5 Things No One Tells You About Building a Pond
Thinking of adding a pond to your backyard? Ponds enhance your outdoor space, helping you to connect with nature. The sounds of running water are calming and can even attract wildlife. Before you start digging, you want to make sure that you're ready for the project and have all of the information you need. These are five things no one tells you about building a pond that will help you prepare.
1. Regular maintenance is needed
Ponds are rewarding, but having a crystal clear, odor-free pond does take work, especially in the summer. As a pond owner, you'll need to remind yourself to do routine maintenance, like scooping leaves and floating debris out of the water.
Preventing water quality issues is much easier than treating them. You can perform water quality tests regularly to catch any imbalances and treat them before they start showing signs. Set reminders in your calendar to check on your pond equipment and clean your filter pads.
Every season presents its own challenges. Seasonal maintenance is important to enjoying your pond all year round.
2. You'll need a winter plan
Depending on where you live, you may need to shut down your pond for the winter. If your pond is shallow and likely to freeze all of the way through, you'll need to drain your pond and remove all of the equipment to prevent damage. Fish will need to be relocated indoors in a temporary tank for the winter months.
Deeper ponds may be okay to overwinter outdoors as long as you remove the equipment and place plants deeper into the water so they don't freeze. Fish can stay in the pond as a section of the ice is kept open, and they have enough room. If you keep your equipment running too long into the season, you risk overcooling and harming your fish.
Before you build a pond and add fish and plants, you want to have an idea of what you'll do during the winter.
3. Dig a bigger hole
A mistake many first-time pond owners make is digging too small of a hole. When planning your pond, maximize the space you can use and keep in mind that once you add the liner, plants, landscape rocks, and other decor, the pond will look smaller. Dig a bigger hole than what you want the finished pond to look like.
4. Ponds attract wildlife
Because ponds are a source of fresh water, they can attract local wildlife. Your pond can help you connect with nature as you see turtles and frogs call your backyard home. It may eventually support an entire ecosystem, especially during warm summer months. smartpond® water treatments are safe for fish and wildlife.
Certain wildlife may present problems if you have fish in your pond. You may need to take extra measures to protect your fish from predators like adding hiding places and plants.
Pests like mosquitoes enjoy still water, and you'll want to keep your pond circulating day and night to prevent them from breeding in your pond.
5. You may need permits
Depending on where you live, you may need permits to build a pond. Check with your local government and homeowner's association (HOA) to see if there are any regulations or permits required for building a pond in your backyard. If you don't get the right permissions and permits, you may get fined or even have to remove the pond.
Before you start digging, call your local utility company (811 in most areas, or visit clickbeforeyoudig.com in Canada). They will let you know if there are any buried pipes or powerlines on your property.
Ponds are a labor of love. You get what you put in. If you want to enjoy a crystal clear pond all year round, you'll have to put in some work with maintenance. Adding a pond to your yard can help encourage you to spend more time outdoors and give your spaces a new focal point. Remember, a little planning and preparation can go a long way toward creating a beautiful and healthy backyard pond that you can be proud of.
