Digging A Backyard Pond
Using a spade dig down 3 inches in a 1 foot wide ring outside the outline to create the stone border shelf.
Digging a backyard pond. Only dig the terrace in areas where you plan to put plants. First create an above ground frame for the pond by constructing a basic raised garden bed using pressure treated lumber and raised bed corner brackets. Instructions for building a backyard pond with no kit and no digging required step 1. Again a small pond is easier to construct less digging and rock placement but it s actually harder to maintain.
Digging out a pond is done either by hand or with earth moving equipment. A garden pond adds beauty elegance and lively interest to a yard whether a fish pond a receiving basin for a waterfall or simply a placid body of water for meditation and reflection a garden pond provides a focal point that enhances nearly all yards but to successfully create a garden pond that looks natural it helps to follow a few basic guidelines to make the building go smoother and. Keeping it attractive and trouble free takes work but with a little extra care at the planning and building stages you can create a pond that s almost maintenance free. It is better for wildlife if you put the pond in a warm sunny area tadpoles dragonflies and plants with thrive in these conditions.
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. To build a backyard pond start by using a spade or excavator to dig out the pond so it s at least 7 feet by 4 feet across and 1 5 feet deep. Next create a plant terrace by digging a 1 foot wide shelf 8 inches deep inside the rope outline. The size of the pond will depend the space available and personal preference.
Ponds are probably the single most important wildlife feature that can be added to a garden attracting a host of creatures from birds to frogs and beneficial insects. If you are planning on digging it by hand be forewarned that it s probably going to be much more difficult than you think. Define the perimeter of the. Build a sturdy raised garden bed.
Once decided it is a good tip to mark out the proposed pond with garden hose or sand in a plastic bottle string or paint spray so you have a visual plan showing the position of the pond relevant to the rest of the garden see image left. Lay out the size and shape of your pond with a rope or garden hose. Then spread a thin layer of builder s sand over the bottom of the pond and cover it with a pond liner that s at least 4 feet larger than the pond itself. Ensure that the sides are level as you dig by placing a plank across the pond s hole with a spirit level on top.