You have made the decision to add a garden pond to your landscape. You want the water trickling, fish splashing and you want birds to come drink and fill your yard with life. If You have a weekend and are ready to start this project. This page is designed to show you how to build your own garden pond.There are several decisions that need to be made before you start digging your new pond. The size of the pond is very important, if you want fish then you need to go at least 18 inches deep to support them in a mild winter climate. Your local fish store will be able to tell you the depth needed to keep the fish alive in your particular area. Before you dig, you must check with the power company so that you do not run into any unforeseen problems.

The best way to decide on the shape and the size of the pond is to use a hose and lay it out in the basic shape that appeals to you. Once you have the hose laid out in the desired shape you need to measure the width and the length and remember to include the depth in your dimensions in order to have the correct size of material. Now is the time to have on hand the water pump and liner, plenty of sand, a shovel, aquatic plants, flat finishing rocks or cobblestones and a level.

Now that you have a basic plan and design in mind, the time has come to start digging. Use the shovel to dig down 8-12 inches. This layer will form the tier that will provide a ledge after the pond is filled. This ledge will allow you to stagger the plants and give the fish a place to rest and feed. As long as the center is no less than 18 inches deep the fish will be able to go to safety if an animal comes to the pond. Ask at your local pet store if the center needs to go deeper due to the weather. 18 inches is best for the milder winter areas.

Remove all rocks and roots that you come across while digging, as this will keep the liner from being punctured after it is installed.

Placing the level across the top of the pond will assure that the pond is even and the top rim is level.

Patting the dirt down onto the lip of the hole will give you a chance to keep all sides level. Once the 8-12 inch tier is in place all the way around you will continue to dig out the center leaving room for the fish you will add later as well as any aquatic plants that you plan on adding.

The pond has been dug and that was the largest part of the project. Next comes pouring a layer of sand across the bottom of the pond in order to keep the plastic liner from becoming punctured. This is a used as a precaution and many other materials could be used instead of sand. Old carpet scraps, carpet foam, or even roofing felt can be used to protect the liner. Once the protective padding has been placed it is time to lay in the pond liner. The plastic liner needs to be placed in such a manner that it has no uncovered seams. The liner needs to be placed so that it covers the bottom and all sides completely, coming up past the rim of the pond at least a foot so that it can shift when the water is added. When the liner is over the lip of the pond, you can place some rocks on the plastic to secure it as the water fills.

Before starting to fill the pond make sure that the plastic is smooth and there are no uncovered areas.

As the bottom begins to fill with water the weight of it may cause the plastic to shift a slight amount, this is normal and you can add more rocks along the top lip to keep the plastic from moving. Continue to fill the pond until it is about three inches from the rim. This will keep the pond from over flowing in case of rain.

You are ready to start placing the plants. It is better to only use potted aquatic plants. They will not dirty the water as much and the fish will still be able to swim in and around their bases. Stagger your plants so that they come out of the water in a more natural manner. Placing small rocks in the planters will keep them from floating to the top and allowing them to completely fill and saturate the soil in the container.

Tall aquatic plants such as water lilies will do well in the 18-inch section and will barely break the surface causing them to float on the water. This would be the time to add your pump if you are going to have one. The rocks that will be placed around the rim of the pond can hide the cord of the pump. The pond pump will not be clogged with dirt since you are not releasing the plants into the water. The pump needs to be completely submerged into the water. Once all the plants have been placed you can start layering the rocks so that they cover the pond liner edges and the pump cord. Larger potted plants can also be placed in this area to give the pond a more aged look.

The water needs to sit for at least 2 days before any fish are added so that chlorine and other chemicals will have had time to evaporate.