How to Build Preformed Ponds

Preformed ponds allow you to have the benefits of a backyard pond without spending large amounts of money on a professional installation. Unlike pond liners, preformed ponds have a smooth, fluid shape when purchased, so there is no need to spend hours removing creases from the liner after installation. The most important part of building a preformed pond is leveling and ensuring proper support of marginal shelves that create the contours within the pond.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard
• Marker
• Utility knife
• Powdered chalk
• Spade shovel
• Flat shovel
• Sand

Instructions

1. Cut a template for the pond. Lay the pond upside down on a piece of cardboard and trace around the outline with the permanent marker. Remove the pond, mark the side facing "bottom", and carefully cut out the template with the utility knife.

2. Determine the location for the pond. A certified electrician will need to run the underground electric to the pond or install a GFI exterior outlet to supply power to the pond if it is located close to the house.

3. Prepare the area for the pond by removing grass and debris from the area. Lay the pond template on the ground and adjust the template until you get the proper orientation of the pond. Pour powdered construction chalk around the template to mark the digging area.

4. Dig the hole for the pond. Place a wheelbarrow close enough to the hole so that you can place the dirt directly from the hole into the wheelbarrow. Work around the entire marked-out pond area with the spade shovel. Make the hole at least one inch larger then the pond to allow for adjustment. Check your progress by setting the preformed pond into the hole.

5. When the hole is close to the depth of the first marginal shelf, powder the deepest section of the preformed pond with powdered chalk and place the preformed pond into the hole. The chalk will leave a mark. Dig the marked area deeper while leaving the other areas alone. Continue to chalk the bottom of the preformed pond and check the depth of the hole.

6. Soon you will notice that the chalk is in areas other then the deepest area. Begin digging all areas that show chalk in the dirt. Continue digging until each area other than the bottom is one inch deeper then the preformed pond. When all other areas are deep enough, remove enough dirt from the deepest area of the pond so you have about one inch of room.

7. Fill the bottom of the pond, the marginal shelves, and top lip with one inch of sand. Place the preformed pond into the hole to check the amount of support the sand is giving to the pond liner. Continue to add sand and check the pond until the pond is supported in all areas.

References

• Preformed pond liner

Resources

• Preformed Ponds