1. Just like most projects, you should start by planning. Check to be sure that the soil is stable enough to support a pond. Make certain that plants won’t be able to cut a hole in the liner. If you’re planning on having fish in the pond, you should choose a site with a good amount of sunlight.
2. Determine the depth. When you decide on what plants or animals will be in the pond, it will make it easy to determine its depth. It is important to make sure there is enough depth to allow the fish to hibernate during the winter.
3. Try a kit. The best way for beginners to install a pond is to buy a pond kit. It will come with all the necessary components needed to start the pond.
4. Chose a liner. The best to use is butyl rubber. This is a thicker liner which is better. Use carpet padding, which is think and contours nicely underneath the liner to protect against pebbles.
5. Add a waterfall! Water needs to be oxygenated. Adding a waterfall or fountain will help circulate the water and keep it oxygenated. By keeping the water circulating, you can keep algae at bay and prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Fish require the water to be oxygenated if they are living in the pond.
6. Chose an edging. You’ll need to give the pond a proper edge to make it look as if it’s always been a part of your yard. Try using an aluminum landscape edging like this one, and use natural rocks and plants to hide the edge of the liner.
7. Make a commitment to maintenance. Ponds are not maintenance free. A small pond is actually a lot more difficult to take care of than a larger one. The more water you have in the system, the more nature is able to take over and regulate. Fish need to be fed daily and pump filters need to be changed or cleaned.
8. Winterize the pond. You’re not going to want to drain the pond because the rubber liner will dry out and crack. As long as the water stays moving, it most likely won’t freeze solid. Fish can swim below the ice and remain there until spring.
9. Build a curb. You’ll need to build a curb around the pond so the rain water won’t cause it to overflow. If you don’t and you get a heavy rain, the fish might end up on the lawn. Make sure the curb is at least two inches taller than the pond to force the water around.

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Water Fountains

There are a lot of water fountains to choose from. There are some that are going to be more elegant, and some that are going to be simplistic. You will want to choose the right one for your space. You will want it to compliment your space. Picking out the right water fountain may be difficult, because you don’t want it to overpower your space. But it will be so worth it when it is done.

Bird Baths

Bird baths are a great thing to add to a garden. You will most likely get a nice view of the birds from having a birdbath as well. Wouldn’t that be nice? There are many types of bird baths. You can just get a regular bird bath made from stone. Or you could get a misting bird bath or even a heated bird bath that you can use during the winter months too. How cool is that?!

Ponds

One of the first things you’re going to want to decide is where you want to have your pond located. This will determine the size that you are going to want to choose. You will want to keep in mind that ponds should have the perfect amount of sun to shade ratio. The rule of thumb is that ponds should have about 4 to 6 hours of sun light to keep the water clean. Do some homework to find out what plants will do their best in ponds, plant them and voila! You’ve got a beautiful space that you can enjoy this time of year.

Rock Gardens

Rock gardens use lots of different sizes, colors and shape of rocks to accent a space. A lot of people like rock gardens because the sound of the water running over the rocks is soothing and nice to listen to. You can also plant plants in your rock garden. Just make sure the plants are able to grow on rough terrain.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes, so there are a lot of options when it comes to choosing one that will fit your space perfectly. There are two main types of ponds to choose from. One is waterfalls with a pond beneath it and the second is without a pond. Usually people only put waterfalls in if they have a pond. But it is possible to have a waterfall without one as well. With a pondless waterfall, water falls down a stone wall or rocks.

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BENEFITS of a Pond

How many times have you heard, “Shut the door, we’re not cooling the earth” while you’re A/C is on? Well, what if we told you that you can have a natural Outdoor Air Conditioner. It’s true, a pond actually does just that. As the water from the pond evaporates in the heat, it removes heat from the surrounding area. Owners who live in an area where it’s very hot and the humidity is low can attest that a pond does indeed create a cooler atmosphere.

A running water pond and/or waterfall can help to eliminate noise using white noise. If you’re constantly hearing traffic or the kids playing next door and all you want to do is relax than maybe a natural sound mask is perfect for you. Even if you don’t need to cover other noises, running water creates soothing and relaxing white noise. Aim the running water to whatever you’d want most whether that being a deck or a particular window.

A pond can be the perfect place for wildlife. Depending on how you keep it up and plan it, different animals, birds and insects may seek refuge especially when it’s particularly hot or cold outside. If you’re worried about mosquitoes, don’t be. Mosquitoes prefer warm, stagnant water so make sure it’s a running water pond and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

TIPS for Ponds

There’s no wrong spot for a pond. Really, you could place it anywhere in your yard and it’d be great. There are water plants for both shady and sunny locations. However, if you want the best spot, our advice to you is to pick a spot where it receives morning sun and afternoon shade. With the morning sun, you can pick the best plants for your pond and surrounding area. By having a shady afternoon, you eliminate risk of overheating water that could harm any fish or plants. You also don’t want an algae problem.

Keep it roomy to start. We all love a bridge over a pond or the feel of a jungle with high plants and trees surrounding it but, you are also going to want workspace around your pond. There should be at least two feet around the pond so that you can access it at any point or any reason.

Perhaps using flat rocks to border your pond is more your style than plants. The benefits of this is that when you mow your lawn you can mow right on top of the flat stones rather than trying to maneuver in and out of plants and rocks.

We hope that with this list of benefits and tips you’ll turn your pondering into a pond.

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