This isn’t a subject we’ve touched on yet in the Lazy Susan blog, but its another area we hold some experience and nothing finishes a garden (apart from great Lazy Susan garden furniture) like a good pond or water feature. A good well designed garden pond can dramatically change the entire appearance of your garden. Flowers, fountains, pond lights and other garden accessories are a great way to make an ordinary garden look great. These outdoor additions are designed to compliment all types of home styles and designs and if you’re looking for creative ways to enhance the appearance of your garden, then ponds and accessories may be just what you’re looking for…

What Type of Garden Pond is Right for You?

Ponds have always been a popular home improvement trend, mainly due to the wide variety of easy-to-use materials, kits and supplies that are available in DIY stores and the fact its a job that can be completed in a day.

If you want to add a basic DIY garden pond, you have a few basic options to choose from:

• A Preformed fiberglass pond
• Custom ponds that require a liner
• Pond kits that include all necessary materials and instructions to get you up and running

There are a number of different types of garden ponds, usually defined by the materials that are used as the floor or lining of the pond, and each type has its advantages and disadvantages:

• Earthen pools are relatively inexpensive, but require a great deal of upkeep. A garden pond without a liner of some sort may seep into the ground water, and will allow native plants to creep into your landscaping
• Flexible liner ponds are simply earthen ponds lined with a plastic or rubber liner. Like earthen ponds, those made with flexible liners are inexpensive, but much easier to maintain. The biggest issue with a plastic sheet-lined pond is the possibility of a tear in the lining
• Garden ponds with rigid plastic or fiberglass liners are among the easiest to build and maintain. Though they are a bit more expensive than the first two options, but they are still relatively inexpensive to build and to maintain. The main drawback to ponds with a rigid liner is that the plastic may crack in subfreezing temperatures. You can avoid this by draining the pond and removing it for the winter.
• Cement-lined garden ponds are the most expensive option, but they are the most durable of all the choices. A cement garden pond will last for years with very little maintenance.

Garden ponds can be created in any shape or size you want really, its all in the design and planning. You can add fish to create a fishpond or add a range of landscaping features to create a water garden. Do you want a rigid stream, a formal pond, canals, reservoirs, cobble beaches, bridges, stepping stones, pond lighting, a wildlife pond or something completely different? Ponds are as creative as you are – once you know the basics you can pretty much do what you want.

Things you need to ask yourself before building your pond?

However, before you start digging a big hole in the middle of your garden, there are a number of important factors you should consider before you start. First, check with the local council to find out about any planning/building requirements in your area. You should also check with your local utility companies before digging so that you can avoid any underground cables and pipes.A pond with a fountain or waterfall will require a pump to keep the water moving, so try and choose a location where you can easily run a line for electricity from the house. Generally, you’ll also want to choose a site for your garden pond that’s protected from the worst of the midday sun. And if there are small children in the family, be certain to consider their safety when building your pond.

When choosing plants for your garden pond, be sure to consider the sun and shade requirements of the plants that you want to include. Also consider whether you want to stock your pond with fish or keep it for plants only. If you intend to add koi or other fish, you’ll need to consider their requirements when building your pond. Think about the following questions and it will help you design your pond:

• How much money do you want to spend at the start?
• How much will it cost to maintain?
• How much time do you have to spend maintaining your pond?
• Do you want the sides of your pond stepped, sloped or V-shaped?
• What size of pump and filter do you need for the volume of water your pond will hold?
• Do you want a fishpond or a water garden?
• What if you want to create a bigger pond later?
• Have you chosen an appropriate location for your pond?
• Is it away from trees as you don’t want it full of leaves in the autumn?
• Will your electricity and water supply reach your pond?

Pond Features

A garden pond can be as simple or as complex as you want really. The most basic ponds require nothing more than a hole, a liner of some sort and a little fresh water. There are, however, many more features that you can add to make your garden pond more enjoyable.

• Plants are one of the most important parts of a good garden pond ecosystem. If you choose potted water plants, they can often be placed in the pond in their pots, making maintenance incredibly simple
• Fountains on the other hand are good way to keep water moving in your pond, as well as providing additional visual interest. There are many pond kits on the market that make it easy to add a modular fountain to your garden pond
• Lighting is another consideration for your pond. Some kits include underwater lighting that can be added to your pond to give it an extra touch of beauty after dark. Lighting around the edges of your pond can make it a pleasant place to entertain or enjoy a quiet evening
• Fish are yet another feature that you might add t o your garden pond. Koi are very popular in garden ponds as these tough Japanese goldfish will even survive a British winter if the pond in which they live is deep enough

Tags: Accessories, Furniture, Garden, Guide, Lazy Susan, Patio, Pond, water feature