Before you put that shovel in the ground to build your dream pond, putting pen to paper to make sure you have a complete list of all the “must haves” for your pond is critical. This will help ensure that you aren’t saying, “I wish I knew that BEFORE I built my pond!” Everyone has a different goal with their pond. So knowing what you want is essential to help you achieve your dream pond. Let us help you avoid pond building mistakes so that there are no regrets.
We have one client who has rebuilt her pond four times because it was too small. Also, it lacked the filtration she wanted, wasn’t deep enough, and didn’t meet her expectations. We definitely want to avoid “do-overs.”
SIZE MATTERS
As far as my own regrets, the first pond I put in was too small. I wish I had built my first pond bigger. Wishing for a bigger pond is a pretty common theme with most pond owners after they have built their pond.
Besides the fact that you are limited on the number of fish you can put in, (and everyone wants more fish) a smaller pond makes your fish more susceptible to predators.
Our general rule of thumb is that “eight by eight is a dinner plate.” For the most part, if your pond is smaller than eight feet by eight feet, you are likely to lose your fish to predation very quickly. Even if you have twelve-foot fences! This is because the most likely predators to get your fish are birds or raccoons. Unless your pond is enclosed in an aviary with a roof, birds and raccoons can get in and consume your precious babies.
AQUATIC PLANTS
The second thing I wish I had known before building my pond is just how many beautiful and beneficial pond plants there are. Everyone is familiar with water lilies and Lotus plants. But there are so many more aquatic plants to choose from. Plus, aquatic plants are spectacular at improving water quality.
Plants literally pull debris from the pond twenty-four hours a day, filtering out the waste that can harm your fish. Plants then turn it into beautiful leaves and blooms. If I had known how great plants are, I would have included a lot more space for aquatic plants.
LOCATION
When I put my first pond in, I made the rookie mistake of putting it in the empty spot on the back corner of my yard. Of course, the area needed something, and I needed a pond. So it seemed to make perfect sense. However, once the pond was in, I could only enjoy it by walking out to it. Now, I realize that sounds silly, but think about it. How much time do you spend in your backyard compared to your kitchen or living room?
Imagine if my pond had been in a spot I could see from the dining room, kitchen, or living room. My time to enjoy the pond could easily have been several hours a day. Rather than the thirty minutes, I would walk out and sit by it. Even more critical, inclement weather keeps us inside, further restricting my time.
Rain, snow, sleet, hail, winds, and even extreme heat have us retreating to the comfort of the house. This limiting factor is seldom considered by a first-time pond owner. We strongly encourage you to keep weather conditions on your priority list.
Additionally, many houses today are built with glass doors and large picture windows to take in the view of a lovely yard. Imagine the extra hours of enjoyment you could get by purposefully placing the pond where you can see it from your favorite chair in the house. We prefer maximum visibility and enjoyment, rather than just trying to fill an empty spot in the backyard.
We have even built a pond for our customer that had a glass front door in direct line with a glass back door. This made the pond visible to a visitor standing at the front door. Pretty spectacular if you ask me!
LOOKING BACK
Don’t get caught saying those words, “I wish I knew.” Take the time to lay the pond out before you even purchase a kit, so you can choose the location with the most viewpoints, a size that allows you to have all the fish you want, let you get a nice selection of beautiful aquatic plants, or whatever other point is most important to you.
For more tips, tricks, and pond wisdom, tune in to The Pond Digger Podcast! Join me as I share stories, insights, and expert advice to help you create the pond of your dreams without the headaches.
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