Backyard ponds are an amazing addition to any garden. They can provide a beautiful focal point and add interest to your outdoor space. If you have ever imagined yourself lounging peacefully in your favorite garden chair listening to the soothing sounds of the garden and watching the fish swim around in your own garden pond, you may need to get started. Building a garden pond is much easier than most people think.

Keep it Simple

Garden Ponds do not have to be elaborate to look great. Think about it. You are creating a small hole in the ground, choosing a liner material to hold the water, creating some kind of border to achieve a certain look and adding water. Now obviously, there will be a little more to it than that but essentially, that is all there is to it. It can easily be done in a single day. Just remember that you do not have to design the Taj Mahal in the beginning. Start simple and add to it at any pace that you like until you get it just right. Look online at some of the great pictures of small garden ponds. You will get some great ideas of what you are looking for.

Location

Consider the various options that you have for the location of the pond. You need to take some things in consideration when doing this. Ensure that there are no underground wires to interfere with your digging. Make sure that the spot does not lie in the path of rainwater run-off. Try to choose an area that is relatively level. Think about whether you will want to include a pump for better water circulation, filtration or to power a small water feature. If you want to use a pump, take note of where your closest power outlet is and how you plan to route the power. Last but certainly not least, make sure it is in a place that looks great and enhances the look of your garden

Design

Before you start, you should have a clear idea of what you want to build. Choose the type of liner material that you intend to use. There are sheets of PVC, Butyl and other materials available at your local home and garden stores. There are also pre-formed plastic liners in a variety of shapes that are ready to place in the ground. Choose the one that fits your design and budget.

How large does the pond need to be? Think about the type of fish that you will have in the pond. The most common choice is goldfish. Goldfish are resilient fish and can live in 1 ft to 18 in. of water comfortably. You can make it deeper of course but the deeper the pond, the more work to excavate the ground. Think about the size of the pond. The larger ponds can have features that are more elaborate but will greatly limit you options for location. Smaller ponds are easier to place but may not be large enough for a waterfall, lily pads, a Greek statue and a footbridge. Size the pond according to the features that you would like to include.

Choose the site and mark out the perimeter of your pond so that it is clearly visible. You can use string or just about anything, you can think of to do this. Calculate the amount of liner that you will need to cover the inside of the pond. Add the floor area of the pond to the wall area to get the total. Leave some extra material just in case. The liner can be trimmed to fit if needed.

Start Digging

Now that you have the perimeter marked, begin digging and removing the dirt from the site. Once you have completely excavated the pond area, take special care to remove any sharp objects such as rocks or roots that may puncture the liner.

Install the liner and leave enough excess material to lay over the edge around the rim. You can use stones, plants and other decorative garden materials to anchor and hide the edge of the pond and blend it into the garden.

Finishing Touches

Now you are ready to fill the pond with water. Begin filling the pond with water slowly and smooth out the uneven or wrinkled parts of the liner as you go. Once it is full, you are ready to enjoy your new pond. As the water stabilizes and the chlorine naturally evaporates away over a couple of days, you can begin to add fish and plants. Try to cover part of the surface of the water with plant life. This helps reduce algae growth and gives the fish a nice place to feel secure.

Add plants, stones and other decorative items around the perimeter of the pond for added beauty. You can also add a water feature or a pump and filter if needed. When you get your new pond looking exactly the way you want it, sit beck, relax and enjoy the result of your hard work. Perhaps it was not as bad as you expected after all.

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