Pond Building References

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Before you begin planning your pond or water feature, consider what your budget will be. Not only must you consider the initial cost of installation (including excavation, liner, pumps, filters, materials such as stone or concrete, labor, and fish and plant costs if you'll have them), but you must also consider the cost of continual maintenance. Caring for a pond is an ongoing project. Some water pumps can be repaired by replacing failed parts, but others must be completely replaced when broken. Other equipment will also need replacing as time degrades it, such as UV bulbs, filter media, air diffusers, etc. Maintenance costs may also go up if you decide to let a professional service handle it for you. Keep all these things in mind when planning your budget.

One of the first considerations to make when planning to add water to your landscape is whether you'd rather have a full pond or a pondless water feature, such as a waterfall or fountain. There are pros and cons to both choices depending on your personal preferences. Pondless water features are often more affordable to install, require less regular maintenance, tend to use less energy, and do not require a pool of standing water. However, ponds provide options that pondless features do not, such as the proper ecosystem to support fish and water plants. Ponds also tend to attract wildlife, such as birds and amphibians.

Why choose to build a pond?

• You would like to keep fish and/or water garden plants, such as water lilies.
• You want to attract wildlife, such as birds, frogs, turtles, or even mammals.
• You want to bring the natural beauty and serenity of a pond to your property.
• You have the financial stability necessary to meet both the upfront costs and the costs of continued maintenance.

Why choose to build a pondless water feature?

• You don't have the space or budget for a full pond.
• You don't want to attract any additional animals or insects to your property.
• You want the beauty and serenity of a water feature without too much maintenance.
• You do not want fish or pond plants.

Location, location, location! A lot goes into choosing the ideal spot for your pond or water feature. For example, what may seem like a great spot under a tree grove may actually increase the amount of required maintenance/cleaning because of all the tree debris that falls into the water as well as the lack of sunlight. Alternatively, a spot with too much sun may cause an increase in algae bloom and may be too much heat for certain plants. Be sure to consider the following questions before you start digging:

• Will the pond or water feature be visible from inside the house? Do you want it to be?
• Will you have access to electrical connections to run your pump and/or other equipment?
• If not, is it possible and in your budget to add the proper connections?
• Where will your filter sit? Your air pump? Your water pump if not submerged?
• Will there be enough sunlight? (Important for plants, fish, and water quality.)
• Will there be too much sunlight? (Most pond plants do best with 4-6 hours of sun daily.)
• Is the spot accessible to digging equipment? If not, how will the work be done?
• Are there any utility lines (plumbing, cables, etc.) where you want to dig?
• Is the ground fairly level? Does it have proper drainage? Will rain runoff feed the pond or no?
• Is this spot particularly windy (which can damage plants)?
• Is this spot close enough to the water source that will be used to fill the pond? 
• What kind of features do you want? A bridge? A waterfall? Etc.
• Will this spot be safe? Does it face your child's playground? Will you want it fenced in to keep your pets out?

Pond size considerations aren't just about what looks best, although that is certainly one. You must also consider evaporation rate, fish and plant requirements, and the climate where you live. For example, a koi pond will require deeper water than a perennial water garden, but shallow ponds are more likely to attract animals like ducks and frogs. Pond size can also determine how much maintenance will be required. A larger pond may require more time spent netting debris, but a smaller pond may become more easily overrun with algae. Consider the following questions when deciding the size of your pond:

• How much space do you have to work with (width, height, and depth)?
• What is the size of the other landscape features on your property?
• Will it get cold enough where you live to freeze the water?
• Will you overwinter water plants in your pond? (If so, you will need at least one section with at least 2 feet of water.)
• Will you have pond plants, fish, both, or neither? What kind?
• Will the pond be deep enough for the planned surface area (preventing evaporation)?
• What kind of wildlife do I want to attract (if any)?

Above, we touched briefly on the costs of continual pond/water feature maintenance, but you must also consider how much of that maintenance you will be willing to do yourself. If you have no interest in any of the following tasks, perhaps consider a landscape solution that is more maintenance light:

• Fill the pond as needed (due to evaporation, spillage, leakage, etc.).
• Test the water and treat it as needed (for algae, microbes, acidity, etc.).
• Net debris, such as tree leaves, out of the pond.
• Net, scrape, or vacuum out buildups of organic material, such as algae, sludge, etc.
• Drain, clean, and fill the pond as need.
• Clean out the skimmer box(es).
• Clean out filters (replace filter media as needed).
• Check for and clean out clogged pumps or pump lines.
• Track changes in the water and, if you have them, the behavior of your fish.
• If you have fish, maintain enough plant cover to keep them healthy, and...
• Track the pH level of the water to keep your fish healthy.
• Trim plants and remove tropical plants during the winter season.
• Track the water temperature, and stop feeding fish during winter (only feed your fish when the water temperature holds at or above 50° F). 
• Use aeration or another tactic to keep an air hole in the ice during winter.