Making and maintaining a pond
Follow this guide to create a pond to be proud of and help it stay in top shape
Site and size
Siting a pond in the right place is important for attracting wildlife and helping aquatic plants function properly. Ideally, your pond should be sheltered from cold winds and be in a warm, sunny position for at least half of the day so plants and wildlife such as tadpoles and dragonflies can thrive.
If there is a low part in your garden, this could naturally aid water collection. If you’re going to dig a pond directly into a border, make sure that it’s level at the sides. The depth depends on use. If you want to add small fish, a depth of 60cm-1m is required. For a pond with no fish, 60cm should be fine. In all cases, remember to include some shallow areas and sloping sides, so wildlife has easy access.
Materials
There are a few different ways to ensure that you have a fully watertight pond. You can use ready-made or bespoke rigid plastic and fibreglass pond liners, but they can crack in very cold weather. A butyl liner is often preferred, as it gives greater flexibility when creating the size and shape of the pond, and can easily accommodate any ground movement.
The most sustainable material for lining garden ponds is bentonite clay, but this will depend on your soil conditions. And if your garden, like mine, offers very little space to dig out a pond, you can always use a large watertight vessel instead. I have a shallow corrugated-metal water tank, but an old sink will do – no space is too small!
Care
Try to use rainwater to fill your pond. Mains water will need to sit for at least 24 hours before adding plants. Ideally, you don’t want to intervene too much with a pond once it’s established to avoid upsetting its natural balance or disturbing wildlife, but regular maintenance will help it thrive.
Spring is a good time to add or divide any plants as the water begins to warm. In summer, thin out excessive oxygenators and remove spent flowers and leaves. In autumn, scoop out fallen leaves and cut back dead plant material – decomposing vegetation reduces oxygen and encourages algae growth. Leave unwanted material on the edge for 24 hours so any wildlife can find its way back into the pond.