So you’re thinking about getting a water feature? Congratulations! Pond ownership is an exciting hobby that provides relaxation and family fun on many levels.  By building your pond following a few simple tips, you can spend time enjoying the quality of life that a water feature can provide. It’s not just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle.

So what kind of time and maintenance commitment can you expect when you install a pond in your yard? What is required of you to keep it looking as good as, if not better than, the day it was put in? We’re not claiming that a water feature is maintenance-free, but if you get yourself an all-natural, eco-friendly kind of water feature, it will be low-maintenance.

The style and size of pond you build, as well as the season, will determine the amount of maintenance required. For example, with an ecosystem pond, complete with a biological and skimmer filtration system, you can expect a few regular but quick maintenance duties. Adding bacteria during the spring, removing yellowing water lilies leaves and spent flowers, in the summer, and emptying your debris net if you’re near trees in the fall are all chores that need to be done, but only take minutes. How often these are required, depend on your pond.

In colder climates, you’ll need clean up debris from your pond, so it is properly prepared for the winter. A spring clean-out will get your pond up and running in the Northern regions, and in the South, you’ll only need to keep an eye on the pond and perform a spring clean-out every couple of years.

All in all, pond maintenance amounts to less than most landscaped perennial borders. And if you enjoy gardening, you likely won’t see these items as chores, but rather as another enjoyable element in pond ownership.

You may have also heard about predators. The great blue heron can be a real pest around your pond, trying to catch and eat your fish, but a motion-activated sprinkler usually does the trick in scaring them off. In addition, creating places for your fish to hide when you build the pond also helps. Some raccoons may pay a visit to you water feature, and while they are generally too lazy to go to the trouble of diving in the water to catch fish, sometimes they do. If you experience a lot of raccoons, a fine mesh netting might be your answer.

The enjoyment far outweighs any little jobs you have to do around the water garden and you’ll soon find that days and nights by your water garden will begin to make their way into your memories, your family scrapbooks, and your heart! You’ve surely heard about all the nightmares associated with keeping your pond clean, but if you work with Mother Nature and not against her, we think you’ll find the results quite amazing.

To Do It Yourself or Have it Done Professionally

Are you deciding whether to build the water feature yourself or hire someone to get it done? It can be a tough decision, especially when you consider yourself pretty handy. Let’s look at the time, money, and work involved in building a pond yourself versus getting it done by a professional.

Time

There’s something to be said for completing something by yourself, using your own two hands. You feel a sense of pride that stays with you every time you gaze at that beautiful work of art. Nothing can match that feeling. However, if it took you a month, using all your weekend time to finish the water feature, it might not be such a great thing after all. You just have to realize that a great project takes time and decide whether you want to be the one doing it. 

Parts and Labor

When you install the pond on your own, you know how all the pieces of the pie work. There is no wasted time spent waiting for the contractor to come fix the thingamajig because you are now the master of water gardening equipment. If it’s not the thingamajig that’s broken, however, you may be in deeper water than you think, so having a contractor who know your pond is also a plus too.

You can also rest assured that you saved a slew of money by doing it yourself and enlisting the help of a few friends whose houses you’ve painted a million times. That’s always a good plus to doing something yourself. 

Should It Be Bigger?

Building a pond is tough work, but it can be done if you’re looking as a smaller-sized project. If you decide on a bigger pond, however, you might want to change your tune. Choosing equipment for the job can be challenging enough, and you wouldn’t want to burn yourself out with a big hole in your backyard. A bigger pond would definitely be a “get a contractor” type of project.

Do-It-Yourself POND CHECKLIST

So what do you need to build a pond yourself? Well, your best bet is to purchase a kit that comes complete with everything you need from your local water garden retailer, but if you’ve decided to do it yourself, there are a few things you need.

