BUILDING A POND 
   THREE EASY STEPS TO SUCCESS....


BUT FIRST......The most important piece of advice that I can give to anyone considering building a pond is this....Before you dig the first shovel full of dirt take the necessary time to read, study, look and learn. Buy books, go on pond tours, take whatever time is necessary to try and plan out exactly what you want and gain the knowledge of how to go about accomplishing your task. This may take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a few months. But time spent on the front end will save you headaches and heartaches later down the road. CORRECTING PROBLEMS IN A COMPLETED WATER GARDEN IS DREADFULLY DIFFICULT AS WELL AS EXPENSIVE !

Okay, so now you're ready.............

STEP ONE


Select your site. A site with some afternoon shade will be easier to maintain than one in full sun. Be careful to avoid heavily shaded areas because these will not be beneficial to water plants and you may expierience problems with leaves in the fall. Once you've determined where your pond is to be located, outline the shape with either spray paint or a garden hose. Then you can begin to dig. In our zone a pond should be at least 18-24 inches deep in order to ensure survival of hardy plants and fish during the winter. Be sure to leave shallower areas to accomodate marginal plants and coping stones. (A pond will look more natural if the rock comes from the "inside out" as opposed to a "necklace" effect.)



STEP TWO




Once you are satisfied with your excavation, make sure that the edges are level. Remove any rocks, roots or other debris from the hole. Now line it with an underlayer to protect the liner. This can be anything from several layers of newspaper, to old blankets. In this example an underlayer of old carpet padding is used. There are also commercial products available.



STEP THREE




Now its time to install the liner. We recommend a 45mil. EPDM rubber. Depending on the size of your pond, this step may require the assistance of a few friends to get it in place. Once in place you may begin to fill with water while you add your stone coping and plants. Add your pump, filter system and plants and you're ready to enjoy the relaxation that a pond can bring.

                     
 

HELPFUL TIPS: It is best to wait a couple of weeks before adding fish to your pond. This will give the water time to dechlorinate and stabilize, as well as ensure that they're are no unforseen problems to deal with. Also, it is not unusual to experience periods of green water with a new pond. Don't be alarmed, ponds need time to develop their own ecosystem and each year will find your water garden easier to maintain. You can speed this "balancing" process by seeding your pond with beneficial bacteria commercialy available in powder and liquid forms. Continue adding plants until the surface is covered by 65% and your water will clear.

CALCULATING POND LINER SIZE : Measure length and width, then add 2 times the depth plus one ft. An example of an 8' x 10' pond 18" deep: Width = 8' + 3' (two times the depth) +1ft. = 12'w. Length = 10'+ 3' + 1'= 14'L. (Be sure to add additional length for streams or waterfalls.)

CALCULATING POND VOLUME: In order to be healthy you need to circulate or "turn over" the entire volume of your pond at least once an hour. In order to select the proper pump, use this calculation: Multiply length x width x depth x 7.5.

WATER GARDEN SOCIETIES ARE A GREAT SOURCE OF HELP AND INFORMATION IN BUILDING A NEW POND !