If you have always wanted a garden pond for your home, you have come to the right place. This garden pond guide could be very helpful to you with some practical tips. Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have already installed their dream pond in their backyard, but why all the fuss about a hole filled with water? Well, for one thing, gurgling waterfalls in the garden sound very tempting. Second, with the growing popularity of garden irrigation, many people see their ponds as an interesting, ongoing project that they can continually improve. Before you start, you need to get good advice. In this guide you will find simple and practical construction instructions for the garden pond, as well as useful tips for caring for your garden area.
Creating a garden pond does not necessarily have to be difficult or expensive. It requires a little effort, a bit of imagination, and the basic materials and tools for working in the garden. The average pond can be built to virtually any size area. In most cases the water runs over a flat rock and flows directly into the pool. This design is easier to build and fits in most garden spaces.
Getting started – choosing location and shape
The first and most important step if you want to build a garden pond yourself isthe choice of its formand placement. You can create the desired shape using a rope or even using the garden hose on the ground. Avoid overly eccentric shapes, curves and bottlenecks. These look good when planning, but disrupt the flow of water and proper filtration. It is better to choose a higher area in the garden so that your pond does not become overcrowded when it rains. It's best to consult an expert before you start digging or purchasing any materials. Basically, such a pond is just a hole with insulation, plus some hoses, decorative stones and a pump powered by the house. There are various variants for a garden pond, such as prefabricated ponds made of plastic, wood or concrete, as well as liner ponds. In this garden pond guide we will concentrate on the variant with foil, as this is best suited for DIY construction.
The right materials
If you want to build a garden pond yourself these days, the choice of materials is very diverse. They can be found in almost every construction store, and in recent years the quality of the liners, pumps, pond filters and all kinds of pond accessories has improved significantly. Despite the revolutionized insulation and sanitary materials, the most important instruments remain the same. A shovel, a wheelbarrow, a spirit level, a tape measure and a pair of sturdy gloves are the most important tools to implement the garden pond project.
Instructions for creating a garden pond
After choosing a location, line the perimeter with the suggested rope or garden hose. Next, mark the outline with soil limestone and then start digging. Pile the soil at the back of the pond where there might be a waterfall. Dig a little deeper in the middle where the pump will be installed. Now sprinkle the pit with wall sand and distribute it evenly with a rake. You can then place a geotextile fabric on the sand so that it protects the pond insert. To do this, get a piece large enough to cover the bottom of the hole, the pump pit, and the walls. The sand and geotextile will cushion and protect the pond bottom.
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If you have chosen the option with pond liner, fold it lengthwise, center it over the hole and unfold it again. The foil should cover all sides evenly. Use your hands and feet to carefully press the covering into the pit. Afterwards, you can use a garden hose to fill the center pit with water to keep the liner from moving. First, you can stack stones on the bottom of the pond. Distribute these along the pond walls. Use smaller stones to fill gaps.
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Next, adjust the hose for the pump so that it extends from the center pit to the top of the entire hole. Then carefully place stones directly over the tube. Stack stones until they level with the ground. Then connect the pump to the hose and place it on a flat stone in the pit. Check with an electrician to ensure the installation of your pump and power cord.
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Now use the hose to fill the pond with water. Once the pump is connected, water will gently spill out of the weir in a short period of time. Stone slabs can be placed on the edge of the pool. If the bank is smooth, you can plant the vegetation you want.
Life in the garden pond
Water is life and therefore the inhabitants of your pond are an important part of the whole project. What would a lake be without its water lilies or fish? After your garden pond is finished and filled with water, you will need to wait a day before you can plant it. There are plenty of options such as submerged plants, floating plants, water lilies, ferns, bamboo, grasses, rushes, exotic pond plants, bog plants and many more.
With their presence, the fish will create a lively atmosphere in your garden pond. Depending on the size, you can choose different types of fish. The most suitable for this are the so-called goldfish. There are many varieties of these that you can choose from according to your taste. It is also possible to have newts, frogs, turtles and other creatures in the garden area. You just need to provide them with the right conditions so that they don't run away. Plants and animals will bring you great joy. Reward them with a suitable environment by seeking advice from a specialist.
The right care
If you planned the project well and did everything right, your pond should require little maintenance. During cold seasons, you should house non-winter-hardy plants and animals in a suitable location. The leaves and slime should also be disposed of so that the water remains clear and does not pose a danger to its inhabitants. Shortly after you fill the tank with water, algae will likely form. In order to filter the water properly, you must ask the nearest Bauhaus for the right gardening technology. Regular care is therefore essential for the garden pond.
With these simple steps you can build your desired garden pond yourself and transform your outdoor area into a cozy oasis.