How to build your own garden pond in a weekend

ARE you keen to create your very own water feature – perhaps in the form of a pond?

Blake Hill from Clearpond shares everything you need to know before (ahem) digging in.

Ponds are a simple way to create a cool oasis in your garden and, depending on the size and scope of your planned pond, they also make for a great DIY project.

Before diving in, make sure you consult your local council to ensure your pond complies with regulations, and dial before you dig to avoid hitting any underground utilities.

1. Choose your material

There are a variety of materials suitable for ponds, from PVC or EPDM liner (an extremely durable, synthetic rubber roofing membrane) to concrete, fiberglass and preformed ponds.

Preformed options are ready-made (generally from plastic) ponds which are available in various shapes and sizes.

Preformed ponds offer convenience, easy transport and installation and are a great choice for the less confident DIY-er, while EPDM liner allows you to build a pond to whatever shape and depth you’d like.

You’ll also need rocks, plants and ornaments to landscape the area around your new pond.

2. Choose your location

Steer clear of trees — the roots can make digging a pond hard work.

The trees will also drop leaves into the pond, promoting algae growth and making for a bigger cleaning and maintenance job.

To avoid your pond being polluted by run-off from soil and debris, avoid spots that fill with water during heavy rain.

Finally, consider access to power — most ponds require a minimum of one power outlet, so you’ll require an electrician if your power outlet needs to be moved.

3. Plan your design

Despite what you may think, a deeper pond is usually easier to maintain.

That’s because shallow ponds heat up more easily, promoting algae growth and often causing ongoing issues.

If you want to have fish in your pond, be aware that some species — for example Koi — will thrive in deeper ponds.

Rocks can be used to form steps and waterfall features.

4. Pumps and filters

The size of your pond and number of fish will be key factors in choosing the best filter for your pond – so put this on your list of things to discuss with your pond retailer when picking out your supplies.

A healthy pond also requires constant water movement, which a pump provides.

In terms of installation, a pump is like any other electrical product and can simply be plugged into a waterproof outdoor plug.

If you can’t conceal it using the rocks and plants around it, a cable transition allows you to pass the cable through the wall of your pond with a waterproof seal.

Alternatively, a solar pump requires no electricity to run and is suitable for smaller, low-stocked goldfish or native fish ponds.

5. Installation

Once you’ve got your materials together, mark out your pond on the ground.

If you’re using a preformed pond, tip it upside down and mark around it.

Dig down to your intended depth, clearing the hole of sticks and rocks, allowing an extra 100mm to be refilled with builder’s sand to protect your liner from punctures.

You can also use liner underlay — this has the added benefit of protecting the sides of your pond wall.

This is the time to dig out any trenches required for plumbing or electrical cords if your pump and filtration equipment require them.

Protect your pond from run-off by digging a trench (15cm wide by 15cm deep is ideal) around the outside of the pond – around 25cm away from the pond’s edge.

Measure out your liner and underlay, allowing enough to cover your barrier trench, pop it (or your preformed pond) in the hole, using a spirit level to get it even.

Install your pump and filtration equipment into its intended position using the installation guides, then fill your pond.

Voila – a water feature in just one weekend. — realestate.com.au