Things To Have To Build A Pond ~ Do you ever imagine having a natural source of water in your backyard? After work, you feel stressed, and there is nothing to make you feel relaxed. Admit it, when you hear the sound of water, it makes you feel at ease. The soothing sound of it makes you feel relaxed despite the stressors you have gone through, let us say at work or any other means. So if you are dreaming of having one but think it is impossible, try considering building a pond.
A Must-Read: Types Of Fishing Hooks
A pond may not be technically natural, but it can be practically beautiful. It can provide a natural habitat for wildlife regions. It is a significant step to enhance your backyard setting. But if you are not sure of building a pond because you may think that building one is hard, this article will provide made- easy steps on how to make a pond.
Two Common Kinds of Pond
Wildlife Pond
Is it a wildlife pond? If you are looking for the easiest pond to construct, you would most probably want to build a wildlife pond. It is said to be the easiest pond to create for it will not require you using a pump, which means it has a source of electricity that is not needed by this kind of pond. Although it is manmade, a wildlife pond appears to be a natural segment of the landscape since fish are not present here. What you can find here are only frogs, tadpoles, and slugs. You may also see water sliders and other insects or amphibians that may come through to visit the pond for a drink or maybe taking a bath for themselves.
Garden Pond
But if you want a pond that will enhance the beauty of your setting, you may wish to build a garden pond. A garden pond is ornamental in looks, where you will find lily pads and other aquatic plants floating. You will make this kind of pond for a reason for complementing the overall design of your garden. Unlike the wildlife pond, you will find beautiful creatures in a garden pond, such as big goldfish. And for your garden pond to become more artistic, you may want placing waterfalls powered by pumps and electricity.
How to Make a Pond
If you are looking for easy ways on how to build a pond, there are three methods provided for you. In each process, you will find steps that you will surely find easy and, at the same time, accessible.
Planning and Siting
It is the hardest phase for this method you have to use a lot of your brain cells to come up with the best plan and site. But don’t you worry because as you finish learning this method, it would be convenient for you to proceed to the next.
Here are the steps on how to do planning and sitting:
Decide What Kind Of Pond You Are Opting For
The first thing to consider is deciding what kind of pond you want to have in your lawn. Also, think about what function it will serve.
Select The Best Area For Your Pond
Make sure as you plan with your pond to include all the best features you are currently thinking to come up with the ideal pond for you. You have to select the best spot for your desired pond. Usually, the best place to have your pond is in the area where it gets to be hit by the sun and, at the same time, has its shade against it.
Most of the time, the place is in an ecosystem where plants can grow. If it permits you, you can have your pond at the back or front of your house. In this manner, you can get to have fun taking care of your pond because it is just by your home.
However, if you want to make your pond just by your house, there are things that you must take into consideration. The primary thing that you must bear in your mind is making sure that both your gas and electricity are working at its best conditions. So, you must always see to it to keep in contact with the company where you purchased your gas and where you have your electricity done.
You should ever let them find their time on checking on to your house so as for them to keep an eye on the spots where your gas and electric lines flow. It is for your good because if you happen to dig on these locations, you might get into trouble.
Now, if what you have is a house with a larger land and space, there are also a lot of things you must take into consideration. The same is true with a smaller and narrower property. The first thing you must consider is contacting the Department of Agriculture. It is due to the fact that this department is what is responsible for searching for properties that are secure with watersheds, which make it safe as a location for your place. Likewise, it is the department to contact to determine what spots are possible for you to dig in, which will not put you at risk.
Take note that in this step, you must never select an area that is near trees or any damaging factor to your root systems.
Consider The Size & Depth Of The Pond
When making a pond, you must consider the size and depth of it. The size and depth is a significant factor to consider in making a pond when you talk about the climate. If you are in a place where the weather is dry, the pond you will be making should be deep so that it will not evaporate quickly. But if you are in a place where the climate is wet, it is okay to build a shallow pond.
On the other hand, those who want to be precise of the measurements, try finding other sources of what is the required depth and size of pond appropriate in your place. What makes a larger pond more commendable is that it is easier to maintain. Unlike the not so large ponds, larger ponds are more appropriate to your taste. It is especially if you want to have a more stable pond, in which living things would have a better chance of survival.
To help you shape your pond easily, you can use a rope that you can utilize to layout the desired shape of your pond, and at the same time, will help you picture the size you want. Make sure that this rope is stable and in place as you start digging your pond.
