Building a garden or backyard pond is the perfect way to create a luscious landscape that all of your neighbors will envy.
It provides aesthetic appeal and increases the value of your property.
However, a pond could become an eyesore. A shallow pond covered in algae can be an embarrassment instead of the gathering spot you initially intended.
But you’re guaranteed a gorgeous pond to be proud of if you follow the tips below when building one for your lawn.
Tips to Build a Pond for Your Lawn
1. Careful Decorative Rock Placement
Where you place decorative rocks makes tremendous differences. While you cover your pond liner with decorative rocks to make it less visible, you can use rocks to enhance the appeal of water features such as pond fountains.
2. Plan Your Pond Design before Building
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Although the idea of having a beautiful pond sounds wonderful, you need to carefully consider what you would like to do with your pond. For example, would you like a fish pond? Or would you prefer a small but beautiful garden pond surrounded by flower beds?
Will it be a gathering spot? What other features would you like? For instance, many people prefer a pond fountain for large ponds and a small waterfall for garden ponds.
Garden pond banks often consist of plenty of greenery. Don’t forget to plan how you would like your garden pond banks to look when planning your pond project.
Taking a moment to decide on your preferred pond and planning it down to the last detail will guarantee you a gorgeous pond.
3. Carefully Consider Pond Size, Depths, and Shape
Ensuring you have the correct size and shape for your pond is essential. Circular ponds are beautiful but don’t have the natural appearance of other types.
Deeper ponds are always a great option and necessary for koi ponds. You need the correct pond size to ensure your pond is everything you want and your project is successful.
4. Use Gravel and Decorative Rocks when Building Your Backyard Pond Floor
Sand is often a cheaper alternative, but it can become disturbed by fish. Also, it lacks the weight or beautiful appearance that decorative rocks can provide.
Gravel, on the other hand, is known for helping to breed bacteria, explaining why you cannot use it as the only option for the floor. You don't want too many harmful bacteria in your pond water.
Opt for decorative rocks; large rocks are the best.
Avoid sharp rocks so that they do not rip your pond liner. Then, use gravel to fill in the gaps between the decorative rocks.
5. Use Floating Aquatic Plants in Your Garden Pond
Floating aquatic plants with leaves, such as a water lily, are naturally found in water. Investing in a water lily or two will give your pond the appearance of having natural features.
These plants also help reduce algae in your pond, giving you the crystal clear water that you want. Delicate pond lilies are a great idea, but you can use other floating plants with leaves as well.
6. Pay Attention to Your Water Level
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It is natural for the water level in your pond to slowly decrease due to the water naturally evaporating. Unfortunately, most people less experienced in pond maintenance don’t notice this.
When the water depth is too low, it puts your fish at risk to natural predators. Your pond is also more likely to have an algae problem if the water is not high enough.
For this reason, you need to keep a close eye on the water body to ensure it has enough water.
7. Get the Right Water Pump
Another common DIY mistake is to buy any pump for a pond. Larger ponds require bigger pumps. If the pump is too small, it's likely to become clogged, break, or may not be able to keep the water clean.
8. Flexible Liners are Ideal
Many people view flexible liners as the most expensive pond liner. While they tend to cost more, they are well worth it.
When you opt for a flexible pond liner, you will find that you don't have as many problems. For example, the liners will not rip off if you accidentally put a sharp rock in the pond.
9. Learn About Pond Products
You'll come across quite a few products when building your pond. Focus only on what your pond needs in relation to its size and design.
Learning the basics about pond products is quite important. For example, understanding the differences between various pond pumps can guarantee you pick the right pond products the first time.
10. Understand How to Spot Future Problems
As a backyard pond owner, you'll need to keep an eye on your pond. Certain things, such as pond foam, can signal a problem. When you learn how to spot those things and what they mean, you can save yourself time and money with preventative measures.
11. Cleanliness in Ponds is Important for Maintenance
Maintaining your pond is essential to the health of your fishes and your aquatic plants. It requires a bit of effort on your part.
Ensure that you clean pond filters regularly. Over time, these filters accumulate the gunk they are cleaning out of your pond. The water in the pond will end up dirty if you fail to clean them.
Also, keep a pool net handy to remove debris like leaves soon enough. Not only will this improve your pond aesthetics, but it will also keep it clean.
Wrap Up
There is a bit of a learning curve to owning a pond. However, first-time pond owners can still own and maintain their pond with fewer problems. All you have to do is keep these tips in mind.
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