How to design a pond shape:
- Lay a hosepipe on the ground to look at the pond design shape from all angles.
- Check for access around it.
- View from inside (upstairs and downstairs).
- Walk around outside it to check path width.
- Consider the sharpness of any curves to the pond edge.
- Think about mowing the lawn along this curve - is it too tight for the mower?
- In a small garden space make your pond design as simple as possible - circle, square, rectangle or kidney.
- Too much fuss in a shape can lead to the area feeling too busy.
- Check whether your site is level.
- The finished pond will have a water line that finds a level which may not be apparent to the naked eye.
- A rockery or sloping cobble beach may help on a sloping site. Or link 2 smaller ponds together with a stream.
Use a similar method to think about the shape of the preform pond you might buy from a Garden Centre. Go with an idea of the shape & size to suit your space best.
- design a formal raised pond
Design formal ponds:
- Structured shape and pond design - squares or rectangles.
- Often fish ponds or raised planted ponds.
- A part of their interest is in the design of the structure itself (see image above).
- Include flat shelves creating a range of shallow water planting levels.
- Place the shelves in the corners or down 1 or 2 sides.
For more information go to our page: Construct a formal pond.
- informal planted pond with bog garden surround
Design informal ponds for plants and wildlife:
- Use more curved shapes for the pond design.
- Curves look more relaxed and lend themselves to more informal, wildlife friendly planting.
- Design in a sloping shelf or exit with cobbles on at least one side of the pond for wildlife creatures.
- Surround the wildlife pond by planting from a bog zone or moist planting area as an emergence area.
- Include flat shelves creating a range of shallow water planting levels all round the pond.
- Plan a sitting area near the pond.
- This is often a favourite place to sit and watch the wildlife.
For more information go to our page: How to dig an informal wildlife pond with planting shelves.
- wildlife shallow edged pond linking the water with the land
Pond design - size:
- Make the pond as large a surface area as your space allows.
- By the time you have finished and included the edge of the water area of the pond it always looks smaller than you expect.
- It is easier to maintain the water temperature and balance in a larger surface area pond.
- Largest pond would be one built as a Natural swim pond - see our page on Swimming Ponds.
- Think about a patio container pond for small garden spaces – it can be a focal point in the garden or placed in a secluded quiet corner near a seating area. More detail on the Container Ponds page.