There are various ways in which you can add a water feature like a pond to your garden. If you’re carrying out landscaping in Surrey, or wherever you’re based, you may want to make this part of your project.
Alternatively, creating a pond in your garden can be as simple as adding a small container somewhere in your garden to build a mini pond.
However, if you want a more substantial water feature, it is worth spending the money to create a pond with the support of a professional landscaping company. This will not only ensure that your pond fits seamlessly into your garden, but also that it is situated in the optimum location.
Before we cover the process you’ll need to follow to build a garden pond, let’s look at why they are beneficial features.
What are the benefits of having a garden pond?
If you are aiming to rewild your garden, a pond needs to be part of the mix. These are essential habitats for a wide variety of animals and they can do wonders for the biodiversity in your outdoor space.
Water features can also be very soothing to look at, which makes them a valuable addition, especially if you consider the planting around the edges of your pond carefully.
They also bring an additional dimension to your outdoor space and create a point of interest that can be used to draw the eye, depending on the rest of your garden design.
Top tips for building your pond
There are several stages to creating the perfect pond in your garden. If possible, it is best to dig out a pond in a shape of your choosing and line it with a flexible pond liner, rather than using a pre-formed plastic liner.
This is because the pre-formed liners often have sides that are too steep, so if your aim is to attract more wildlife, it pays to dig your own pond.
- Dig the right sized and shaped hole in your garden
This is the part that is hard work. Your pond needs to be a minimum of 38cm deep to prevent the water from overheating in the summer, although the optimum depth is 75cm as this allows you to support the widest range of plants.
Ideally the sides of your pond should be gently sloped, so you don’t need to make the whole pond a uniform depth.
- Position your pond in partial or full sun
Ideally, your pond should be in at least partial sunlight to support a wide variety of pond plants, including submerged pond plants that help oxygenate the water. Sunny ponds are also a haven for wildlife ranging from toads and frogs to insects like dragonflies.
- Remove sharp stones or debris from your pond
Before you fit your pond liner, make sure you remove any sharp stones or other debris that could tear it from the bottom and sides of your hole.
It is best to line the bottom of your pond with sand before you install the liner. This gives it a stable, soft base on which to rest. You can then use sand to fill the bottom of the liner and help weigh it down.