It's not enough to dig a hole, line it with plastic, and fill it with water to make a garden pond. Other things to think about are whether it should have fish or just plants, how big or small it should be, what shape it should be, and so on. Prepare to dig a big hole and complain about your sore back for a long time. You'll be happy with the results, though, and you can stand around with a beer in your hand and praise your work. Building a garden pond can be a very satisfying project for those who have done it.
Step 1: Choose where you want to put your pond.
If the ground isn't level, you'll have to spend a lot more time and energy making it level yourself. It's not a good idea to build a garden pond under a tree, because the tree's roots will keep growing and could one day get in the way. The shade of the tree will also block the sunlight that your pond needs to stay alive. Since the pump will need electricity, it's important to be close to a plug.
Step 2: Liner made ahead of time or do-it-yourself?
Prefabs are more expensive, but they are easy to put together, last a long time, and don't need much care. There are different prices for liners, but in general, the more you pay, the longer your liner will last.
Step 3: Putting it together
For a pre-made pond, turn it over on the spot you've set aside, mark it out with 6 to 8 inches of extra space around the edges, and start digging. If you are going to use liners, measure your outline with the size of the liner in mind. If you want to build a garden pond that will last for years, you should clear out all the space so that the pond doesn't get holes in the bottom. Add the prefab or lay the lining once the hole is the right size and depth. Fill the pond with water until it's about a quarter full. The weight of the water will keep the pond in place while you fill in the gaps with soil.
Step 4: Make it pretty
You can now put plants, rocks, bark, and stones along the "banks" of the pond to make it look more natural. If you want to add fish, plants that hang over the water will provide shade and places for the fish to hide.
Step 5 Add aquatic plants
If you're building a garden pond without a pump, you should try to include a lot of plants to keep algae from taking over.
Step 6: Put a pump and filter in place.
There are a lot of different models on the market, and your store can help you figure out which size is best for your pond. Read the directions carefully and do what they say, but putting the pump in the water and connecting the hose to it is usually easy. The pump needs to be in front of the filter so that water goes through the filter first. It shouldn't take more than a weekend to build and stock a garden pond, which is one of the things that makes it so rewarding.
