Choosing a Location for a Pond
- The pond should be on level, well-drained ground.
- Try to keep the site close to an outdoor ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet, and plan the most direct line possible between the house and the pond for the pump power cord.
- Make sure the site isn't directly over underground pipes, cables, sewer lines, septic fields, etc.
How do I choose the best location for a garden pond?
Determining the best location for a garden pond. Proper placement of a garden pond will increase enjoyment and decrease required maintenance. Exotic Aquatics, The Pond Diggers in Yucaipa, CA. The formal pond outside the Taj Mahal is an excellent example of a location selected for reflection.
How to build a pond in your yard?
How to Build a Pond or Water Garden in Your Yard Choosing a Location for a Pond. Find a location for your pond. The pond should be on level, well-drained ground. Try to... Install a Pond With a Shell Liner. The instructions below describe building a two-tier pond with a waterfall. We’ll use... ...
How do you set up a fish pond in a house?
Find a location for your pond. The pond should be on level, well-drained ground. Try to keep the site close to an outdoor ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet, and plan the most direct line possible between the house and the pond for the pump power cord.
Do I have to have a pond near my house?
If your preferred site is at the end of your garden then that’s fine, there is no rule that says you have to have a pond near your house, it’s your pond and you can have it wherever you want to have it as long follow these guidelines of what to avoid and what to look out for.
Where is the best place to put a garden pond?
Sunlight. A position in the backyard that has morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal for a garden pond. What is this? Ponds located in full sun with no shade available can cause the water temperature in the pond to rise, reduce oxygen levels in the water and increase the likelihood of algae overgrowth.
How do I decide where to put my pond?
3:214:49Choosing a Farm Pond Location - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can always put a pond at the lower elevations on your property. And creates whales to catchMoreYou can always put a pond at the lower elevations on your property. And creates whales to catch water for those someday there'll be a pond right here guys that'll be really nice.
Should I put my pond in sun or shade?
Most books say a pond needs a minimum of 4-6 hours of sunlight a day for aquatic plants to live. They discourage building a pond in a shady area. The truth is that aquatic plants do bloom more and flourish better in high sunlight conditions.
Is a backyard pond a good idea?
Environmental Benefits. A backyard pond can help to create a beneficial conservation area right in your landscape. It also can ensure you have a store of water in case of emergency, and it can remedy soggy spots or rain runoff in your back yard.
How deep should a garden pond be?
As a general rule of thumb, a pond should be 60cm (2ft) deep if you want plants and fish in it. Water that's too shallow is vulnerable to evaporating in warm weather and freezing in winter.
Can you put a pond under trees?
Yes, you can build a pond under a tree. Or even several trees. While trees will add to the amount of debris in the pond, your skimmer will take care of most of it. Just make sure your skimmer is big enough to handle all the falling leaves.
Is it OK to have a pond in the shade?
A pond can survive and thrive in the shade, but they do best in partial shade. The lack of direct sunlight can have several benefits such as reduced algae growth and a more stable water temperature. Pond plants that do well in the shade include Water Hyacinths, Water Clover and Marsh Marigolds.
How many hours of sunlight does a pond need?
4 to 6 hours4 to 6 hours of sunlight daily is ideal for garden ponds. Most pond plants will grow well with this amount of sunlight. In areas with hot summer temperatures, its best if the pond is positioned so that it receives morning sun and afternoon shade to avoid the pond water heating up too much.
How do I protect my pond from the sun?
Shade Amount: Partial Shade A great natural way to provide shade to pond water is to add pond plants! Both real or artificial plants will be able to provide shade, but only real pond plants will be able to give your water more oxygenation and help with natural filtration.
What are the disadvantages of ponds?
The pros and cons of owning a pondNuisance vegetation. Nuisance aquatic vegetation is by far the most common problem landowners experience with a pond. ... Poor fishing. I often get calls from pond owners claiming their fish numbers are too low or they do not have the quality of fish they had in the past. ... Nuisance wildlife.
Do rats like garden ponds?
You will almost certainly get frogs and wading birds and so on, but while rats are drawn to water they prefer canals, rivers and streams. Ponds are stagnant and also aren't usually great for food supply. but no rats.
Do ponds attract mosquitoes?
Mosquito Control Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water so if there's a pond on your property they're more likely to be attracted to the area.
How do you tell if you can dig a pond?
Depending on where the rock layer is found, the pond may need to be built completely or halfway above grade. The deeper you can dig, the better the pond will look. It's tough to make a pond look natural when it's sitting 18 inches above the surrounding soil.
