Obasang’s Blog

Building A Pond: Helpful Tips

If you are considering building a pond you will want to be sure to include some quick tips for making it a successful adventure. This is one of the easier DIY projects that a person can take on and get done in a reasonable time frame. However, it will go faster if a person has done their research, has the correct materials and tools, and has the plans to complete the project.

The first thing that one will need to decide is what purpose their pond will serve. Some people will enjoy a Koi pond. These fish make great additions in a garden pond and provide hours of entertainment. When properly cared for the fish live for several years and grow to a large size.

A goldfish or garden pond will not need to be as large as a Koi pond. However, the smaller the pond is, the fewer plants one will be able to keep healthy in it. The third type on pond involves a waterfall. Which could also be used with either the Koi or garden point. But, if one just wants the sound of a waterfall and does not want to deal with fish or plants, a very small pond will work for a waterfall pond.

Building a pond can take a lot of effort or a minor amount of effort. If a person wants to start from scratch and use a rubber liner they will need to get plans for building a pond from the Internet or a home improvement store. There are many different types of ponds and different ways to build ponds. Less effort is involved if a person uses a prefabricated pond liner and a kit. The kits come with plans that explain each step in detail for building a pond.

Location is very important when planning a pond. One does not want to place their pond in an area where it will get run-off from rain. In some cases it might be necessary to have a barrier around the rim of the pond to keep water out during heavy rain storms. The run-off of rain water contains chemicals from the soil that can harm plants and fish in the pond.

Fish don’t mind being in the shade. If a person is building a fish pond that will not contain a lot of plants, then having the pond in the shade for much of the time will work find. However, if the pond is for a garden, the pond will need to be placed in a location that gets sunlight at least five to six hours per day.

Do not put your pond near trees that drop leaves. The leaves have to be removed from the pond when they fall. This is time consuming, messy, and a drag in the fall if the pond has been placed under a tree. This is the biggest mistake that most people building a pond make and it can take a lot of joy out of the pond experience.

When digging the pond, the hold that is dug will be about 25% bigger than the pond will be. To avoid ending up with a pond that is too small to meet you needs dig the pond 1/4 larger than you think you want it. After the accessories are in it will be the correct size. A small Koi pond needs to hold a minimum of 1000 gallons of water for the Koi to stay healthy. This pond also needs to be a minimum of three feet deep.

Thinking of building a pond? You really can do it yourself! Find out to build the perfect pond right now!