Here is one of the best ropes you can find in the market today:
FMA Revenox Cotton Rope
- Super Soft Natural Cotton Rope, Cord and Twine Direct from Ravenox
- Made from 100% organic cotton yarn
- Available in all sizes
- Biodegradable and safe to throw away
- Nothing to worry about toxins from plastics
Build A Wildlife Pond
For building a wildlife pond, here are six steps made easy and short for you to follow:
Start Digging
In digging your pond, a shovel is enough to use if the size of your pond you want to make is small. If you are strong enough and you have a lot of people that are ready to accompany. Or, may help you digging, it is also okay to use a shovel in digging a bigger pond.
Has a large-sized handle with a length of 37 inches and a strong, wide 9.5 inches blade to scoop more soil out.
SubZero Auto Emergency Shovel
Here is the most durable shovel you may like:
SubZero Auto Emergency Shovel has a great sized handle with a length of 37 inches and a strong, wide 9.5 inches blade to scoop more soil out.
Factors To Consider When Starting To Dig Your Pond
Since you are expecting the growth of wildlife, your pond should be deep enough to support life. It is especially in places that winter is a season, because if it is too shallow, it may freeze solid, including the creatures living in it. You may try to dig deeper so that the living things in your pond can live over winter. But if you are living in a place where winter is not a season, it is okay to dig a shallow pond.
For you to help animals have their way out the pond, you may consider building a gradual slope at one side of the pond. Not all animals can stay long in a pond. Some may drown if they do not find their way out of it.
The soil you have dug can be used to edge your pond, so reserve and pile them up on one side.
As you get done digging your pond, remove unnecessary things in the pond like sharp rocks.
Lining Your Pond
Inlining your pond, use a layer of sand to cover every crevice. Another thing is to make use of biodegradable materials as the addition of another layer. After putting these layers, you must cover these down with a large piece of waterproof pond liner.
TotalPond Pond Liner
- Ultra-durable
- Easy to handle
- The size is 7 feet by 10 feet
- Ideal for small ponds
- The weight is 30% less than ordinary pump liner
- As strong and flexible as ordinary pump liner
- 14.5 mil thick
- Reinforced with a durable polyester weave placed between layers of PVC for extra durability
- Promotes positive bacteria growth
Fill It With Water
In this step, you can already overview the beauty of your pond as you fill it up with water. There are two choices for you to choose from where to get water. It can either come from pumped water, fill it up using a hose but make sure to stop it before it overflows. Or if you want to conserve electricity, it can also come from collected rainwater.
The liner that has overlapped should be trimmed back to about eight to ten inches (twenty to twenty-five centimeters).
Homasy Submersive Water Pump
It is a water pump designed by Homasy. It can be used submerged and is quiet to use for your pond, aquarium, or fish tank fountain. It is a powerful water pump having an inclusion of 5.9 feet power cord. The flow rate of this pump is adjustable up to 80GPH or 300 liters per hour, maximal flow rate.
It is also detachable and easy to clean without the need for other materials to detach or clean it. With two nozzles, one is 8.5mm diameters, the other is 13mm, providing different water flow effects.
Creating A Slit
You have to create a slit around the edge of the pond, and this can be done by lifting back the pond liner and cutting a 6 inches slit into the soil around the pond using a spade.
Fiskars D-handle Square Garden Spade
- It has a durable design
- Provides excellent grip
- Does not flex like a fiberglass
- Offers two-handed control
- Has an extra-large foot platform to help you maximize force
Adding Water
It is a relevant move that you take water from an older pond using a few empty gallons and transfer it to your pond. It is best if the pond you will be getting water from has been there for so many years in which there are bacteria and microscopic living there. It is the best way of making your pond more natural as a source of water for wildlife. But as a reminder, to avoid destroying the pond, you got the additional water from, be careful when you soak in the empty gallons.
Watch As It Grows Wild
Your pond will change as time goes by, will become wilder and wilder. Your pond will attract more creatures as it develops natural nutrients. Animals that get attracted by ponds include insects like bugs, amphibians like frogs, arachnids like spiders, molds, bacteria, and other living things.
It is an essential reminder that you should not mow the area around your pond. You should not stop the wild grasses from growing around your pond. Let them all grow as nature dictates them what to do.
