Water features in a garden, like a garden pond, are often the pièce de résistance of designing the space. Sure, they take a little effort, but the aesthetic value and relaxation factor of your yard can skyrocket. Home buyers also look favorably on well-designed and maintained water features, as they’re often unique and not easily replicated by other homes.
Depending on your tastes, you may opt for one of many designs. Maybe you want a pond for ducks to make a home in, or a koi pond to showcase your expensive fish. You can simply enjoy a decorative fountain if you like the sound of dripping and flowing water. If you’re lucky enough to have a stream flow through your yard, you may just want to formalize the space.
In this post, we’ll discuss some tips for designing a garden pond and how to maintain it so it lasts and looks great.
Foundational Protections
Your pond’s liner is how you’ll found and protect the space, as well as stop the water from soaking into the ground, so you’ll want to invest in a high-quality pond liner that won’t tear or degrade after a few seasons. Cheaper liners might save money, but they often develop leaks that turn your beautiful water feature into a muddy mess, especially if adding chemicals to treat the water and keep a neutral pH, as you might do with fish.
You’ll also need to consider what’s going underneath that liner since sharp rocks or roots can puncture it over time. A protective underlayment or sand base will be a good investment, as it’s much easier to do this right the first time than to drain and redo everything.
Water Treatment & Care for a Garden Pond
Pond water can turn green and smelly quickly if you don’t have the right balance of filtration and circulation. You can’t just fill it up and expect it to stay crystal clear, especially once fish die and falling leaves start decomposing in there.
A good pump and filter system keeps the water moving and removes debris before it becomes a problem. You might also need to add beneficial bacteria or other treatments, depending on what fish or plants you’re planning to have, since each setup has different needs.
Safe Decorations
Plants around your garden pond can be wonderful, but some can be toxic to fish or pets that might drink from the water. You’ll want to research which plants work well with your local climate and won’t harm anything living in or around your pond.
Artificial flowers wholesale can be a smart choice for areas right around the water’s edge, where you want consistent color but don’t want to worry about plant maintenance or safety issues. Some can even be placed on the water, like false lily pads or lotus flowers. The side decorations won’t drop leaves into your water or require fertilizers that could upset the pond’s balance, either, so that’s a nice balance.
