New Seven Steps to Choosing the Right Garden Pond Spot

Making the decision to put in a garden pond is the first of many decisions that you will be faced with, when it comes to designing and implementing one of these beauty home accessories.

To begin with almost any yard can house some type of garden pond. There is nothing to say that it has to be big and elaborate in order to fully enjoy all the benefits they have to offer.

There are some preliminary steps to take before actually starting the construction of your pond.

== > Step one
You need to do a full walk through of your backyard and determine all of the viable places from a ground point of view that would work for your pond. If you are going to be doing it yourself remember that you will have some digging to do, and you are not likely to have the right equipment for breaking through ground that is excessively rocky.

== > Step two
You will probably discover at least two or three places that have the appropriate grounds. The next thing you now have to consider is what size of garden pond are you planning on? Then determine which of the locations you have chosen would best meet this need.

== > Step three
Now you have to consider the focal point of your backyard. With your choices of space, is the garden pond going to fit in nicely with the rest of the garden architecture? Even if you do not have your landscaping in place yet, think about the future. Once your garden pond is in you don't even want to have to consider moving it.

== > Step four
Consider the surrounding of the future pond area. If you have large trees you don't want to be running into root problems in a few years, just when your garden pond has become so beautifully established. Then also there is the potential problem of your garden pond becoming laden with fallen leaves and twigs from trees too close to it.

== > Step five
Review the high ground around the pond area. You don't want to have to be dealing with run off from these areas contaminating your pond.

Step six
You want to be sure that there is going to be easy access to your electrical source. You will need this for your pump and filtration system, and perhaps some of the other garden pond accessories that demand power.

== > Step seven
Finally consider how close you want your garden pond to your house. If you have found a viable area that is close to the house, then you want to keep in mind if you do not have a patio now, that you may want to put one in, in the future. Therefore you need to plan ahead for this. The advantage though to having it close to the house is that if you use pond lighting you can enjoy seeing this from inside the house. Also with an open window and provided you are using a fountain or waterfall, you can enjoy the sound of the running water.

These are a few important considerations to give some serious thought to when in the initial planning stages for your garden pond.

Steps to Building a Garden Pond

Building a garden pond is not just a matter of digging a hole, lining it with plastic and filling it with water. There are other considerations such as whether it should contain fish or just plants; how big or small it should be; its shape, and so on. Be prepared to dig a decent hole and spend many hours complaining about your aching back but youll be very pleased with the results and you can happily stand around, beer in hand, praising your efforts after the fact. For those who have done it, building a garden pond can be a very satisfying project indeed.

Step 1 - Decide on where to build your pond.
Naturally, level ground would be best or else youll spend far more time and effort doing the levelling yourself. Building a garden pond under a tree is unwise as the roots will continue to grow and could encroach upon the ponds territory in the future. The shade of the tree will also mean a lack of sunlight, which is essential to your ponds survival. Since you will need electricity for the pump, proximity to an outlet is important.

Step 2 Prefabricated or do-it-yourself liner?
Prefabs are the more expensive option but you pay for ease of installation, durability and low maintenance. Liners are available in different price ranges and generally speaking, the more you pay, the longer your liner will last.

Step 3 Installation
For a prefab pond, tip it upside down on the area youve reserved, mark it out with 6 to 8 inches extra around the outside and start digging. If using liners, measure your outline keeping in mind the size of the liner you will be using. Building a garden pond that will last for years means that all debris should be removed from the cavity to avoid punctures to the bottom of the pond. Once the hole is the required depth and size, add the prefab or lay the lining. Fill to about one quarter capacity with water so that the weight will keep the pond in place as you refill the gaps with soil.

Step 4 Decoration
You can now add plants, rocks, bark and stone around the banks of the pond for a more natural appearance. If you intend to add fish, plants that overhang into the water will be useful as shade and hiding spots.

Step 5 Add aquatic plants
If youre building a garden pond that doesnt have a pump, you should aim for plenty of plant life to keep algae growth under control.

Step 6 Install a pump and filter
There are dozens of models on the market and your retailer will be able to help you decide which size is best for your pond. Read the instructions and follow carefully, but its generally a simple task to place the pump in the water and connect the hose to it. The filter needs to be positioned in front of the pump to encourage water through the filter first. Building a garden pond and outfitting it should take little more than a weekend, which is one of the things that makes it so rewarding.