How Garden Ponds Are Constructed - By: Aldrin

When built properly and solidly, a garden pond can make any garden look elegant and charming. A well-constructed pond will also last many years. Not only will it make your garden look aesthetically better, but it will also soon develop into a gathering place for the whole family. Constructing outdoor ponds call for certain skills though and you should not attempt to build a pond before you have acquired the necessary knowledge. Let's briefly discuss what is involved.

The planning stage

As with every other large project one can get involved with, planning is here also of the utmost importance. Firstly you must choose the right location for the pond. Ideally you would want it where it can be seen (and thus enjoyed) from the house. Secondly you should plan the pond in such a way that there's sufficient space around it for the whole family to sit. Also place it in a location that's somewhat higher than its surroundings so it can't be flooded by rain water.

The pond's layout

The easiest way to demarcate the outer edges of the pond is by using a length of hose or rope. This makes it easy to play around with various sizes and shapes until you find something that all family members are happy with. Remember that the minimum depth for a fish pond is two feet. Larger fish, for example Koi, needs deeper water. In the case of Koi this should be at least 3 feet or even deeper. Once the outline of the pond has been laid out in this way, use a piece of chalk to draw a line all along the edge. Start digging roughly six inches inside the line you've drawn.

Building the interior

The depth of the water should not be uniform in all places. The reason for this is that steps make it easy for the placement of water plants and water features such as fountains. If the pond has a somewhat complex shape, make sure one side is shallower than the other. Remember that if the climate where you live is very cold, you can prevent freezing over in winter by making the water depth at least 4 feet. Something that works very well is to place pond shelves more or less one to two feet below the water's surface. You can then place aquatic plants and water features on these shelves.

Building the Pond Liner.

Every pond needs a liner. If you plan to utilize a liner manufactured from a material that is not flexible, for example fiberglass, you need to shape the inside of the pond so that it fits in with the liner's shape. Below the liner you should place brick dust with a 1 inch thickness as support. Should you prefer a concrete liner, it's not recommended that you try and do this yourself unless you have been trained. There are special skills involved which most laymen do not possess.

The majority of people prefer to use flexible liners when building outdoor ponds. To make the liner softer and easier to work with, place it in the sun for an hour or two before you install it. Buy sufficient liner to allow for a 6-inch overlap at the edges. You will need this so you can keep the liner in place with a couple of heavy objects such as stones or pot plants.

About the Author

A Garden Pond will make your garden look wonderful and also lovely once it is constructed well and accordingly. A well-constructed pond will likewise last many years.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Aldrin/67678

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