Tips for installing a pond

Water features have become quite popular with homeowners who want to have a fabulous outdoor area and can be applied to both small and larger gardens.

If you’re thinking of adding a water feature to your garden, have you thought about installing it yourself? With flexible liners and prefabricated pools often preferred to concrete, it’s much easier to do than you might expect.

The tips in this article should provide you with everything you need to get started on your water garden.

Budget

Before you get carried away designing an extravagant water feature, it’s a good idea to take a good hard look at your budget. If you’re reading this article, the chances are that you’ve opted for the DIY method, which will save on labour, but there are still more costs to consider.

It’s important to plan ahead as this will prevent you from overspending.

Types of pond

There are two main types of pond that can be easily installed by you: flexible liner and prefabricated ponds. A flexible liner is the cheapest option, but it does require a little extra work as you will have to stake out the area. This extra work can be a blessing to some, as it means that custom designs are a possibility.

On the other hand prefabricated ponds are simple and even easier to install as the shape is predefined. As they’re made from heavy duty polyethylene, they can withstand hot and freezing temperatures.

Size

The size of your pond will largely depend on your budget, the size of your garden and what you want to achieve with it. A small pond (less than 2000 litres) offers you a way to enjoy small water plants, while a medium pond (2000 – 5000 litres) could have a small pump and some goldfish.

If you want to go bigger than that you will need to be committed to maintain the pound regularly. Large ponds are considered those between 5000 and 10,000 litres, while anything above that is extra-large. Remember, the bigger you go, the more investment required – both money and time.

Location

This is a particularly important consideration, as you’ll need to consider sunlight and rain, especially if you plan to have aquatic plants or trees.

Ideally, the location of your pond should be somewhere that gets sunlight for at least half of the day, but also isn’t an area that stays wet. You will also want to choose a spot that is visible from the house too so that you can enjoy your new garden masterpiece.