| You can add a peaceful, quiet setting to a corner of | | | | water wheels, water falls, aerator sprayers and all |
| your yard by building a Koi or ornamental plant pond. | | | | circulatory systems. If you have little expertise in this |
| It will also increase your property value with its | | | | field, then this is where you might want to get |
| aesthetic charm. | | | | expert advise. Using the preformed, hard rubber |
| Design your pond in any shape or size if you want to | | | | forms makes the project easier, but it won't be as |
| hand build. Keep in mind that a lot of people later | | | | original. I recommend using these if it is your first |
| wish they had built it bigger so keep that in mind. If | | | | pond, the end result can still be beautiful. A layer of |
| possible, view a few such ponds to get ideas and | | | | sand, then thick black plastic sheeting for this |
| talk with the owners to be sure you want to | | | | purpose, overlapped at seams is placed in dug area. |
| proceed. Costs usually will surpass the estimates that | | | | Leave as few wrinkles as possible. |
| you first get. The basic pond can be constructed and | | | | This is followed by a special rubberized sheeting if |
| features can be added later as long it is in the original | | | | free form. If a purchased shape is used, this is placed |
| plans. Build your pond close enough to the house that | | | | on plastic layer then rubberized sheeting over the |
| it can be viewed from inside as well as outside. | | | | forms. The rubberized sheets will cover plumbing and |
| Whether your pond site is level or sloped you can | | | | is used to form the base for all the stream beds. |
| create water falls and streams. Landscape garden | | | | Edges of pond should lay three to four inches above |
| supply stores such as Lowe's have "How to" books, | | | | land surface and sloped away from to prevent rain |
| as well as, store personnel that can help you install a | | | | runoff from entering the pond. Rocking along edges, |
| unique pond. They can also recommend companies | | | | in and along stream beds to create desired look will |
| that will do all or part of the construction. | | | | finish the pond, This is done after all plumbing has |
| First, you must a dig an area a little bigger and | | | | been finished and operational. Once water has been |
| deeper than what the finished pond will be. Three to | | | | added and water systems functioning properly, the |
| four foot depth is necessary to provide a cool area | | | | landscaping aspects can be finished. Pond themes |
| for fish in the summer and a none freezing area in | | | | vary greatly from a Japanese garden, a desert oasis, |
| the winter if in colder climates. Sketching your design | | | | a lighthouse, a Dutch windmill or any other imaginable |
| plans on paper first is very helpful. There are now | | | | idea. Once water has stabilized , the plants and Koi |
| many interlocking heavy duty rubberized shapes and | | | | can be added. Too many plants will interfere with the |
| sizes that make construction much easier and will last | | | | balance for the fish, though too many fish can also |
| for many, many years. Plan your stream areas wider | | | | cause imbalance, so less is better. Little care will be |
| and deeper as lining them with rock/ gravel will | | | | needed except to keep debris, such as leaves |
| reduce final size. Layout your plumbing design (the | | | | cleaner away. Then sit back and enjoy your pond. |
| most complicated part of pond construction), for | | | | Don't forget to feed the fish!! |