All set to create a garden pond: how it’s done step by step

If you like the effect of water in your backyard, you can create a small garden pond yourself. The project can be done at almost any time of year. Still unsure? If it seems difficult, the following steps will help you get started.

Creating a garden pond: what is the best size for you?

The pond size should match your garden. First choose a suitable spot and mark the outline. Dig a hole no deeper than 50 cm, with sides that slope gradually from the edge. In areas with natural clay, a 5-7 cm layer of clay can help keep water from draining away. Then fill the base with a moist mixture of peat and humus. Covering the soil with moss creates a natural effect, similar to a small marsh pond. After that, arrange stones along the shore and add suitable plants.

The shape of a small garden pond

You can build a pond in several ways. If you want aquatic plants, the pit should be no more than 30-40 cm deep. A depth of up to 80 cm is suitable for garden ponds with fish. The edges should slope gently; about 20 degrees is ideal. The shape can be conventional – square or rectangular – or round, elliptical, or kidney-shaped. An irregular outline usually blends better into the garden and looks more like a natural pond. Prepare the site by removing stones, roots, and debris, then level it. Add at least a 5 cm layer of fine sand before laying the liner and securing its edges. To seal the pond surface, use polyethylene or pond liner; overlap each section by at least 10 cm and seal it with a suitable adhesive.

Creating a natural-looking garden pond

The edges can be finished with beautiful stones arranged around the pond. Use different shapes and sizes, gathered locally or bought from a garden center, to create a natural look.

Aquatic vegetation in the garden pond

There are two ways to plant aquatic vegetation. You can create a base of gravel, sand, and soil on the liner and plant directly into it, or you can place aquatic plants already grown in baskets or containers into the pond. Choose and combine plants carefully. The planting should suit your taste, but it should also create a stable environment for the artificial pond. Aquatic plants are grouped as deep-water plants, floating plants, and shallow-water or marginal plants. A balanced pond usually needs plants from several groups. Wait at least ten days after construction before planting.

Aquatic vegetation for your garden pond

Some plants thrive along pond edges or in shallow water with their roots submerged. They can also help purify the water by absorbing nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Interesting options include native species as well as ornamental plants introduced for decorative use. Common pond plants include:
Acorus calamus – sweet flag, also called calamus or sweet rush
Alisma plantago-aquatica – common water-plantain
Astilbe hybrida – hybrid astilbe
Calla palustris – water arum
Eleocharis parvula – dwarf hairgrass

Floating plants have leaves and flowers that rest on the water surface. Below are a few examples:

Stratiotes aloides – water soldier (crab’s claw)
Pistia stratiotes – water lettuce

Do not forget one of the most beautiful and popular aquatic plants: the white water lily (Nymphaea alba). It grows in still or slow-moving water, with leaves floating on the surface and white flowers that bloom in summer. Red and yellow water lilies can also look beautiful in a pond. A water lily is a perennial aquatic plant with leaves above and below the water surface, and it remains one of the classic choices for garden ponds.

Calla palustris – water arum

These practical tips can help you beautify your garden and create a small artificial pond. If your first attempt does not succeed, try again. It would be wonderful if everything worked perfectly right away, but projects often need adjustment. Do not be discouraged by early problems, and do not take on too much at once. Practice makes perfect, and Rome was not built in a day. We wish you success with your project!

Water lily

Plantain

Indian sweet flag

Water soldier (crab’s claw)

Water lettuce