Build a pond

Adding a pond to your garden can bring many benefits to your garden such as:

1. Water conservation
Lawns and soil-based plants require watering. Lots and lots of watering. In fact, regular lawn watering uses 750-1,500 gallons of water each month. Ponds however can be re-filled with rainwater.

Once a pond is initially filled, owners need to “top off” the pond only occasionally, or perform an occasional water change. Ponds also offer a self-sustaining cycle of hydration that keeps plants alive without having to water them. Additionally, pond water can be used to water other plants throughout the year—simply dip a watering can into the pond to care for other soil-based plants around your house. Finally, if you experience a lower-than-normal season of rainfall, you can always position drainpipes from your rooftop to empty directly into your pond, so it acts as a natural reservoir. All of this water conservation ultimately offers a side benefit: lower utility costs, especially in the months with hotter-than-usual temperatures.

2. Supports local wildlife
While ponds have always been a haven for beautiful fish, such as goldfish, they also attract and provide a sanctuary of breeding for indigenous wildlife in your neighborhood, like dragonflies, frogs, and birds. Baby frogs and toads are generally a desirable pond inhabitant for their algae-eating habits. Adult toads are also beneficial to the garden for their aid in controlling insects.

Materials needed:

1. Underlayment.
2. Pond liner.
3. Bricks or heavy rocks.

Step 1: Planning and Digging

Once you have decided where you are going to build your pond you can then begin digging, it is recommended that your pond is a minimum of 60cm (2ft) deep as this will be able to sustain plants and fish. It will also help stop the pond from evaporating during summer months and freezing over in winter months. Make sure that your area is free from rocks and any other sharp objects.

Step 2: Laying the pond underlay

Pond underlay is extremely important soft fabric material that helps to prevent your pond lining (Next step) from getting punctured by burrowing animals and rocks. It also allows gas to escape

Place the underlay into the bottom of the pond and make sure it reaches all around the ponds and up the sides also.

Step 3: Pond liner

Pond liners help to keep your pond from draining into the surrounding soil. They usually last for up to 20 years so are well worth the investment. Place it in the pond on top of the pond underlay and as before make sure that all the area and sides are covered.

Step 4: Fill the pond

Now you have your simple pond structure you can then add water, where possible it is best to use rain water as tap water often has chloride in it which can be damaging to plants and wildlife. However if you need to use tap water please allow up to 24hours before adding anything to your pond.

Step 5: Adding rocks, Plants and wildlife

Place heaving rocks around the top of your pond as shown in the picture above, this will help to keep the liners in place and provide shelter for wildlife. You can also add soil, bark shavings around the top of the pond for a more attractive appearance.

Once you have completed the steps above you can now add in wildlife such as fish, frogs, tadpoles and plants.

*Please make sure that your pond has a ramp of some sort even just a piece of wood that wildlife can use to enter and exit the pond.

Step 6: Enjoy

Now that your pond is complete you can sit back and watch the wildlife in your back garden using your new beautiful pond.