How to dig an informal wildlife pond with planting shelves

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Build a pond by digging an informal wildlife pond from the outside area into the inside area in stages:

How to dig an informal wildlife pond step by step:

Mark out the pond and hard landscaping outer rim with a hose/string or a run of dry sand (Design the pond shape & size page).
Dig the whole pond to the depth of the first shelf area.
The depth of this shelf should be in proportion to your pond size: 6-13cm (3-5") down from expected water finished level for a small pond using cobbles as edging or 14- 20cm(6-9") deep for rocks or stones in a larger pond.
Shelves/ledge must be flat for planted baskets to sit securely.
Make some part of this shelf into a sloping beach edge up to the garden level for hedgehogs to climb out.
At the beach area the shelf needs to be wider.
It will be flat on the inside of the pond & then slope/taper gradually back to garden level.

The inside shape of the top shelf does not need to match the outside shape of the pond.
Taking a straight line across a rounded end of the pond can make a good sized shelf.
Try not to build a thin rim of shelves around a larger surface area of deeper water.
Then you can use groups of aquatic plants together rather than have them lined up around the water rim like a parade of soldiers.
Shelf should be wide enough for a line of stones on the outside rim of the pond and some plants on the deeper water side of the shelf.
Mark out where this top shelf you have already dug will finish with a hose or string.
You will not touch this shelf level area again.
Prepare to dig the next level down moving into the centre of the pond.
Beware of spoiling the soil edge of one level as you work on the next level down.
Take care when you walk on each level so you do not collapse the shelf edge.

Make a sharp spade cut down to the next shelf depth.
Each shelf should be at a distinct level - with an upright edge like a staircase. Internal sloping areas cannot hold plants - they will slide down the slope to the shelf below.
Dig the whole of the remaining pond area to the flat depth of the next shelf at 14-22cm(6-9") below finished water level - shelf .

Then mark out and dig the flat areas that you intend to be deeper still - the next shelf depth of 23-44cm(10-17") below finished water level - shelf .
There are not many upright plants and no rafting plants suitable for this shelf. You do not create a large area at this level.
You may not have space for this shelf depth at all if your pond is small.

Finally mark out and dig the deepest section of the pond - 60-75cm deep(2ft-2ft 6") below expected water level - shelf

Digging an informal pond should result in a pond shelf structure like this finished pond profile

The image above shows a Pond Profile - the construction under the liner that gives the levels, shape and usability to your pond.

When you dig an informal wildlife pond you should have a shape in the ground that looks something like this.

Have one half of the pond surface area as different width shelf planting areas with most as a 6" deep shelf.
Dig one half to the deepest water depth - deep area can be offset from the centre of the pond.

Next stage - go to our page: Lining the pond hole.