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Landscaping tips: 6 basic steps
to building a garden pond
Building a garden pond is not just a matter of digging a hole, lining
it with plastic and filling it with water. There are other considerations
such as whether it should contain fish or just plants; how big or
small it should be; its shape, and so on. Be prepared to dig a decent
hole and spend many hours complaining about your aching back … but
you’ll be very pleased with the results and you can happily stand
around, beer in hand, praising your efforts after the fact. For those
who have done it, building a garden pond can be a very satisfying
project indeed.
Step 1 - Decide on where to build your pond.
Naturally, level ground would be best or else you’ll spend far more
time and effort doing the levelling yourself. Building a garden pond
under a tree is unwise as the roots will continue to grow and could
encroach upon the pond’s territory in the future. The shade of the
tree will also mean a lack of sunlight, which is essential to your
pond’s survival. Since you will need electricity for the pump, proximity
to an outlet is important.
Step 2 – Prefabricated or do-it-yourself liner?
Prefabs are the more expensive option but you pay for ease of installation,
durability and low maintenance. Liners are available in different
price ranges and generally speaking, the more you pay, the longer
your liner will last.
Step 3 – Installation
For a prefab pond, tip it upside down on the area you’ve reserved,
mark it out with 6 to 8 inches extra around the outside and start
digging. If using liners, measure your outline keeping in mind the
size of the liner you will be using. Building a garden pond that will
last for years means that all debris should be removed from the cavity
to avoid punctures to the bottom of the pond. Once the hole is the
required depth and size, add the prefab or lay the lining. Fill to
about one quarter capacity with water so that the weight will keep
the pond in place as you refill the gaps with soil.
Step 4 – Decoration
You can now add plants, rocks, bark and stone around the ‘banks’
of the pond for a more natural appearance. If you intend to add fish,
plants that overhang into the water will be useful as shade and hiding
spots.
Step 5 – Add aquatic plants
If you’re building a garden pond that doesn’t have a pump, you should
aim for plenty of plant life to keep algae growth under control.
Step 6 – Install a pump and filter
There are dozens of models on the market and your retailer will be
able to help you decide which size is best for your pond. Read the
instructions and follow carefully, but it’s generally a simple task
to place the pump in the water and connect the hose to it. The filter
needs to be positioned in front of the pump to encourage water through
the filter first. Building a garden pond and outfitting it should
take little more than a weekend, which is one of the things that makes
it so rewarding.
Visit onlineTips.org, where you can read more about pond
aerators and ultraviolet
pond filters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carlo_Morelli
