Garden Ponds & Garden Pools

Interesting Water Features for Your Garden

Here are some great tips for adding garden ponds to your landscape design and garden.

Ponds and/or garden pools are dramatic water features that can add interest and tranquility to a garden. Wouldn't it be great to enjoy the relaxing sounds of water while you sip lemonade and read a good book in your backyard?

One of the things that many times stops home owners from attempting to take on their own landscaping project is fear. Look through the books on landscaping and read some of the suggestions and it can scare a person to death.

Fear not! You definitely need to read up and look at pictures before you begin a project, but remember; this is your backyard and you are free to do with it what you want.

So how do you get started in making your own water features such as ponds and garden waterfalls?

If a garden pond is in your plans, make it the first part of your garden that you put in. It will be the focal point and you can begin your plantings later. Consider an area where the pond would be attractive and practical.

Why create a pond, you ask? Garden ponds increase the value of your property, both for you right now and in the future for any prospective buyers. A well designed and functional pond also adds a peaceful effect to your yard. Garden pools create an ideal ecosystem beneficial not only for plants but wildlife as well. If you are fond of fish and water plants, a pond would be ideal.

A pond is not hard to build. Plan your layout and get some white spray paint or chalk and layout your design. You can use one of the plastic pre-shaped pond kits if you like, but you can never really get the natural look that you can with a liner.

The hardest part will be digging. The tedious part may be laying out the liner to try to remove most of the wrinkles. The fun part is the landscaping around the garden pond and adding water plants and fish down the line.

Landscaping your pond starts with the pond itself. Create a border by adding stones, plants and statuary that will create a great view. You should also create a walkway from your pond to your house. Access is important and easily accomplished by using stepping stones, etc.

Trees can be both beneficial and harmful to garden ponds. Trees provide shade that will be good for your pond, but they will also add debris such as branches and leaves or fallen fruit that will have to be removed to keep your pond healthy. The key is to strike a balance between the two.

Shrubs will also play a role in maintaining unity between tall trees and the low garden pond. They create continuity from your pond to the trees. You may also add some flowers to provide some color. Be sure to cut the off the old blossoms to prevent debris that can make your area unsightly.

Water plants are a must for garden ponds to keep the water aerated and healthy. They should be added immediately after your pond has been finished. Use similar colored plants as their surroundings to create some balance and harmony between the two. Be creative and do some research on different kinds of water plants to use.

A finishing touch for a pond is adding some fish, such as koi or goldfish. Add them after everything else has been finished. Always select appropriate species of fish that will not outgrow the size of your pond.

Creating garden ponds can be tiring, but the fun of creating them is also rewarding. Be sure that you do regular maintenance on this water feature so that it will always be free from debris and stay beautiful. After all of your work is finished, enjoy your garden pond and marvel at the harmony you have created in your yard.

Top of garden ponds page