Whether your build a pond from scratch or from a kit, it’s recommended that you have a shovel, a hand tamper, a wheelbarrow, a power source run by an electrician, a water source, a good selection of rocks, mulch, top soil, a good sense of humor, and some friends who really owe you! Other than that, here are the products you’ll need for both liner and preformed ponds:

1. Skimmer and Rock Lid – Deposits surface debris in an easy-to-remove bag and breaks the surface tension for a clearer pond. Rock lid camouflages the skimmer.
2. Biological Filter and Waterfall Stone – Disappears from view by becoming a waterfall. Bacteria live inside, cleaning the water. Waterfall stone provides spillway if natural rock is not used.
3. Pump – A high-efficiency pump provides the best value for your money.
4. Check Valve – Allows easy pump removal while preventing the biological filter from draining when the electricity is turned off.
5. PVC Flex-Pipe – Easy to install and extremely flexible. Connects the skimmer to the biological filter.
6. Liner – If you’ve decided on a liner pond, fish-safe EPDM is best. Many liners have a 20-year manufacturer’s guarantee.
7. Preformed Tub – If you’re going for a preformed pond, find the tub that’s shaped to your liking. There are different shapes to choose from.
8. Underlayment – Acts as padding for the liner. Allows gasses to escape from beneath the liner.
9. Underwater Lights – Comes with a transformer that extends the enjoyment of a pond into the evening. Automatic timer can be pre-set or used manually.
10. Bacteria – Helps start and maintain a pond’s health. Adding to the bacterial colonies on the filters and stones, which helps keep the water clear.
11. Filtration Media – Provides high surface area for bacteria to colonize and clean the water, and catches and traps small debris.
12. Skimmer Bag – Catches and easily removes large debris.
13. Filter Support Racks – Acts as a base for filter material while strengthening filter walls.
14. Bulk Head Fitting – Forms a water-tight seal in the skimmer overflow and the biological filter hook-up.
15. Liner Patch – Water-tight patch seals accidental holes in the liner.
16. Expanding Foam – Expands and seals gaps between the stones, the biological filter, and liner. Diverts water over stones, instead of beneath them.
17. Silicone – Forms a water-tight seal between the biological filter snout, skimmer, and liner.
18. PVC Glue and Primer – Bonds the PVC pipe to the coupling in the biological filter. Designed for flexible PVC pipe.

As you can imagine, there are many benefits to hiring a reliable professional. First, your pond won’t be the victim of your trial and error. It will look more natural and fit better with the surrounding landscape. You also have the assurance of knowing it was built by someone with the expertise and experience to build your pond. Now that you’ve decided to hire a professional, let’s look at where to start. First off, all contractors are not equal. Unfortunately, as in any service industry, there are unreliable and dishonest people representing themselves as professional pond builders. You certainly don’t want this type of contractor working on your pond. Instead, you want to look for one of the many professional, reputable, qualified, and experienced contractors. Finding a Reliable Pond Builder One good way to a find reputable contractor is to get a reference from someone who has a pond you would like to replicate. Word of mouth is a great way to find a good contractor. Attending a pond tour is yet another great opportunity to scout out your favorite pond and determine if the owner is pleased with their pond and the service they’ve gotten from their pond builder. Here’s a few other things you might want to think about when looking for someone to build your water garden. CALL US TO HELP LOCATE A QUALIFIED POND BUILDER IN YOUR AREA! 1-866-584-5405 Here are some things to look at when looking for a contractor to perform any work, not just ponds, in or around your house. References Make sure the contractor has an extensive portfolio of their work. Ask for references and follow-up on them. Do they have several different projects available for you to see in person? Talk to the homeowners of these projects and ask them about their experience with the contractor. Their Work First, do you like the look of their work? Make sure they use a natural-looking mixture of stone and have a good eye for a natural pond design. Does the pond fit in with the surrounding landscape? Find a contractor who specializes in water features, waterfalls, streams, aquatic plants, and fish as a primary business.   The Specifics A reputable contractor should be insured. This protects the homeowner from any lawsuits resulting from injury or negligence on the job. Make sure they have an understanding of local building codes and proper permits. If a permit is needed, be sure to work out who is responsible for obtaining it with the contractor. Is the contractor professional? The most artistic, gifted pond builder may still be a bad selection if they don’t run their business in a professional, upstanding manner. In some states, the contractor requires proper licensing. Make sure the contract includes specifications of the project, breakdown of the cost, responsibilities of contractor and homeowner, and liability and insurance. The contractor should provide at least a six-month warranty, up to one year, on their work. The warranty should cover defects in workmanship, mechanical problems, or leakage situations.