Ground level ponds

Ground level pond construction

Mark out and measure

Firstly, mark out the area with ground pins, sticks, or anything suitable. Measure the area to calculate any necessary materials.

Levelling

Now, it’s super important to make sure to remember that water will and always will, find the lowest point and settle at a level height.

Your pond can be a perfect circle, or very much more natural and fluid with its shape. Regardless, the most important thing is that all the edges where you want the top water level to sit are actually level. This is an aspect we want to establish early on and check throughout excavation and before we line the pond.

Digging out and preparation

Depending on your chosen size of pond, it could be a done with a spade and shovel, or a digger may be required for something larger. A small pond should have a deep area to regulate the temperature of the water. This should be somewhere between 2-3 feet at the deepest part.

Don’t forget to check the level of the maximum finished water line!

You may need to lay a course of sand to provide a softer bed for the base of the pond, and this can make it easier to mould to the shape you need if the soil is poor quality. You will need to measure the diameter and depth of the pond to calculate the required pond liner. There are several websites which can help with this. A suitable underlay is always advised to prevent sharp objects from tearing the

Pond excavation using a small digger.

Pond shape

A good natural and wildlife friendly pond should have gentle sloping sides and some areas which provide natural shelves for different aquatic plants.

Circular wildlife pond — Finished wildlife pond

Something more ornate….

Finishing the pond

With the brief steps above completed, you should be at a stage where you can begin to fill your pond. This should be done with care to make sure the liner is folded at the correct points, so it sits tight to the shape of the pond and doesn’t look messy.

Let this sit for at least 24 hours before carefully trimming the excess liner.

You can now dress the pond with decorative stones, capping etc, and introduce suitable plants to the pond and surrounds.

Usually with the change of PH and levels of nutrition, don’t be suprised if your pond turns a shade of green! This should only be temporary and will soon clear up.