Five Easy Steps to Planning Your Perfect Pond:

1. Clarify your goals. Ponds can serve many functions in the garden and the success of yours depends upon your expectations. Most homeowners want the sound of water, the beauty of pond plants and the movement of goldfish. Ask yourself if your pond should attract wildlife, reflect the adjacent landscape, or display a water feature. Do you prefer an informal shape or a formal one such as a rectangle, circle or square? All of your desires can be incorporated into your design with some planning. Consider your budget. Small above ground ponds like whiskey barrels are an excellent introduction to water gardening for under $100.00. Water gardens are an investment in your landscape that will bring you joy for years to come with proper planning.

2. Site for success. A level area with full sun is the easiest site to build a pond, but perhaps not the most aesthetic or practical. Shaded lots and slopes create a natural home for your pond, however the requirements of these sites will dictate the materials. Avoid low areas, which may cause water to run under your liner and displace the pond water and all its contents! If at all possible, the pond should be in viewing distance from the house, preferably the kitchen or family room. Lay a hose or rope out on the site and adjust the pond shape until it pleases you. Avoid narrow areas that restrict water movement and make the pond larger than you think you want. Our customer’s #1 complaint after the installation is that the pond is too small.

3. Calculate the “effective volume “ of your pond. Environmental factors influence the filtration demands of your pond.
– Average pond water depth is less than 2’6” add 25%.
– Pond located in full sun add 25%.
– Fish stocking level should not exceed 10” per 100 gallons of filtration.
– Add 15% for our temperature zone.

4. Select your materials. This is also the time to consider how your pond edge will be finished. Examine the selection of pumps and filters at the store to provide adequate filtration and water movement. Plan to move 50-100% of the pond water every hour through the filter to ensure clear water and a healthy environment for your fish. Do you need an additional pump for a waterfall or a fountain? Be sure to include underwater lights so you can enjoy your pond after dark. Call your electrician to install a GFI electrical box at the site and 4 outlets minimum. Plug in only 1 pump per box in case the GFI kicks off your electricity in one box, the other pump will continue to run.

5. Dig your pond. Talk at length with your sales person at this step. Look at books and our videos to plan your finished pond. Pond walls should approach 90 degrees for easy pond access. The pond bottom should be flat to support pots and allow you to stand without slipping on a slope. No bowl shaped ponds! If you plan to build shelves, they should be a minimum of 12” wide and 10-12” under the water surface to support your aquatic plants that live in pots with just a couple of inches of water over the top of the pot. Fill with water, dechlorinate, and add plants. Add fish in 7-10 days, one or two fish at a time to allow the filter to adequately support the fish load.