Should I put a pond in my garden?
A pond is the perfect way to attract wildlife to your garden, from frogs, toads and newts to hedgehogs, birds and aquatic insects. Ponds are also lovely for us, too, providing a relaxing spot to sit on a sunny afternoon.
When should you build a pond?
You can build a pond at any time during the year, but if you start in autumn or late winter, it will get established much quicker.You will need: ... It is better for wildlife if you put the pond in a warm, sunny area – tadpoles, dragonflies and plants with thrive in these conditions.More items...
How deep should a wildlife pond be?
In general, the larger the pond the more wildlife you can expect to attract. A depth of 20-60cm (8in-2ft) varied across the pond will suit the majority of pond flora and fauna.
How to view a pond?
Viewing your pond is very important so walk around your garden to get an idea of where it could be sited and then view that area from different vantage points such as patio, conservatory or kitchen window. Use a hose pipe laid on the ground to give you an idea of how it will look. A pond near your house may have its benefits such as being able ...
How to keep a pond from falling leaves?
Build some sort of cover or put netting over the pond to catch falling leaves. Use shade loving aquatic plants. If you are worried about root intrusion build an above pond or install a barrier between the roots and the pond if you are going to have an in-ground pond.
How to have a successful pond?
To have a successful pond you need to site it away from trees but if that is not an option you may have to remove some trees to enable sunlight to reach your pond.
What to check before digging a pond?
Before you start you must check the position of drains, pipes and underground cables as this is the last place you want to be digging unless you are planing to install a raised pond.
Why is it important to pick the right spot for a pond?
After doing all the hard work of actually building your pond you don’t want to be moving it a year later because its in the wrong place.
What happens if a tree falls in a pond?
Another consideration with trees to close to your pond is leaves from deciduous trees falling into the water, the leaves will slowly rot giving off harmful gases.
Does a pond have to be shallow to get shade?
If a pond is small or shallow this will effect how quickly and how hot the temperature of the water gets, a large pond with deep water will not be affected as much. In reality there is likely to be shade of some sort whether its from the sun as it moves around the garden or a part of the pond is constantly in shade from walls, fences or trees. ...
What is the most important thing to consider when installing a pond?
When installing a pond in your yard or garden the most important consideration is location . The placement of your pond will impact your enjoyment as well as the amount of maintenance required. When a pond is placed in a subpar location, it will likely be neglected and become an eyesore. Thus, it's essential that you spend some time considering your property and deciding on the best possible location for your pond.
Why are ponds built under trees?
Ponds that are built under trees because of the desire for shade often end up being a maintenance nightmare because of leaf litter and debris that ends up in the water. Additionally, ponds that are installed in low-lying spots are subject to flooding and pollution during rain storms.
How much sunlight do aquatic plants need?
If you plan to grow aquatic plants or have fish in your pond, sunlight is crucial. Water plants need at least five hours of sunlight per day in order to thrive. Finally make sure that your pond is in a location that has easy access to electricity and water supplies.
Why Garden Ponds Thrive in Partial Shade
With a garden pond, everything is about balance- it’s a perfect example of the kind of yin and yang that keeps the universe in check. Too much sun, and you’ll be getting out-of-control problems that could completely ruin your garden pond. Too little sun and your plants will be suffering.
Why Garden Ponds Need Sunlight
While algal bloom is a constant danger for your pond, and you’re going to need to provide it with at least a little shade, you’re also not going to want to cut it off from the sun. You’ve still got plants you want to grow, after all.
Can You Build a Garden Pond in Full Sun?
Yes, you can build a garden pond in full sun. The algae just might get out of control.
What About a Shady Pond?
We’ve talked a lot about sunny ponds and partial-sun ponds, but is there any advantage to having a shady pond?
All in All
All in all, you can have a garden pond in the shade, partial sun, or even full sun, you’ll just have different challenges and advantages that arise. For the best possible pond environment, give your pond partial sun, with sunlight in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
How deep should a pond be?
In many areas local building codes require any pond deeper than 2 feet be within a fenced in area, which could present a problem if you want to build it in your front yard. Once you have chosen a general location for the pond, we recommend you use a garden hose to outline the exact location, size and shape of the pond.
Can you build a koi pond near a pine tree?
Unlike leaves, needles can travel through the skimmer basket and the leaf basket on the and end up in your impeller. If possible, do not build a koi pond near a pine tree. Redwood trees, although messy, are not near the problem pine trees are.
