| Building a backyard fish pond is a big undertaking that | | | | aquatic plants need only be around two feet deep |
| involves a fair amount of hard work and, as it will be | | | | although more depth may be required in very cold |
| a permanent feature of your garden, it is worthwhile | | | | areas to prevent the pond freezing in winter. If you |
| spending some time in the planning stage.So before | | | | want a koi fish pond it will need to be at least three |
| you rush into the garden with a shovel, pause for a | | | | feet deep or more.The biggest mistake that water |
| while and think about your fish pond design and the | | | | gardeners tend to make is to build a pond that is too |
| type of pond that you want ...Natural Pond - follows | | | | small. Your finished pond will appear much smaller than |
| the curves and forms of nature and may include an | | | | your original layout!If your backyard fish pond is to |
| outcrop of stone or a natural beach. This will often | | | | be dug out rather than raised consider how you will |
| allow planting at the edge of the pool and can create | | | | remove the excavated material. It may be possible |
| the impression that the pond was there long before | | | | to use it in another part of the garden, alternatively |
| the rest of the garden or the house were | | | | you may need to have it removed which can be |
| constructed.Formal Pond - a geometric design works | | | | difficult and expensive.Assuming you are going to |
| best when there is a relationship in design and | | | | build a sunken pond the next step is to start digging! |
| materials with the buidings that are close by. It will | | | | Dig the pond to the desired shape and dig a shelf |
| usually be symmetrical in design and could be | | | | around the perimeter of the pond about one foot |
| rectangular or square in shape and may have a | | | | deep and one or more feet wide. Dig the remainder |
| paved edge. Formal ponds are often planted but | | | | of the pond. If you are planning a waterfall dig the |
| usually with artfully chosen plants rather than the | | | | pond with a slight slope away from the waterfall.Line |
| wilder plantings of a natural pond.Raised Pond - a | | | | the excavated pond with underlay. This is to stop |
| formal pond can also be construced above ground | | | | the flexible liner from being pierced by sharp stones. |
| from bricks, blocks or stone. There will be less waste | | | | Pond underlay can be made from geotextile or old |
| to carry from the site, however the cost of the | | | | carpet, providing it is non-organic and non-rotting can |
| construction materials will be higher than an in-ground | | | | be used to save money. A butyl rubber pond liner is |
| pond.Once you've decided on the type of backyard | | | | laid on top of the underlay. Position to liner evenly in |
| fish pond spend some time working out possible | | | | the pond and try to minimize the folds and wrinkles. |
| locations and mark out the locations with a garden | | | | Leave an overhang of at least six inches. Avoid |
| hose or a length or rope. Take into consideration the | | | | walking on the newly laid liner as much as possible. If |
| amount of light in different locations. If you want to | | | | you must walk on it wear socks!Fill the pond and try |
| grown water lilies you will require four to six hours of | | | | to ease the wrinkles out of the liner while the pond is |
| direct sunlight on the pond during the day. Shade is | | | | filling. Arrange coping stones around the edge of the |
| fine for fish-only ponds. Check the overhanging trees | | | | pond and fold the liner up behind the stones ensuring |
| as these could also be a source of pond pollution. If | | | | the edge of the liner is above the water level. A |
| you must build a pond beneath a tree at least try to | | | | more natural edge can be created by planting |
| avoid deciduous trees - the leaves will create a lot of | | | | shallow-water plants around the edge of the pond. |
| pond waste.When deciding on the location of your | | | | You may need to consider cementing the coping |
| pond avoid the temptation to locate the pond in the | | | | stones in place if the pond edge will be subjected to |
| lowest point in the garden. The low point can be | | | | much foot traffic.Now sit back and enjoy your new |
| subject to flooding in heavy rain and will often collect | | | | garden pond!Alison Stevens makes it easy to design |
| runoff from the garden. This may carry fertilizers and | | | | and build your own fish pond. |
| organic debris into the pond.A pond for goldfish or | | | | |