Part 3 of 8: Site and Size

Now that you’ve decided to add a water feature to your landscape, you should carefully select a site. Consider choosing a location near your windows so you can enjoy your pond from inside your home as well as from the outside. You should also consider line of site from an outdoor sitting area such as a deck, porch, patio or gazebo. Use your imagination. If your home is situated on a small lot with a small backyard, or if you live in a patio home development, consider placing your pond in front of your home.

Select a level area where run-off from rain won't cause the pool to flood. Stay away from low spots in your yard where water seems to settle. Place your pond so groundwater moves away from it, not into it. The site should receive at least 6 hours of sun each day. If possible, choose a location clear of trees so the pond doesn't fill with leaves and debris, but smaller pools will need afternoon shade.

Be sure to keep your neighbors in mind when selecting the site for your pond. While you may enjoy the sound of running water, the noise of a fountain or stream may irritate some people. Filtering and pumping equipment can also be noisy. Remember, ponds also tend to attract wildlife. Frogs, for example, can create an incredible level of noise and disturb sleeping neighbors. Finally, and most importantly, consider the safety of children and pets in your neighborhood.

You will need access to both water and electricity, so remember this when locating your pond. Grounded weather-proof outlets are required near your pond to power your pumps and lighting. Check your local building codes for the proper distance from your pond to the electrical outlet. We recommend the installation of a four-outlet weatherproof box connected to a Ground Fault Interrupter. Any electrician can install this for you

Once you’ve chosen your site, it’s time to design your pond. This is where your imagination and budget come into play. We offer our PondEco system in three different kits. Choose one of these kits before you decide on the shape and size of your pond. Once that decision is made, consider your intended location, the type of pond you want and how much you plan to spend.

Size plays an important role for the biological balance of your pond. Larger ponds provide a more natural visual effect and better conditions for plants and fish. Larger ponds tend to be more self-sustaining than very small ponds and are therefore easier to maintain. However, larger ponds require larger more expensive pumps and filtration systems, more square feet of liner and more rocks and plants. All of these factors must be considered before you finalize your design. PondEco offers a kit for every pond size and every budget.

If you intend to keep fish, especially Koi, your pond will need to be at least three feet deep in some areas, deeper in colder climates. If you don’t plan to maintain fish, your pond can be 18-24 inches deep. However, most pond owners we have worked with over the years tell us they wish they had made their ponds larger and deeper the first time. Keep this in mind when planning your pond. While it is always possible to make a small pond bigger at a later date, it is more economical to make it bigger in the beginning. A good rule of thumb is “bigger is better.” Another advantage is that the larger the pond, the better the buffer for environmental changes. For example, it warms and cools slower, allowing fish more time to adapt to environmental changes. Now that you’ve selected your site … it’s time to lay out your pond design and start digging.