also dig your own hole to make a larger pond or hire a contractor with experience in pond building and let them do all the work.

Some of the things to consider when making a pond is the design and placement, remembering that any overhanging trees, even evergreens, are going to drop leaves or needles into the water and will need to cleared out frequently to protect the ecology of the pond and limit the amount of algal growth. If you are going to install any powered equipment in the water, steps to provide power and to help secure the equipment once installed should be part of the garden ponds design when making a pond.

A pond in the garden can be as small as a three or four-foot diameter hole lined with a pond liner or as elaborate as having a surface area of several hundred square feet. The size you choose will depend on the size of your yard, how much space you are willing to devote to the pond and the amount in your budget available for making the pond.

Finding Ideas For Garden Pond Designs

Finding out how to make a pond can be exciting, but deciding on what it should look like can take some time and some homework. There are many books and magazines that offer design ideas for making a pond and if you are going to hire a contractor with experience in pond construction, they will undoubtedly have several design possibilities that you can choose from.

Perhaps you have visited areas that had ponds installed and liked what they looked like and you can make a sketch to hand to the contractor. If you decide that building a pond is something you can do on your own you may still want to do some research on the proper installation of waterfalls, fountains and aeration techniques to make sure when building a pond they are done correctly.

Remember, if you plan ahead for installing electric lines or drains, it is easier to install them when making a pond than they are to put in after the pond has been filled with water.

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Installing a pond at Pondmarket

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Okay, you’re happy with your garden pond design and you’ve finished your pond installation. Now you might want to think about introducing fish to your pond.

Follow these steps to introduce fish to your garden pond.

Step 1

Once you have transported your fish home safely, float the still-sealed bag on the pond. If the pond is in the sun it is best to cover the bag while it is floating to keep the bag cool. Also, the fish will be less stressed in a darker environment.

Step 2

Float the bag for 20–30 minutes to allow the water in the bag to adjust to the temperature of the water in the pond. Then open the bag and let in some pond water  – about half as much as was already in the bag – re-tie the top and allow to float for another 20 minutes. This will allow the fish to get used to the water chemistry of the pond.

Step 3

Untie the bag and open it. Allow your fish to find their own way out of the bag and into the pond. If they are reluctant to leave the bag you may need to gently tip them out. Make sure that no little fish are stuck in the corners of the bag. The fish will hide for a day or two. This is quite natural in their new environment and there is no need to feed them, yet. After the fish come out of hiding you can begin feeding them once a day.

Now, relax and enjoy your garden pond. And if you need additional information on building or maintaining your pond we recommend the e-book “How To Build Your Own Garden Pond“ available at www.FishpondTips.com

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