BUILDING A POND

New products are making it easier for any gardener to create their own water garden. Easy-to-install pond systems, powerful filters and pumps make ponds easy to build and maintain.

Choose A Pond Site

Select a level site in an open location, where it can be viewed from the house or patio.

Keep the pond away from overhanging trees. Falling leaves will rot in the pond and roots may puncture the liner.

Consider a location where the pond might reflect a dramatic garden element like a statue or planting.

Proximity to water and electrical sources will make installation easier.

Determine The Size And Shape Of The Pond

A common mistake is to make a pond too small. To accommodate fish and plants, make the pond at least 6 ft. by 4 ft. by 18 in deep.

There are two approaches to establishing the shape of the pond.

Alternatively, you can create your own shape and use flexible liner. Buy a heavy liner to minimize future repairs. For the greatest durability EPDM rubber is recommended. Black liner gives the most natural look.

Landscape designers suggest giving ponds large open curves and flowing lines. Narrow channels that block water flow should be avoided.

Digging Out

Outline the shape of the pond using pegs and string or a garden hose.

If using a pre-form pond, match the form.

If using a flexible liner, dig out the hole 9 in. at a gently sloping angle. If you plan to grow plants along the edges cut out a 9 inch wide shelf. Then continue digging until your reach the desired depth.

Place the Liner

Use a two-by-four and level to make sure the rim is level across length and width.

Remove any stones or roots that might puncture the liner. Spread a 1 inch layer of damp sand across the bottom and cover with a layer of old carpet or matting. Place the liner evenly across the hole, letting the center of the liner touch the base and shelf edges.

Anchor the overlap with concrete blocks or stones.

Slowly add water to the pond. Flexible liner will stretch and adapt to the weight of the water. Adjust the stones and tug the edges of the liner to form neat folds as it starts to crease. When the pond is full trim off any excess flexible liner, leaving an overlap of at least 6 inches. Cover the overlap with rocks or paving stones. You can also create a rock garden or waterfall.

Now you have a pond!

Oxygen is essential to a healthy pond. A variety of plants help keep ponds clean, but dirt, leaves, algae and other contaminants can accumulate and deplete the oxygen. An underwater pump creates the water flow to replace the oxygen and maintain a healthy balance.

The Laguna Pond system is easy and quick to install with it's "click-fit" couplings. It includes a PowerJet Fountain Pump Kit that can power fountains and waterfalls, as well as filter and sterilizer systems. Maintenance-free, quiet and very durable, PowerJet pumps use surprising little electricity. Even the biggest pump costs as little to run as a 100watt light bulb. Every PowerJet pump includes a riser step and two fountain jets.

A filtration system is the best way to maintain excellent water quality and protect pumps from clogging. They are especially helpful for small ponds where water quality is most difficult to maintain. Laguna PowerFlo Underwater Filters are as easy to install as Laguna pumps. They can be placed at the edge of the pond, making for easy maintenance.

For larger ponds external filters can be important. Laguna makes the most advanced external filters available: the PowerFlo External Biological Filters. They clarify pond water and reduce harmful toxic build-ups. The once-a-month maintenance is easy. The unit has twin outlets for large or small waterfalls and easy attachments to a Laguna PowerClear U.V. Sterilizer for the ultimate in filtration.

Warm, sunny summer days are perfect for sitting by the pond, and for the growth of algae. Excessive algae causes "green water" and is a threat to the health of any pond. Ultraviolet light kills algae quickly and safely. A U.V. Sterilizer such as Laguna's PowerClear U.V. Sterilizer kills parasites before they can cause disease. It works directly from a pond pump such as the PowerJet pumps or part of an external filter, such as the PowerFlo.

Pond Plants

You'll find aquatic plants that are annual, perennial, day or night blooming, some that have fragrant flowers and others with variegated foliage. Water plants are highly diversified and can grow in varying degrees of light and water depth. There are four major categories of pond plants: oxygenating, floating, deep water and marginal.

Oxygenating plants create oxygen for fish and other pond inhabitants. Some, like water lilies and lotus, grow with their crowns submerged and send up long stems on which their leaves and flowers float or emerge just above the water surface. Some floaters don't need soil at all. Deep-water plants live at the bottom of the pond and provide fish with shade and protection for predators. Marginal plants live along the outer edge of the pond and blend with the surrounding landscape.

In a mature pond, 60% to 70% of the pond surface should be covered with plants in order to reduce the development of algae.

Getting Started

Staff at Pasquesi Home and Gardens can answer your questions about water gardening and help you get started.

For information on preparing ponds for winter in Chicago, see Wintering Ponds .

Pasquesi Home & Gardens is Chicagoland's premier resource for gardeners wanting to create a perfect atmosphere. We have a vast selection of plants, many of them rare and unusual. Our qualified, professional staff is ever-willing to share their knowledge with customers needing advice.

Pasquesi Home & Gardens is a complete resource for gardening, home and pet supplies. There are hundreds of beautiful accents for the home and out-of-doors, and Pasquesi Home and Gardens has an unrivaled collection of containers for indoors and outdoors in many different styles, materials and shapes. Both stores carry a wide range of quality garden tools and outdoor furniture.