Garden ponds

[bobbyboy]

How do I build a garden pond

[ipek]

Being the proud owner of a successful pond I would recommend you start by reading books/leaflets from shops, libraries and garden centres. These are great for inspiration, design ideas and some basic concepts. They will also help you decide on planting and if you want fish. Then the fundamental steps are:

1. Realise it will take time
2. Decide what size, where you want it and whether you are going to use a prefabricated (fibreglass), flexible sheeting or concrete liner (concrete obviously needs expertise in that area)
3. Dig a hole, with or without shelves for marginal plants as preferred and line it - once again refer to books for the finer points
4. If you plan to keep fish, make provision for a pump/fountain/waterfall to keep the water moving to absorb oxygen
5. Fill with tap water and leave for a couple of weeks or more to 'condition', basically to let the added chemicals disperse ready for planting
6. Add plants, including some oxygenating ones
7. Leave to establish the plants or a season or two if you can, meanwhile add the surrounding plants/border
8. Then add fish if you like, but gen up on the breeds, their upkeep and potential diseases and be prepared for Herons!
9. Sit back and wait for the wildlife to arrive, we have frogs and newts a-plenty now and their life-cycle is fascinating

If you are happy to sit of an evening listening to the croaking frogs, running water and spend hours watching the dragonflies, pond-skaters and newts living amongst the Irises, Lillies, etc. then it is well worth the time and effort, I can assure you........

Good luck and enjoy!

[whocares]

Dig a hole and fill it with water. Who cares anyway?