How to Construct Backyard Water Features
Fish ponds, waterfalls, fountains and other water features add focal points and areas of interest to any type of backyard garden. They provide beauty, tranquility and harmony to the landscape. Water features don't have to be large or elaborate to look good--they just need to be properly constructed and regularly maintained. Because the principal element is water, some basic guidelines must be taken into consideration in the design and construction of a backyard water feature. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Spade or backhoe
- Sand
- Preformed pond or flexible liner
- Decorative elements
Instructions
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Start with a plan. The success of any backyard water feature project depends on how well it was planned. Budget, style, size, location and type of containment should all be taken into consideration.
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Define the scope of work. If the water feature involves a large or deep water containment, determine what it entails in terms of manpower, earth-moving equipment, structure, volume of water, cleanup and maintenance.
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Prepare the tools, equipment and materials needed. Small water gardens like medium-sized preformed ponds require spades to dig the hole and sand to line the bottom of the hole, while large ponds and reflecting pools with huge preformed molds or several yards of flexible liners may require a backhoe to dig the hole and several workers to complete the task. Decorative materials will also depend on the size of the water feature.
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Mark the soil and dig. Use a line of sand or a long rubber hose to mark the boundaries of the water feature, then dig to accommodate the depth of the preformed pond or flexible liner. Line the bottom with sand to level and protect the mold or liner from rocks and sharp objects.
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Position the preformed mold or liner and fill with water.
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Decorate with marginal plants, rocks, slate, bricks or other materials to embellish the water feature. Lighting will showcase the water garden at night.
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Add a fountain, artificial waterfall, fish or floating plants if desired.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're planning to house fish, allow for access to a power source. Water filters and UV lights will need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. Conduits may have to be buried underground.
Fountains, waterfalls and water filters are available at home improvement stores. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Small water features like a container waterfall or a half-barrel fish pond are simple projects that only require containers and submersible water pumps to convey the trickling water.
