Tips for Building a Pond in Your Garden
Building a pond in your garden can be a fun and rewarding project. It can also be a great way to add value to your home. Before you get started, there are a few things you will need to figure out. First, you need to decide what size pond you want. Next, you need to choose the type of pond you want. Let’s get into the construction part!
Constructing a Pond in Your Garden
Once you have determined what size and type of pond you want to build, it's time for the actual construction! If there is already a patio or other surface where your pond will go, make sure the surface is level. Next, put down some plywood over that area if it isn't concrete. This will help hold the weight of the pond if it is something heavy like concrete.
Digging
Start digging! You can do this yourself or ask for help from a friend. Try to keep your level handy so you can check if you're getting the shape right as you go along. Keep going until you have a hole that's about two inches less than the size you want your pond to be. For example, if you want a 12' by 12' pond, dig a 10' by 10' hole. The extra two inches will allow for some wiggle room when building the edges.
Once you have dug out the hole, get rid of any plants or grass in it and around it. This will help keep your pond nice and clean.
Gravel
Line the bottom of the hole with a couple of inches of gravel. Make sure to use aquarium-grade rock as this is non-toxic and safe for fish! Fill in any thin or uneven spots on the ground with more gravel, creating a smooth base that isn't going to shift around under the weight of the pond.
Create A Frame
Create a frame to hold in the liner and line it with more gravel so that it is held in place. Make sure you leave an inch or two between the edge of your frame and the pond for when you add the water. Fill in any small gaps between rocks with dirt, sand, or other ground filler similar to what you used for the base so that everything is even and will hold together.
Set Up Your Liner
Next, set up your liner. Make sure it's not too big! You don't want to have to worry about losing all of your water if it rips, so be as precise as possible when measuring the dimensions of the pond. Fold over one edge of the liner so that it creates a lip to hold in the water. This will help prevent leaks, but if you still want to add extra protection, staple or nail the edge down.
Adding Water And A Pond Pump
At this point, you can either fill your pond with water right away or let it dry out. If you're letting it dry out, tie off one side and let the water drain out. Once it's pretty close to being empty, you can add the pump if you have one and fill it back up. You can check out more sustainable options, like solar-powered pond pumps by visiting this URL or searching online. They tend to be quieter than traditional pumps so that you can relax by your pond without any distractions.
Rocks, Plants, And Fish
Once the pond is filled with water, you're ready to add your rocks and plants! Check online for species that are suitable for ponds in the area where you live, or visit your local florist to get some advice on which species would look best in your garden. You can also ask about any good varieties of fish to put in your pond if you want to have a fun ecosystem. The right type of fish will clean the water, eat mosquitoes and help keep any algae from growing too quickly.
In order to really enjoy your new pond, you need to be sure that your surrounding area is nice and clean so that it doesn't look messy or unsightly. You also want to make sure that the plants and fish are compatible. If you don't want to take care of either, consider hiring someone to do it for you! Once everything is in place, enjoy! Sit down by the pond and admire how it looks. Relaxing by a pond can be just as calming as sitting next to a waterfall, but much easier to maintain!