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Index:
Part 1: Attitude
Part 2: Getting Started
Part 3: The Hard
Part
Part 4: Liner Issues
Part 5: Finishing
Touches & Maintenance Reports
Gardenpond Troubleshooting
and FAQ
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Welcome to My Backyard
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Back to Top
Pond Cam
Part 1: Attitude
- Although these instructions break many
of the traditional laws of pond building, everyone should read a couple of
the books that describe pond-building to get an overview. Then, be prepared
to use common sense to break the rules. Each book you read has a regional
bias that might not suit your particular environment. The books also recommend
expensive materials and equipment that are not necessary. Authors often are
promoting a particular brand of pond supplies. So, after you have read the
books and get a general idea, be prepared to take your own path.
- The first thing you need to figure out
is what you are wanting to accomplish. There are different reasons to have
a garden pond. Are you most interested in a decoration for your yard? Or
are you trying to create something wild and natural? The following instructions
will be mostly helpful for those of you trying to create a little ecosystem
in the backyard. I do not try to discourage visits from frogs or snakes or
anything except animals with claws that might tear the liner. The first
time you see a snake in your pond can be a bit of a shock. At the same
time, I have yet to figure out a way to stop them unless I totally remove
myself from the goal of a natural state. Once I accepted this, I saw the
snakes as a sign that I had indeed created a natural setting.
Back to Beginning
Part 2: Getting Started
- The next step is the figure out a basic
design for the pond. You need to consider location and size. Do you want
the pond close to the house so it can been seen from a window or porch? Or,
do you want it away from the house? Remember, ponds attract frogs that can
make quite a racket at night (but it's a nice racket).
- One debate about pond location is the
question of should your pond be near trees or not. Most books suggest that
trees should not be near your pond, especially deciduous trees, because when
they loose their leaves, they go right into the pond creating a mess. This
is true, however, if you live in a warm to hot climate, trees are very helpful.
For examples, in Texas where I live, the pond gets too hot in the summer
for the fish to be comfortable. Full sun also leads to full algae! So, here's
one of those times you need to figure out what's best for your situation.
Frankly, a pond without trees looks unnatural to me.
- Once location has been determined, how
big do you want it? One way to approach this is to start small with a plan
for expansion. By designing the pond to have several ponds connected by
narrows, you can get one area started and then slowly add to it. A figure
eight plan is a good way to start, working on one-half at a time. A long-term
plan is important so that you don't end up having to move plants placed around
the pond. If you really get into your pond, you will always wish it was
even bigger.
Back to Beginning // To Part 3: The Hard Part
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