Steps to Build a Pond in the Backyard

Converting a small corner of your backyard into a water feature is a great change to your backyard, and it is an exciting DIY task. But it can turn into a frustrating task or costly DIY project if you do not know how to do it correctly.

Mistakes like using a small pond filter instead of a large one or vice versa can occur easily. So your exciting DIY project won’t turn into a fuss, it becomes very important that you should know how to build a pond in the backyard.

In this post, we will discuss step by step on how to build a small pond in the backyard.

1. Choose a location for the pond

The first step is to choose the location of the pond. If you have a small backyard and only have one small corner to convert into a pond, there is no choice. But if you have two to three places where you can build a pond, look for building a pond on the place where it gets sunlight for four to six hours a day. It will keep your pond healthy and reduce maintenance needs. However, it is not the only factor while choosing a location for a pond. You may like the pond to be visible from a window or a deck, and you may want to keep pond away from play areas of kids. Consider all these factors while finalizing the location of the pond.

2. Decide dimensions and shape

The next step is to decide the dimensions of the pond. While deicing the dimensions, one basic thing you need to keep in mind is that it should be large enough to maintain proper circulation of water and keep the water clean. Usually, small ponds using small pond filters are of size 7 by 4 feet and depth 1.5-3 feet. Choose the shape of the pond that attracts you most. Pond with round corners look natural, but customized irregular shapes also work great.

3. Dig the pond

Once you are done with deciding the location, shape, and dimension of the pond, it is time to dig the pond. You can dig the pond manually by using a spade, or you can rent an excavator to dig the pond. Ponds of small size can be dug easily by hand, so there is no need to rent machinery.

4. Install liners and place skimmer and filter

After digging the pond and preparing a compacted base, you need to install the liner and place skimmer and filter. Choose small pond filter for small ponds and pump of the right capacity. You can get all these accessories in the backyard pond kit along with instructions to install them, or you can buy each component of pond separately. Install all the accessories as per the instructions in the kit.

5. Decorate pond and fill the water

Carefully place rocks and gravel in the pond and create a border of stones around the pond. Add water into the pond and add goldfish and aquatic plants to the pond. Connect the pump to the power supply, and you are all set for lazing the day away in the backyard.