This Spring: Dig a Pond!

This is the time to plan for spring gardening projects and a water feature is a wonderful addition to any garden. This article is meant to help with the planning and building of the garden pond. Building a garden pond is a family activity that is fun for everyone. Parents, children, grandparents and friends are soon captivated by the small, beautiful world that was created!

The first consideration is the location of the water feature. It will become a focal point of the garden and should be easily viewed from as many angles as possible and be visible from inside the house (especially during the winter months).

The next step is deciding the shape of the garden pond. Almost any shape is acceptable, but care has to be taken that the chosen shape does not include small corners where the water cannot circulate properly. The basic shape of the pond can be determined by using a garden hose; it is flexible and can be moved easily until the final form of the water feature is determined.

Breaking the often hard packed clay of the garden is often the most difficult part of installing a pond. This task can be made easier by using a tiller to loosen the dirt a layer at a time, before shoveling it out.

Unless the water feature is going to be a very formal fountain it should incorporate shelves for plants. These shelves should be 10 to 12 inches deep, 6 to 8 inches below the surface of the water and slope very slightly to the outside of the pond (this prevents plants from sliding into the deeper parts of the pond). The top edges of the pool need to be absolutely level so the liner will not show on any side when it is complete.

The minimum depth of the pond should be 18 inches. The recommended depth for ponds that will be home for Koi is 3 feet. The bottom of the pond should slope in one direction, so accumulating organic waste can be more easily removed.

Many materials are available to line the pond; EPDM rubber is one of the most durable and yet is relatively easy to work with. Here is the formula for sizing the liner:

Length = Length (of the pond at longest part) + 2 times the greatest depth + 3 ft.
Width = Width ( of the pond at widest part) + 2 times the greatest depth + 3 ft.

The liner should be cushioned by a 2 inch layer of sand or other soft, protective material. The liner is more flexible and easier to install if it is warm, so it is a good idea to let the sun shine on it for a few minutes before unrolling it.

Excess liner should not be cut off until it is well anchored all around the perimeter and the pond is filled with water.

This is a project that can easily be accomplished in a weekend or two and will add much enjoyment of the garden for the whole family!

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