It is springtime and time to get out into your garden. Perhaps you have always had a penchant for wildlife and want to attract more to your garden. An excellent way to do this is to build a pond in your garden – here is a concise guide on how to do so.
Location
Choose an area in your garden that is predominantly in the shade, as direct sunlight can lead to the growth of algae. Ensure the shade is not provided by deciduous trees because the leaves will fall from the trees during autumn and cover the pond. The leaves will eventually sink to the bottom of the water and cause a build-up of debris which will cloud the water. It will probably be easier to install the pond on a level surface than building on an uneven area of your garden.
Depth
How deep you make your pond will depend on what you wish to keep in it. If you want a pond purely for decoration and do not plan to fill it with fish, you can make it any depth you wish. Should you want to stock the water with fish, it must be at least 0.6m to 1m for small fish and up to 1.5m for large fish such as koi carp. If you are thinking about buying Koi Carp, check out Complete Koi who have a great selection of fish, and advise on how to keep them.
Shape, Dig, and Line
Mark out with string the shape and size of your pond and dig it out to the required depth. If you wish to attract wildlife to the pond, it is a good idea to create a shallow area where they can enter the water easily.
Dig out the soil using a shovel or hire a small digger if the pond is large and deep.Any stones with sharp edges should be removed from the area because they could tear the pond liner. Place pegs around the perimeter of the hole and ensure the bottom of the pond is level by measuring with a spirit level. Before the pond liner is fitted, a protective underlay of soft sand needs to be added. If you wish to add plants to the pond, you should check their requirements and cut shelves into the soil on which to plant them or place them in baskets for easy maintenance. To secure the pond liner, it’s best to dig a trench around the pond, tuck the liner into this and hold it in place with stones. Place some decorative rocks around the pond and fill it with water.
Aeration
All ponds need aeration, even if you don’t play on stocking it with fish. Bacteria that break down debris and harmful waste require oxygen, as do frogs, newts, and various insects. Electrical and solar aerators are available to buy at your local garden centre or aquatics store. Aerators, such as fountains, not only oxygenate the water but will move it around too. Whereas oxygenators such as air pumps provide the pond with pure oxygen. If you have fish in the pond, it is essential that they have enough oxygen in the water to breathe.
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