One great addition to your backyard or outer garden is a garden pond. It can add variety to an otherwise plain-looking landscape.
The best part is that you can take the liberty of building a garden pond according to your tastes and budget.
You can choose to have a lively fish garden pond, a serene simple pond to help ease stresses away or have a fountain.
There’s a lot of options to choose from depending on what you need and are willing to manage.
Water, aquatic plants, and animals are not the only components that make up a garden pond. It requires effort and a whole lot of commitment.
Your Preparation For Your Garden Pond
It’s important to always remember the basics in garden pond making.
A garden pond is a good idea but not everyone might agree at first.
Find out if local authorities will need you to get a permit before you can install it..
For those in a homeowner’s association, your property might need approval first.
Don’t forget to check with your insurance company, if you have one. See what they need you to keep in check for the safety of children or pets.
Consider these things as you proceed with your garden pond making a journey.
The Perfect Location
A pond should help you enjoy and relax, as long as you can see it. It would help if you can see it from your home or patio. If it’s too far away, you might as well forget that there was a pond, to begin with.
Your location is also key for easier trips for daily maintenance and check-ups.
Choose a leveled location where even a small pond can receive light in the morning. In the afternoon, ensure that there’s enough shade.
A pond under a tree can get build-up from fallen leaves, twigs, or needles. This can settle in the bottom and give you a harder time for cleaning.
Place your pond where there is a nearby electrical and water outlet. Equipment like pumps and filters need secure electrical outlets.
Regular cleaning needs accessible tap water.
Once you start digging, utility lines can be your worry. You can always dial 811 so they can mark utility lines for free.
Pond Depth
The depth of your pond is one thing that you must consider.
If your backyard pond is a weekend project that you wish to finish, a shallow pond might be a better option. You might be willing to maintain your pond for a good 20-30 years, then a deeper pond is for you.
Deep Pond
- One perk of deep ponds is that there is better space for creativity.
- There will also be more room for fishes since they need ample space to live.
- The downside is that it would be harder to see the bottom and what needs cleaning.
Shallow Pond
- Shallow ponds are better for viewing since the bottom is better visible.
- Rocks you put in the bottom provide a better aesthetic combined with fishes.
- Light affects the pond’s temperature and if there is less water, algae can build up faster.
Materials and Equipment Your Pond Need
The materials you use affects the longevity of your garden pond. It can also dictate your pond’s health.
There are many options to choose from but one must never forget the basics.
If you are unsure which ones to get, there are garden pond kits that include the basics that help on how to build a pond. The GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) electrical outlet is a must-have for a pond.
Pond Liner
The Spruce suggests that the best liner to use is an EPDM liner. It’s a bit costly than the PVC liners available but they are far more durable. They are also good against UV rays and chemicals like chlorine.
Pumps & Filters
Pumps are important to keep your garden pond alive.
One indicator of a healthy garden pond is that the water is clean and debris is being expelled from the system. This also helps keep fishes and other organisms stay alive and well.
Filters also help keep the pond in top shape. A mechanical filter needs regular cleaning to make sure debris does not reach the pump. Biological filters are suitable for ponds that have fishes. This ensures that harmful and toxic buildup stays out of the pond.
Starter Plants and Fishes
If you opt to have plants and fishes in your pond, there are options that will make it attractive. You can choose from an all plants pond or a koi pond.
Aquatic Plants
Determine if a plant is an annual or perennial water plant. Annual aquatic plants do not survive in winter. Hardy perennials live all year round.
You can choose from plants that have roots to latch on rocks or simple ones that float in water.
Certain plants that are popular are cattails, lotus, water lilies. Irises and water hyacinths are good varieties.
Fishes
Check first which fishes can live in the same pond.
Some types are not suitable to be with other fishes especially if it’s smaller than them.
Goldfishes are good starter pond fish because they only need low maintenance. They need minimal attention. They must have at least two cubic feet per fish to thrive and survive.
Maintaining Your Garden Pond
Maintenance of garden ponds is crucial for it to last as long as you would like.
- If you chose a desirable spot, you would need to make fewer trips for cleaning.
- An effective pump and filter would do the trick to keep the water clean and healthy.
- There are also liquid pond cleaners available depending on your pond’s needs.
- Daily maintenance would do wonders for your garden pond.
There are a lot of garden pond ideas that will benefit your pond project.
At the end of the day, you can sit back and relax and let experts from Big Easy Landscaping take care of your garden pond.
You can rest assured that they will bring your pond plans to fruition.
