How to Dig a Dirt Pond
After you decide to dig a pond in your yard or garden, you must decide on placement. Many types of pond plants require at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. Also, soil runoff can harm both fish and plants, so don't place your pond at the bottom of a hill. After you select a location, call your local digger's hotline. They will send someone out, free of charge, to mark out utility line locations. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden hose
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Level
- Tape measure
- Sand
- Pond liner
- Bricks
Instructions
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1
Use a garden hose to lay out the pond's shape. Give your pond an irregular shape to make it appear more natural. If you have a small yard, keep your pond's diameter between 3 to 5 feet. In a large yard, make the pond's diameter 5 feet or larger.
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2
Use a shovel to dig the dirt out of the marked area. Place the dirt in a wheelbarrow to be taken to a different location and dumped. Dig this first level about 12 inches deep. Lay a level in different locations around the pond's perimeter to check for levelness.
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3
Measure in about 1 foot from the pond's edges. Use the shovel to mark this measurement in the dirt. This width indicates your pond's shallow perimeter shelf. Make this shelf 2 feet wide if you are digging a large pond.
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4
Dig out the pond's center. The center is the pond's deepest part. Dig the center at least 20 inches deep if your pond will house fish. However, the pond may be dug deeper than this if you wish. Keep the pond's floor above the water table to prevent damaging the liner.
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5
Spread an even 1- to 2-inch layer of sand over the pond's shelf and bottom. Use your hands to spread and smooth the sand. Remove all sharp stones or sticks you come across as you spread the sand.
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6
Lay the pond liner across the pond and allow it to sag down. Place bricks around the liner's edge to hold it in place. Lay a garden hose in the pond so that the nozzle is in the pond's center. Begin filling the pond with water. Remove as many wrinkles as possible while the pond fills. Some wrinkles are unavoidable.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
