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I have decided to have a pond at last, even though I have loads of info I still cannot decide how I want it all to look. I would like to have a few fish although I doubt I would go as far as keeping Koi.

It is a lot more complex than I first thought for sure, "oh i'll have a pond" then I find  all these decisions  filters, liners, pumps, lights, features, design etc

I have built ponds in all my gardens except where I now live (garden too small). It obviously depends on what type of pond you want. I usually went for the natural looking pond and they are perhaps the easiest to build. Providing they are large enough and planted well with a good assortment of plants and oxygenators there is no need for filters and pumps because they will look after themselves.

Basically you dig a hole with an area at least 18" deep (to prevent freezing in winter) and make sure the sides are as level as possible by placing a plank of wood from one side to the other and placing a spirit level on it. This is not critical providing there is a good depth of water all round (the banks of natural ponds and lakes are never equal all round) then remove any sharp stones.

Create flat 'shelves' inside so you can place on plants that require different depths of water and make sure that one side at least has an area only a few inches deep so that anything falling in (hedgehogs for instance) can clamber out again.

Cover the base with sand or old carpets as added protection against sharp objects. Buy some pond liner which is large enough to fill the hole with a good overlap outside, bearing in mind it will stretch when filled with water. Place it over the hole like a loose drum... do not push it into the hole or shape it to the pond...the water will do that for you. Place the hosepipe on top and gently fill it. The water will take the liner down into the pond. You may have to fold over any creases that are created as this happens. 

Once filled, place stone or grass turfs around the outside on top of the liner edge and you are then ready for planting. Give it a few days to reach normal temperature before putting fish in and make sure the plant containers have gravel on top of the soil so the fish don't swish it all out.

That will be £100 for the advice please...

Now, if you want an ornamental pond...that's a different kettle of fish....

My garden is minute, but so is my pond. (irregular shape but roughly 3 ft. x 4 ft. and about 2 ft. deep.  I dug it myself about twenty years ago, and it needs very little maintenance, because it's a little ecosystem of its own.  Occasionally it gets choked with duckweed or goes a bit green, and needs a good clean out, but this rarely happens now.

A fish-free pond is easier, and doesn't attract herons!  I opted for fish-free because I wanted wildlife in there, and oh boy, I got my wish!  For a tiny pond, it attracts gangs of frogs, and in spring there is much going on down there which would help the kids understand where babies come from!  We get loads of water boatmen, freshwater shrimps and pond snails.  If you import water and water insects from larger local ponds, be careful you don't bring in ramshorn snails, as they seem to have a reputation for eating every plant in sight!

I'd use a rigid liner if you can afford one, and the best you can get.  It will last years and years, and resist puncture, keeping a good shape even when the ground around it shifts or shrinks.

All the advice says don't site your pond under trees, but I had no choice as the garden was so small, and it doesn't cause any problems, so long as I clear the leaves off the top before they sink.  And I have netting across the top in spring, to stop the baby hedgehogs and blackbirds drowning. (had two tragedies in the first year, and felt dreadful about it! ).  I use brown rigid net, and it lives just under the surface weed, and you can't see it.

Finally do loads of homework before you do anything.  Reading all about it on the Net or in books will help you decide what sort of pond you want.  The people at your local garden centre should also be able to help with advice.

 Why not post pictures as the pond takes shape?  I'd love to see it grow from a hole in the ground to a nice little pool with pretty plants and fish or froggies!  Wish I'd done a before and after set of piccies!

Good luck! 

FoO

We have a small pond in the garden we brought a moulded one from a garden centre just had to dig shape of pond and put it in the ground. We keep ours just as a wild life pond with plants and have attracted plenty of frogs. We love seeing them on the back lawn and they also sit in the pond just with their heads out and two big eyes looking at us.  We get hours of pleasure from our pond.

Whilst ponds are lovely to look at, please be cautious if you have small children around, the ponds are a facination for them too, and there have been a few nasty accidents and fatalitiescaused by them falling into a relatively shallow pond and drowning.

It only takes a couple of mins and 6 ins of water for a toddler to escape from an adults attention, and end up with lungs full of water, if you have small children in the family, then please make sure the pond is well fenced off from them, or has a strong grid over it that can withstand their weight to prevent them entering the water should they fall .

Julia