How to Landscape for a Backyard Pond Garden

Pond gardens might include water lilies.

A backyard pond garden gives gardeners an opportunity to experiment with a range of landscaping ideas. Pick plants that love water, provide beauty and create food and homes for the wildlife that will live in the pond environment. Inorganic features such as rocks, furniture and statuary add to the overall effect. Landscape a backyard pond with both style and functionality in mind.

Things You'll Need

• Photographs containing design ideas
• Plants and inorganic items to place in your landscape
• Gardening tools

Instructions

1. Decide whether you prefer a natural and undisturbed setting, a carefully manicured environment or something in between. Decide whether you want seating near your pond. Consider whether you will stock the pond with fish. Consult design magazines for ideas about how you want your backyard pond garden to look.

2. Create a budget for the project. Consider costs for water plants, shrubbery, trees, plants to surround the pond, fish, supplementary rocks, furniture, fountains and statuary.

3. Shop around for furniture and plants. Look for weathered fountains and garden art at flea markets. Look for water plants at large nurseries specializing in ponds. Order rare plants online. Find rocks, mulch and other ground covers at landscaping depots or businesses specializing in these items. Ask your nursery where you can find fish appropriate for your pond or consult online aquatic-life retailers.

4. Assemble plants and inorganic items in your backyard. Arrange flowers, pond plants and ground covers approximately where you would like to plant them. Rearrange the items until you achieve a design you love. Plant the plants immediately and water them thoroughly.

5. Compare results to your design inspiration. Add or subtract elements of your landscape until the garden appears as you would like. Allow several seasons for perennials, trees and shrubbery to fill out the space and create the atmosphere you imagined.

References

• The Landscape Design Site: Pictures of Ponds
• Grows On You: Garden Pond Ideas
• Pond Trade Magazine: Current Water Garden and Pond News