Choose a site to build your garden pond

It's good you want to add water to your garden.

Let us help you through the thinking process to build the best pond area for your garden.

Is your new garden pond for wildlife, aquatic pond plants, as a focal point or for fish?

Why you want to build a pond in your garden will influence the site of your pond and its style within the garden:

• A wildlife pond will be a more informal shape and further down the garden in a quiet area surrounded by planting.
• Swimming ponds allow you to join the wildlife in the water habitat you have created.
• A fish pond is likely to be a more formal shaped pond, possibly raised up not dug down, and near the house for the electricity supply.

Other considerations when going to build a pond:

1. Safety

• A raised pond may be safer for children but not so good for amphibians.
• You can purchase an ornate pond cover made in steel that will allow plants to grow underneath and through it and wildlife to have access to the water.
• It will give an edge for an older or infirm person to sit on when working on the pond.

2. Electricity

• For pumps, filters, waterfalls or fountains.
• Employ a registered electrician and lay the electric cable early in the dig.
• Choose solar if possible.

3. Avoid underground services

• Sewers, pipes, cables! Find their route first.

4. Shade

• The garden pond should not be in the shade of trees to avoid leaf fall into the water.
• Site a garden pond in part shade from a building allows the water to remain cooler and the pond is less likely to have algae bloom.
• Plant a shaded pond with foliage interest plants - structural shaped foliage, seed heads and some flowering plants.
• Waterlilies & Iris need more sun to flower well.

Next: Think about the detail of the pond design including your pond size and shape.