A pond, whether a water garden or koi pond, brings a magical beauty to a garden. This will often be the focal point of your yard and a favorite spot for visitors. Speaking of visitors, the pond is sure to attract interesting wildlife as well from birds and dragonflies to frogs and larger animals, depending on where you live. A backyard pond can be built with containers or in the ground.

This article will focus on creating a built-in pond, and one that will provide you with years of relaxation and interesting observations.

Step 1: Estimate the Size

The first thing to decide upon is the size of pond you want. A backyard pond is typically no larger than 3 by 4 feet across and not much more in length. The size of your pond will depend on factors such as budget and space in your yard of course, but it will also depend upon how you want to use your pond. If you want a koi pond, you will need more depth, probably around 3 to 5 feet depth. Koi are known to eat or destroy all plants in sight, although some pond keepers will build a smaller pond for the water plants that waterfalls down into the koi pond.

If you desire a water garden with varieties of fish that won’t devour your plants, then 2 feet depth in a moderate climate is sufficient for most plants (although a few need 3 feet), while colder climates require a depth to provide at least a foot to a food and half of water below the ice. The basic rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish for every 10 gallons of water, but this will vary with the variety of fish, your filtration and the climate, so do check with a pond fish expert.

A water garden pond typically has three depths: 6 to 10 inches for marginal plants, 12 to 18 inches for lilies, lotus and submerged plants, and 2 feet or more for fish and over wintering plants. However, bricks can be used under potted plants to get the heights you desire.

Also, and this leads us to the next step, plan to blend your pond in with its natural surroundings and to landscape around for animals such as frogs that need both land and water.

Step 2: Select a Location

You may want your pond in a location where you can see it and enjoy the sounds of running water from your patio, desk or even a window in your house. Also consider a location with access to a GFC outlet for the pump and anything else electrical. A sunny location rather than under a tree means less maintenance and usually healthier aquatic plants (water lilies; for example, need around 5 hours of direct sunlight). However a tree shaded pond is fine for a fishpond, if you don’t mind daily skimming of leaves and debris.

It’s also important to select a location where runoff from rain will not carry fertilizers, chemicals, and organic debris into the pond. Be sure your location won’t mean digging into buried electrical lines, water pipes, etc. Make use of sloping ground by planning for pond overflow. Also, if you think that in the future
you may want to add a second pond with a stream and waterfall connecting the
two, or even three, be sure to allow space for this. For child safety, check local ordinances to determine if a fence is required for the depth and size of your pond.

Step 3: Measure for the Liner

Pond liners keep water from seeping into the soil. You can buy small, rigid pond liners in a variety of shapes with even built-in waterfalls. For a larger pond or one of your own design, the Natural Resources Conservation Service recommends using a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) liner. Other plastics may break down quickly and some are toxic to fish. Cement is another option. To determine the size of liner your will need, place a rope on the ground in the shape and size you want your pond. Multiply the maximum depth you have planned by 3. Add this total to the sum of the length and width. This allows for the liner to extend around the edges where it will be secured.

Step 4: Select a Pump and Filter

If you have a low ratio of fish to gallons of water, a pump and filter may not be necessary. However, water circulation will keep your plants healthier, and if you want to enjoy the soothing sounds of water splashing either via a waterfall or simple fountain, you’ll need a pump. If you have fish, you may also want a filter (essential for koi), and depending on the amount you keep, goldfish. A pond skimmer can be installed to hold the pump, and the skimmer will catch a large amount of debris. The size of these items will depend on the size of your pond, what you keep in your pond and if you need water pumped up to a waterfall.

Step 5: Arming yourself for the Great Algae Battle

While many pond plants thrive in direct sunlight, so does algae. While window shopping for pond supplies, consider floating plants or those with broad leaves such as water lilies. These will shade the pond and provide competition for nutrients.

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