So you're thinking about building a garden pond? It's really not too difficult to build one yourself. A pond may offer a number of benefits. It can be cool and relaxing, visually appealing and it can provide the local wildlife a watering point. Aside from the enjoyment, it can increase the value of your property. Use the guidelines below to help determine where and what type of pond you actually want to build in your landscape. 
Getting Started
It is important to know the reason why you are building this pond before the actual construction. Before you build your garden pond, it's best to have a well thought out plan. Have you decided on the location?
Location: Where will you're garden pond be located? You'll probably want to put your garden pond in a location where it can be viewed and heard from as many points as possible: near a patio or deck, an outdoor living area, or a location from where it can be viewed and heard through windows from inside the home. Look for an area that offers a slope. Slopes are perfect for use as a backdrop, and as a foundation in constructing your waterfall.
Size: Do you want a mini-lake out back, or a smaller garden pond off the back patio? Do you want a waterfall, and if so, how big and how tall? Do you want a raging river, or just a simple stream or trickle of water over the waterfall?
Light: If you want to grow water lilies or other sun-loving aquatic plants, choose a sunny site. If your pond will be shallow, it is best to provide afternoon shade as it can over heat during mid afternoon. If you aren't concerned with growing flowering plants in the pond, a shady spot is fine.
Electricity: Consider electricity supply for pumps, filters, and lights. If your pond will have a waterfall, it will need electricity - so locate your pond accordingly.
Overflow: Ponds must have an overflow area a low point to control where the excess water should flow out of the pond when there is heavy rainfall.
Depth:Temperature extremes should be minimized in the pond. If you intend on raising and keeping fish, it is important to make the pond as deep and as large as practical. However, deeper ponds may need to be fenced to prevent accidents.
If you want a small pond, maybe one with a 5 to 10 feet length and/or width for a water surface area, with a few small goldfish swimming around and a few small plants for accents, you're at the right place.
Waterfalls and Streams:If you want a raging river that splashes over Mount Everest, or a stream that connects two ponds, and you have very little or no experience in the construction of a garden pond, we suggest you contact a pond professional. Otherwise, small waterfalls and other features are easy to build.
Plants & Fish: Do you want lots of larger fish such as Koi, smaller goldfish, or no fish at all? Do you want plants growing inside the pond, and if so, what types?
Liners: Have you decided what type of liner? Choice of pond liner will be a flexible one, no pun intended. Your basic choices will be between flexible and preforemed rigid liners. Flexible liners allow you to design the pond any shape you like.
IMPORTANT!
Before buying any materials or a garden pond kit, begin, if you haven't already done so, by drawing a simple sketch on paper of the general shape you want for your garden pond. As a general rule, a 180 square-foot or 10' x 15' pond is a good "standard"" size water feature - however, build whatever size and shape you want if using a flexible liner. Include in your sketch where the waterfall(s) will be located.
Click on the link just below to see how to build a garden pond!