Also, for several years, leave your pond alone. Don’t put any fish or other creatures from your pond as it will prevent your pond from attracting wildlife such as tadpoles, frogs, bugs, and snails.
Using the excess soil, you have dug before, make the bottom of your pond muddy by dumping them back into your pond. As an addition to the aesthetic beauty of your pond, it is a good option that you plant natural aquatic plants like water lilies in your pond.
It will help your pond in the facilitation of growing wildlife. But make sure to check your pond from time to time. And do not let it become stagnant or else you will suffer from breathing foul smell, and worst you will contribute to the increasing number of mosquitoes.
Build A Garden Pond
If you do not want to have a wildlife pond, probably you may want to own a garden pond in your backyard. And if you are in a hurry and could not wait, continue reading along for the steps in making a garden pond.
Dig The Pond
Dig the pond. First, you have to think about where you are going to locate your pond. If you are planning to install devices that need electricity, the location of your pond should be near your home or where a source of power is available. Start digging there. You will need a shovel to dig a hole for your pond. Make sure to dig a hole according to your desired size and depth.
And if you want your pond to have a water pump, dig a second hole that is ten inches deeper than the first hole. The second hole should be located at the center of your pond.
Around the perimeter of your pond, dig a shallower part for your aquatic plants you are planning to plant in your pond.
But if you hesitate to size up your pond, there are also available preformed pond shapes in the garden stores or even online stores like Amazon. Usually, the shape of this preformed pond shaped like a bean. It already has multiple levels ready for installments of the things you will put into your pond.
Algreen’s Avonlea 33 Gallons Preformed Pond
- Safe for fish and plants
- Weather-resistant
- UV stable
- Has readymade plant shelves
- Has readymade water pump shelf
- Made from environmentally friendly recycled plastic
Lining Your Pond
Inlining your pond, use a layer of sand to cover every crevice. Another thing is to make use of biodegradable materials as the addition of another layer. After putting these layers, you must cover these down with a large piece of waterproof pond liner.
The Installment Of Devices
Install the pump and other devices. If you are planning to put a water pump in your pond, place it in the 10 inches deeper hole at the center of your pond. It is to make the hose of the pump extend to the surface of your pond.
Aside from a pump, you may want to install a filter like XtremepowerUS Koi Pressure Boi and skimmer. It is so your pond will maintain its cleanliness even though you sometimes forget to clean it.
As a reminder, your pump should not be placed directly on the ground, or else the pump will be prone to dirt like debris that falls into the pond. To avoid this kind of problem, consider placing your pump in an elevated area. To do this, get a bucket with at least 3 inches or 8.6 centimeters in height. Then, place the pump at the top of it.
Edging Your Pond
You have to create a slit around the edge of the pond, and this can be done by lifting back the pond liner and cutting a 6 inches slit into the soil around the pond using a spade.
Filling Your Garden Pond With Water
In this step, you can already overview the beauty of your pond as you fill it up with water. There are two choices for you to choose from where to get water. It can either come from pumped water, fill it up using a hose but make sure to stop it before it overflows. Or if you want to conserve electricity, it can also come from collected rainwater.
The liner that has overlapped should be trimmed back to about eight to ten inches (twenty to twenty-five centimeters).
Make An Aquatic Garden
Make an aquatic garden. To attain this, add some aquatic plants, such as lily pads and reeds, to your garden pond. Remember that plants do grow depending on the environment they are in, so make sure of growing the right plant in your specific location. Pick the right plant you choose to grow.
The Final Step For Your Garden Pond
The last step for your garden pond is adding a few goldfish or your desired fish that can survive in a pond. You can try visiting the nearest pet shop in your location, buy some goldfish and leave them in your pond. You can add some plants that will help them survive in the pond. These are plants that they coexist well with.
Luckily, if you had the perfect balance between the plants and your fish, there is no longer a need for a filter. Such good news, right? A good way of conserving electricity for having a healthy pond. But if you own a lot of fish, the water may get easily polluted by wastes, so the installation of a filter is highly required.
Conclusion
A pond does not just support wildlife, it also gives beauty. Both beautiful aesthetically and emotionally does not only complement your setting but also help you feel relief when going home stressed from work. Making a pond is difficult, but with the right equipment and devices that you can purchase online, it would help you build one easily. Try visiting more equipment in Amazon.com for you to make the best pond.
