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So you've decided to build yourself a water garden/pond. The first and most important decision you will have to make is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! When selecting a site, you want to keep in mind where you will be viewing the pond from. If you locate your pond way at the back of your lot to "keep it out of the way", you will be far less likely to actually VISIT your pond, and enjoy it. Decide where you will be most likely to sit and relax while looking at your pond. Do you have a deck? A patio? A porch? Do you plan to add one of these? Imagine yourself sitting on your deck and being able to see the fish swimming about playfully in the water. Imagine the waterfall as a backdrop for this viewing area, gurgling and splashing down over the rocks. The pond and waterfall should also be visable from inside the house, say from the kitchen window. This way you'll be able to enjoy the pond even during the cold winter months. |
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If you are the type of person who has a hard time visualizing things, this step may take some time and serious consideration. If you know approximately WHERE you want it, the best way to visualize WHAT it will look like in that area is to lay out a garden hose. You can and should paint it in later, but if you're unsure about the shape and size of your pond, you can easily adjust where the garden hose is laying. Lay out a shape for the pond with the hose and then go back to your viewing area (deck, patio, porch, kitchen window, etc.) and sit down and take a look. Can you comfortably see the pond from where you are sitting? If the answer is "yes", you're ready to start the actual design. If the answer is "no", thank you for playing and please try again.
Keep these things in mind when selecting a site:
1. Is there enough room for a rock boarder around the entire pond?
(plan on at least 12" - 18" around the entire perimeter. Extra if you have big feet.)
2. Is there enough room for the filter box behind the pond?
(plan on a 3' x 3' square)
3. Is there enough room for an effective waterfall or stream from the filter box to
the pond? (plan on an area at least 9' wide in the space between the lip of the
filter box and where the water enters the pond. This will accomodate a stream
bed that is roughly 3' wide, with sloped planting areas on either side of the stream
bed 3' wide.)
4. Give yourself at least 5' behind and around the sides of the 3' x 3' space for the
filter box. You will need this hide the filter box with excavated dirt and have
adequate room to slope the excavated dirt up, creating raised flower beds.
5. Is there adequate electrical supply close by, or can it be easily added?
Remember, for this project to be a success for you, you will want to be able to enjoy it. Whether you are installing this because you like the sound of the water, you love the lilies and other water plants, or you have decided to change vocations and become a certified koi snob, you will get the most enjoyment from your pond if it is located in a place that is easy to relax around and has easy access for maintenace. |
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