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