Enriching the Landscape with a Water Garden Pond

The right landscaping can transform a mundane yard into a beautiful setting. A water garden complements that beauty. Whether as a center for entertaining or as a restful little retreat, a backyard pond adds its own element of splendor to the surroundings. Filled with water plants or used as a fish pond, it can be the main attraction in an otherwise ordinary garden.

In years past, a pond was an expensive project but today, it can be done relatively inexpensively and easily – a few weekends of work and the water garden pond will be ready to be enjoyed. Be sure to check local ordinances regarding the installation of water features before starting to dig. There are a few things to take into consideration when planning a water garden. Try to avoid the following if possible:

• Shady areas that will prevent water plants from getting enough sunlight.
• Putting the pond under a tree so leaves and debris won’t fall into the water.
• Areas where the land dips down to keep the pond from accumulating run-off.
• Areas that are not level or that cannot be easily leveled.
• Anyplace that may not be the right place – moving a pond is not an easy undertaking should the need or desire arise at a later date.

Choosing a Backyard Pond

There are several different types of materials for ponds to choose from. Pond liners made of rubber and PVC are flexible – any size or shape imaginable can be used.

Once both the location of the water garden has been decided upon and the size and shape designed, calculate the size of the liner needed by using the following formula:

• Width – add twice the maximum depth of the pond plus two feet to the width of the pond.
• Length – add twice the maximum depth of the pond plus two feet to the length of the pond.

If the water garden pond is also going to be a fish pond, it’s a good idea to check with an experienced salesperson at a pet store in order to find out what kind of fish will thrive and what needs to be done to create a healthy balance between the water plants, the fish, and the size of the pond.

Using a garden hose or rope, lay out the size and shape of the water pond. While digging, remember to slope the walls in about three to four inches for every 12 inches of depth to help prevent them from collapsing. This will also make the liner easier to install.

Digging up the Landscape

With garden lime, outline the shape of the pond then begin digging. This may take a weekend or two to complete, depending on how hard the soil is and how many people are doing the digging. Once the hole for the pond has been dug,

• Create an indent the depth of the flagstones or pavers around the perimeter of the hole to accommodate the overlapping edge of the underlayment and liner, and the stones. Make sure it is level.
• To prevent the pond from overflowing after a heavy rain, create a run-off channel. Make a depression an inch or two deep and about a foot wide that opens into a lower area of the yard. PVC pipe, one or two inch in diameter and about a foot long, laid side by side keeps the liner in place. Cover with a flagstone or paver.
• Protect the liner by putting a one inch layer of sand in the bottom of the pond hole and use either carpet underlayment, fiberglass insulation, or heavy landscaping fabric to cover the sloped sides.
• Lay the pond liner across the hole letting the liner touch the bottom and the sloped sides. Use bricks or rocks to weigh down the edges of the liner. Begin filling the liner with water, allowing the weight to push the liner into the bottom and up the sides. Smooth out the liner as it fills. Fill the liner to within two inches of the top. Cut the excess liner so that it fits into the indent and use large nails to secure it.
• Fit pavers or flagstones in the indent around the edge of the pond, allowing them to overhang by about an inch to keep the liner from showing. Lay the stones on the liner and use sand to level them or, if there will be heavy traffic around the pond such as children and pets, mortar can be used to better secure the stones.
• Pump the water out of the pond, clean the sand etc. out of the liner, and refill with clean water. If it is going to be a fish pond as well, allow the water to stand for a week or so before adding the fish to give the chlorine a chance to dissipate.
• There are three types of water plants – marginal or emergent (these grow in containers covered by two inches or more of water so that their stalks are above the water’s surface), floating (the leaves lay on top of the water and the roots are in the water), and oxygenating or submerged (grow under the water and provide shelter, food, and oxygen for the fish). Check with a local nursery to determine which kind of plants are best for the pond’s needs and for the climate.

A water garden pond is a feature that can be enjoyed for many years to come by children and adults alike. With a little trial and error and some patience, a healthy balance between plants, fish, oxygen, and nutrients can be achieved while keeping insects, diseases, and algae to a minimum allowing a backyard pond to thrive and prosper.

Sources:

www.Watergarden.org, *”Steps for Building a Pond” (accessed May 4, 2010)

Northwest Home Landscaping. Holmes, Roger and Don Marshall. New Jersey. Federal Marketing Corp. 2002, 2007.