How to Design a Garden Fish Pond

Imagine relaxing in your backyard on a summer afternoon, listening to the sound of your new pond and watching the fish frolic. It's easy to build a pond. The only hard part is digging the hole. Try getting your friends together for a barbecue after they dig your hole for you!

Things You'll Need

• Shovel, rake, pond liner, underwater pump, rocks, plants, fish, water hose

Instructions

How to Design and Build Your Garden Fish Pond

1. Decide where you want to put your pond. Close to the home in a sunny area is ideal because you will be able to enjoy your pond indoors, too. Avoid placing the pond under trees so it won't fill with debris.

2. With the water hose, lay out the shape of your desired pond. Begin excavating the hole inside the water hose. The center should be at least 16 inches deep. The edges of the pond should be 7 to 8 inches and about 4 inches wide. This will be where you can add plants.

3. Carefully rake out all loose stones, roots and other bebris, leaving a smooth, level surface.

4. Lay the liner in the hole, carefully filling each area around the edges and overlapping if needed. Keep at least 3 feet of extra liner surrounding the outside of the hole. Do not cut this off. Add the underwater pump and hose and have ready to attach to electrical outlet.

5. Add rocks around the pond. Make sure you layer them to create higher and lower spots along the edge of the pond.
   Once the rocks are added to your satisfaction, trim the pond liner to match the line of the rocks.

6. Fill the pond with water and add plants along the plant ledges. When the water warms up, place your fish into the pond, sit back and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• As an added bonus, you can use large, flat rocks to create a ledge over the water. Then position a hose covered by other rocks that will run over the flat rocks and back into the pond, creating a waterfall.

• Wear a back brace while working this project. Do not turn electricity on until the pond is complete.