A carefully designed, beautiful pond will add a lot to your garden. They look great, boost wildlife and can even moderate the nearby temperature, all while adding value to your home. It may take a couple of days to set up, but by planning it right and getting help, you can work through this process. But how can you get started? Here we will discuss the steps involved with constructing your very own rock pond in your back garden and how you can easily do it yourself.
Plan
Your first step should be to work out whether it’s safe to dig in your garden. There might be electrical lines or water lines that prevent you from digging the space required for a pond. You can do this by contacting your electricity or water providers. You’ll then need to select the right area of your garden for the pond. Ideally, this will be somewhere you can keep any pets and children away from. You don’t want complete shade, but too much sun exposure will lead to the overgrowth of algae.
Dig
Next, you’ll need to dig the dimensions of your pond. This will need to be at least 2.1m x 1.2m to be able to keep clean and 0.46m deep. You should also consider the fish you’re wanting to add to your pond. Some fish will need deeper water and you’ll need to build an environment that caters to any life you add. Then there’s the shape: round rock ponds are easier to maintain, but you can opt for any other shape if you’re willing to put in the effort.
Equipment
You’ll now need to add specialist materials to the pond and use equipment to construct the shape. For a start, you’ll need to drape the hole you’ve dug with pond liner –waterproof adhesives can make this process easier and much more effective in the long run. You should also add sand to the bottom of the pond to protect the liner from damage. After this, you should consider adding rocks to create a border and purchase a filter or a heater if you plan to keep any marine life.
Final touches
At this point, you’ll be ready for the final stages. You can simply fill the pond with your garden hose, as long as it doesn’t damage the liner. Next, you should dechlorinate the water to remove any harmful chemicals if you’re welcoming fish to your pond. Finally, you should choose some plants to decorate your pond – oxygenating plants are a suitable choice for fish, alongside ones that have filtration properties and can provide shelter.
If you’re looking for a tranquil centrepiece for your garden, then a pond can be an excellent choice. By following the guide above, you should be all set to design and build a pond bursting with life and vitality.