How to Create a Small Garden Pond

Nothing adds relaxation to a garden as much as the sound of water or the presence of living creatures. You can have both by installing a garden pond. It doesn't have to be large to be beautiful. If you have the imagination, here are the steps.

Things You'll Need

• Container to hold water
• Pond liner material
• Small pots for plants
• Soil
• Pea gravel
• Pond plants
• Goldfish
• Trapdoor snails

Instructions

1. Pick your container. Use your imagination here. You could even pour concrete into a hole you shape out to your liking on the ground or in a form.

2. Line with plastic pond liner material and fill with water. Let sit for 48 hours before going on to step 3.

3. After you've chosen your pond plants, place newspaper in the bottom of the pots you will be using to prevent dirt seeping into your water, fill with potting soil, plant and top with pea gravel.

4. Install a water pump if you desire. Adding one to run a water fountain or small waterfall feature adds to the beauty and aeration of your water. You can find kits which will include small water pumps and possibly the fountain which will also include full instructions to installing them. (super easy job!)

5. Add trapdoor snails. They will help keep your water garden clean. They do reproduce but only to one live baby at a time so they won't overrun your garden like some snails would.

6. Add goldfish. They add a beautiful touch but also eat mosquito larvae. Their feces is also a great natural fertilizer for your plants.

7. Feed your goldfish but in limited amounts. Only what they will eat within a 5 minute time frame. You don't want excess fish food gunking up your new water garden.

8. Every 2 - 3 weeks, change out up to half the water to keep both plants and fish healthy.

Tips & Warnings

• Foxtail is an excellent choice to help oxygenate the water and prevent algae.

• Miniature lilies are a great pick to add color and interest.

• Floating plant choices like Water Hyacinths or Salvinia don't require any dirt or pot. Just dunk them in!

• Common guppies also eat tons of mosquito larvae

• Feed goldfish at a set time each day and they will be 'trained' to come to you.

• Turtles are fun but can be destructive to your plants and water quality if your pond is small

• Don't place your pond in complete sunlight unless you plant something in or near them to create some shade. Sun = algae and the extra heat can be harmful to your fish if they can't escape it.