Backyard Centerpiece

Homes with waterfront views and accents are admired by many. This is because being around water offers a feeling of beauty, allure, and serenity. Putting up your own water accent in your backyard, such as a fish pond, will also add that visual appeal. Make your yard alive with the soothing sounds of water in motion. Make your fish pond the focal point of your backyard.

However, there are some considerations before constructing one:

Climate

Consider the climate of your area. If your weather experiences winter times, then it is best if you make you fish pond deeper since the fish tend to hibernate at the bottom of the pond and naturally stop eating when the water temperature goes below 45 degrees.

If you live in a location where the pond will completely freeze over, it is imperative that a hole be created in the ice to help the fish remain alive. In this case, aquatic plants should be removed and placed indoors since they may not survive the cold temperature.

Filter

Consider the filtration system of your pond. There is what you call natural filtration where it is provided by the action of the moving water. If this is the case, considering the design of your system and the climate of your area, then you do not need a filter for the pond.

However, to know what is best for your pond, consult a pond professional concerning filtration. There are cartridge filters and biological filters available from shops that provide pond supplies.

Now, to get your backyard pond started:

First step. Make intelligent decisions by educating yourself.

Do not push through water gardening or pond building without knowing the essentials about it. Know what equipment are needed to be used. Find out if your yard is appropriate to hold such an accent. Is the climate compatible with your pond? Are you up for the regular maintenance it needs? Take into consideration the availability of supplies such as electricity, filtration, and water. Decide what type of pond are you willing to make, is it a small one? Or a large one?

Second step. Decide on the location of your pond.

Locate your pond in an area where the sun will be able to shine on it. Do not place it under the trees since it will cause a cleaning nightmare due to the falling leaves. Do not place your pond where runoff water tends to overflow. These will accumulate in your pond making it dirty and murky.

Determine the depth of your pond. The average depth of a back yard pond is between 18″ to 24″ usually. Make the outline of your pond and start digging it. Make steps in order to provide easy access to the pond during cleaning. These steps will also be perfect for holding potted plants just above the water. Make sure that the bottom is leveled as you dig.

Third step. Get hold of an appropriate sized pond liner.

In order to get the right pond liner size, take the width of your pond and add twice the depth of the pond, and then add 24 more inches. Measuring the length will be done using the similar formula. Now, drape the liner over the pond. Arrange it and place stones around the edges. Fourth step. Fill it up with water.

Start filling the pond with water. Fold large creases neatly and remove wrinkles as you fill the pond with water to make it les noticeable.

Fifth step. Install the needed equipment.

After filling it up with water, place filters, pumps, and lightings to the pond. Connect it to the electrical supply. Then add your fish and plants, and you are ready to go!

Water gardens and backyard ponds are for butterflies, frogs, birds, fish, you, and the whole family. These ponds may be small, may even be no larger than 3 to 4 feet in diameter. These may be built in patio containers and barrels. Drawing wildlife in your backyard may be done by adding water gardens and ponds. These will not only provide enjoyment and interest but also a natural and relaxing environment as well.

A fish pond in your backyard may become the focal point of your backyard conversation. So spice it up with this tips and techniques.

Where to Put Up a Backyard Pond

Place your fish pond in a place where you can best view it from, whether from a deck or the patio. Make it coincide with the natural surroundings. Do not place the pond where the sun can overheat it. Nestle it in a shaded place but not under the trees.

Landscaping

It is best to slightly elevate the soil surrounding the pond so that excess water will not enter into it. Plan the drainage system of the pond, making sure that it draws the water away from your house.

Landscaping the surroundings around your pond will provide a natural dwelling place for birds and frogs that need water and land. Make sure that electricity is available if you plan to use lights, filters, or a water re-circulating device.

Do not place the pond under the trees to avoid fallen leaves into the pond. This technique will also provide less maintenance to the pond. Expose the pond to sufficient sunlight only since some aquatic plats grow well in full sun and others do not.

Using Pond Liners

Pond liners are used to keep water from leaking into the soil. It is almost always necessary for ponds even if it they are situated in clay soils. Pond liners come in different shapes and sizes. They even include built in waterfalls or any design based on your preferences. They are durable and convenient.

Consider a polyvinyl chloride liner (PVC liner) in building larger ponds. In determining the size of the PVC, you have to know the maximum length, width, and depth of the pond. After which, multiply the maximum depth by 3. Add the answer to the width and the length. Now you have enough PVC to securely hold down the pond edges.

Pond liners come in different thickness as well. The thicker the pond liner, the more resistant it is to punctures. Cement may be considered an optional pool liner. However, it requires more expertise to install and it may cost more than the regular plastic pond liner.

However, considering that many ponds are quite small, other plastics may be used. It may be cheaper but many may break down easily once prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light happens. Some plastics also may prove to be toxic to fish.

Pond Installation

Time your pond building when the ground is not overly wet or frozen. Dig the hole according to the right depth and place (and secure) the pond liner. Then landscape the pond surroundings. Remove any rocks from the surrounding area. Add water, plants, and a pump. Let the pond sit for a few days before adding plants and fish. Let the plants settle for at least one week before placing the fish.

