Beautiful Garden Ponds - Made Easy

In my youth, Ireland's  landscape was peppered with ponds and swampy fields. As small boys, we'd roam the countryside in gangs, catching tadpoles, fishing for tiddlers or trying to leap impossible ditches. In recent times, ponds have been replaced by patios or decking - but that's all about to change because the humble garden pond is making a comeback.

Ponds are not just pretty - they're important. Besides having enduring charm, they've become lifelines for water-dependent wildlife. A well-designed pond makes a fantastic addition to any garden landscape and given the Irish climate, there will be no shortage of water to fill it.

Ask anybody who has a garden pond and they will probably  tell you how much it has transformed their garden.  They're soothing and provide visual stimulation that transforms outdoor living areas.If you've always dreamed of having a water feature in your garden, now is the time for action. Spring is the ideal season to build a pond, so let's get stuck in...

Sketch it out
It is important to really plan your pond, so don’t just rush out and start buying material and pond equipment without considering the best way. Start off by  drawing up a plan of your pond and how you would like it to look.A wildlife pond should be an informal, natural design. Draw the shape with flowing curves that link it to a flower border. Pond edges should be shallow, a hole more like a saucer than a breakfast bowl, with soft foliage and rocks can be used to help soften the edge

Pond Position
Begin by choosing a site in the garden. Ideally, it should be open, away from large trees and with the ground as level as possible. The most natural-looking spot for a pond would be at the garden's lowest point, though you might like to site it close to the house so you could enjoy the water and wildlife from your windows. Consider  the amount of sunlight the pond will get during the year - if the pond is subjected to strong sunlight, algae may be encouraged to grow. Avoid anywhere close to or, worse still, beneath deciduous trees, as their leaves will clog up a pond. 

Pond material
There's a myriad of materials you can choose to create your pond from, ranging from UPVC to concrete. Make sure that you consider what you want from your pond and where it will be placed and discuss this with an experienced landscape design company. They will be able to best advise which materials to use and where best to put it.

Digging out the pond
The simplest pond to install is the one that you dig yourself.Check that there are no pipes or wires where you have decided to put your pond and then begin digging a hole in accordance with your plan. Remove any rocks or pieces of old debris which you might find. Think about creating shallower areas for wildlife and specific plants.

Fill the pond
Once you've dug your ground,  allow the pond to fill with rainwater naturally rather than filling it with tap water. This is because tap water contains a combination minerals which may encourage algae to grow. If you have to fill it with tap water then give me a call here at Moss & Green, I'll be able to give you  advice on specific products to prevent this problem.