Creating a pond in your back garden will add to its attractiveness, but that is not the only reason why you should do it.
The UK is losing country ponds at an alarming rate, and it is having an effect on amphibians and insects. By building one, you will therefore be helping to preserve the natural ecosystem. Keep reading for a guide to creating your own wildlife pond.
Selecting a site
The pond cannot just be placed anywhere. You should never build it where there will be overhanging trees, because the leaves will clog it up. The best spot would be a natural hollow, but a piece of level ground will do fine – as long as you have a good view from your rattan garden furniture.
Building the pond
Start by marking out your chosen area, using a hose or sticks. Then, you can start to dig the hole, and you should make it at least 90cm deep.
Once it has been dug, lay some old carpet or soft sand along the bottom. Then put the butyl liner in place, as smoothly as possible. Ideally, you should let rainwater fill up your pond, as it has fewer chemicals.
Planting in the pond
Wait two weeks before doing any planting and then choose your plants wisely. Aquatic plants like water lilies will provide much-needed shade, helping to keep algal from building up. Plants to avoid include waterfern and duckweeds, because they are unsuitable for small ponds.
Why not start building a pond to attract wildlife to your garden?