Then sit back and enjoy your backyard fish pond!

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Live Healthy Everyday

A pond may offer a number of benefits. It can be cool and relaxing, visually appealing and it can provide the local wildlife a watering point.

For Starters

It is imperative to know the reason why you are building this pond before the actual construction. Some individuals just wanted to put up these kinds of projects without considering the comfort and safety of the inhabitants of that pond. Evaluate first these things before assembling your pond.

You can ask for advice from your pond professional or read books that are concerned on pond kits and the techniques of construction of ponds. Consult your local pond contractors who have experience regarding this field.

Now you can build your own fish pond following these planning stages:

Consider the location.

Choose a site where your pond is not near existing large trees. These vantage points will prevent root problems as well as minimizing the problem of falling leaves in your pond that may cause decaying and poor water quality. Pond plants such as water lilies need sunlight to grow. It is best to place your pond where it can be exposed to sun but not too much as it can over heat during mid afternoon or on hot days. A semi shaded place with a good amount of light coming through is sufficient enough.

Temperature extremes should be minimized on the pond. If you intend on raising and keeping fish, it is important to make the pond as deep and as large as practical. However, deeper ponds may need to be fenced to prevent accidents.

Design with purpose.

Consider electricity supply for pumps, filters, and lights when designing your pond. It is also important to look into the water supply and drainage.

Ponds must have an overflow area (a place located below the rest of the pond height) to control where the excess water should go. Overflowing may be caused by overfilling the pond with water or from heavy rain.

Screen your overflow paths to prevent any escape of small plants, fishes (and its eggs), and snails during water additions and heavy rainfall. This may also protect the local waterways from any possible escape. This is especially important if there are non local fish in the pond.

Complete preparation requirements.

It is essential to clean and rinse ponds before using it since fish and other water plants are sensitive to contaminants. “Curing” concrete ponds combined with water changes, scrubbing, filling, and painting with vinegar is also important.

Allow chloramines and chlorine to dissipate especially if you used tap water to fill the pond. One can also utilize a commercial chlorine neutralizer from pet shops to solve this problem.

Ensure that all equipment such as fountains, waterfalls, filters, and lights are working satisfactorily before adding the fish and plants.

It is also better if you allow at least one week for the plants to settle in the pond before adding the fish. Clean up the pond regularly for dead leaves as this will add unwanted excess nutrients to the water and decay it as well.

Observe proper maintenance.

A said, keep the pond clean of fallen vegetation and dead leaves. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the amount of vegetation falling into the water and on the tome of the year. Do the cleaning at the beginning of spring before the temperature of the water starts to rise.

Feed your fish and clean up the filters periodically.

Add water in the pond periodically. A normal garden hose will do. However, no more than 10-20% should be added at any time because of the chlorine levels in tap water.

A Landscape Masterpiece

A backyard pond is the kind of structure that can turn your average backyard into a landscape masterpiece. The pond is sometimes considered to be the centerpiece of a yard. As the variety of inexpensive kits increases in the gardening market, backyard ponds have become popular to the public. Backyard ponds were a luxury for only those who could afford it in the past. However, with the current facilities available and some effort from the home owners, building that perfect backyard pond has become a luxury for all.

Unfortunately, in the rush of home owners to integrate ponds into their home landscaping, several do-it yourselfers have made mistakes. Building a pond is not as easy as the market has made it to be. There are several important factors to take into account before and during the construction of the pond. The following are some guidelines on how to build that perfect the smart way. Remembering these key points will help in reducing those mistakes that do-it yourselfers usually make.

Tips and Tricks

First, let your backyard decide. The first question that comes to mind is where to make the pond? In most cases, home owners just find an open spot in their yard and immediately start working. The result? Still your own plain backyard with a pond. Home owners have to integrate the pond into their existing landscape. The pond will fail to compliment the overall design and feel of the property. In situations like these, the presence of a pond can actually diminish the beauty of a home landscape

When considering in constructing a pond, take the time to pick out a design and suitable spot that will flatter the over all design of the yard. Don’t just simply grab that shovel and dig on the first spot you can find. Do a little research and if you still feel that your own judgment and unique design is not enough, ask some friends or your family members to help you out. Remember two heads are better than one.

Second, consider the elements of your backyard. If you are considering on breeding fishes, you may want to rethink about placing that pond in a shaded area. Warmth is an important element in maintaining fish population. If the pond is placed near a tree, you may find yourself in a position where you are constantly cleaning leaves off the pond. The environment surrounding your backyard will have a great impact on the appearance and maintenance of the pond.

Lastly, size does matter. You need to make sure that the size of the pond will meet your goals. Some may build a small pond and place a variety of aquatic plants and animals only to find out that the pond cannot satisfy the necessities of the plants and fishes. Another thing to consider carefully is the depth of the pond. This is especially true for landscapes in colder climates and ponds containing fish. If the pond is built too shallow, it could freeze completely. Proper depth should also be considered when talking about size.

Building a backyard pond in you home can definitely make it more attractive. It is a great way of making out door living more colorful and enjoyable. If built correctly, it can add a certain luster to the beauty of a property and can raise the property’s value. However, if done poorly, your backyard pond can be incredibly stressful.