Do koi ponds need sun?
First, koi ponds do better in a shaded area than in full sun. Full sun will work, but a shaded area will generally slow the algae growth down and will prevent the water from possibly getting too hot during the summer months.
Can you build a pond in a sunny area?
If you choose to build in a sunny area, it might be practical to think of building some type of arbor, either now or in the future, to give your pond some shade . Unlike a swimming pool, leaves from trees near the pond should not create a problem if the pond is properly designed.*.
Install a Pond With a Shell Liner
The instructions below describe building a two-tier pond with a waterfall. We’ll use a preformed shell liner for the pond and a flexible pond liner to create the waterfall. The pond water will circulate by a pump and filtration system. We’ll add decorative rock and plants to landscape around the pond.
Create a Pond With a Flexible Liner
As an alternative to a pond made with a preformed shell, you can use a flexible liner and create a pond in a custom shape. General steps are below, but always follow the instructions for your pond products.
Maintaining Your Pond
There are a variety of treatment products available to keep your pond a clean and safe environment for plants and animals, including:
What happens if a waterfall is too small?
Improper Berm Size for Waterfalls: If the mounded or bermed area for the waterfall is too small or too steep, then the waterfall will look out of place and more like a volcano than a waterfall. The berm and waterfall need to be scaled according to the size of the property and feature.
What is a professional pond contractor?
Professional pond contractors are regularly called to complete ponds that are partially excavated by a homeowner. Unless you dig for a living it’s tougher than you think … and digging the pond is the easy part!
What is improper use of rock and stone?
Improper Use of Rock and Stone: An installed pond is disguised with rock to give it a desired naturalistic appearance; a typical feature will use several tons of stone. That can be a lot of wear and tear on the family minivan and it needs to be moved and placed properly.
What to know before putting spade in soil?
Before putting spade to soil, remember that there are several things commonly overlooked by many a would-be water gardener. Often, enough thought isn’t given to the project because building a pond can look so simple … but these overlooked elements are important for successful pond building. Poor Location: Starting with the design, ponds are too ...
Why is a small feature less stable than a larger volume of water?
A small feature is less stable than a larger volume of water and most people end up making the water garden larger later down the road because they not only love it , but their plants and fish outgrow a small feature .
Is it better to dig a shallow pond or a deep pond?
Too Shallow: A shallow pond is obviously easier to dig than a deeper one, but if it’s not deep enough, than fish won’t be able to over-winter in the north. And if you live in the south, your pond won’t stay cool if it’s too shallow. Fish don’t like hot ponds!
Is it cheaper to buy piecemeal pond equipment?
It may be cheaper to purchase the items piecemeal , but it’s challenging because different manufacturers use different fittings and they need to be rigged to work together versus having everything matched and designed to work as a unit. Efficiency and simplicity will create a better system for your pond.
Why is it important to shade a pond?
I always make sure my ponds are partially shaded because it gives protection from unwanted algae blooms and keeps oxygen levels high. Shading your pond, at least partially, is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to keep your pond healthy and full of life.
What is the best way to keep algae in a pond?
The sun is a major source of nutrients for all life on the planet, including in your pond. One of the organisms that love the sun the most is algae. Algae feeds off of the natural nutrients present in a pond as well as from the sunlight. Without countermeasures in place, algae will bloom and thrive in such a sunny environment. A shady pond, on the other hand, will have minimal algae and will not require any artificial algaecides to keep it under control.
Why do pond plants need direct sunlight?
Many pond plants need direct sunlight for optimal growth , however too much direct sun can be detrimental to the health of your pond. Unwanted organisms like bacteria and algae need sunlight to live and too much of it can cause them to bloom which both depletes your pond of oxygen and kills your plants and fish if left unchecked.
How much sunlight do pond plants need?
As I mentioned before, most pond plants require 4-6 hours of direct sunlight to reach their full potential, but there are plenty of plant types that can flourish in partial shade or 3-4 hours of direct sunlight.
What happens if you don't have direct sunlight in your pond?
Without direct sunlight on your pond throughout the day, you will naturally have less plants and aquatic life than one placed outside of the shade. This means fewer plants giving off oxygen into the air and water around your pond.
Why do shallow ponds need shade?
Shallow ponds might benefit the most from the shade as they tend to warm up too much and too fast under direct sunlight. A shallow pond in some shade might even be able to support a small amount of fish and plants, provided all other conditions are met.
What can a pond become?
A shady pond can become an oasis for local wildlife.
