Water Gardens or Pond - Choose A Suitable Location

A Location for Your Water Garden Pond

When choosing a location for your water garden pond, there are a few important things to consider:

What Space Do You Have?

Taking an honest look at the size of your property will help determine the size water garden pond your backyard will accommodate.

For water gardens , you need a piece of flat land away from bending trees or bushes that drop a lot of leaves and flowers into. You need to be able to put a filter or even a skimmer in the pond as well, to keep the water from going stagnant.

Generally, the bigger your water gardens, the bigger the effort you will have to keep it healthy and thriving.

If you have a slope in your backyard, this may be used to your advantage for waterfalls and/or terracing a stream. However, you do not want to locate your water garden at the lowest spot in your backyard. Doing so will cause problems such as flooding and runoff in the event of heavy rains. If you have poor drainage, water can get underneath your pond causing a bubble to grow under the flexible liner or push a rigid liner right out of the ground!

The View of Your Water Gardens

Think about where a water garden pond may look good in your yard. You will want to be able to get a good view of it from your house, patio or deck. I placed my water garden pond so I can see it from inside my house, but also when I'm outside relaxing on my front porch, I can see my water garden pond and hear the relaxing trickle of the water.

Your Water Garden Ponds Need For Electricity

If you're planning to include running water from a waterfall or fountain, locating your pond near a source of electricity will be important. Some people have installed underwater lights in their water garden pond to light up at night. A pond heater may be necessary in winter if you keep fish.

You will need to use a GFCI outlet, installed near your water garden. Call your local government center for code information and installation requirements. Our Water Garden Resources page can direct you to the national Call Before You Dig hotline.

Natural Lighting for Your Water Garden Ponds

Natural lighting is important in water garden ponds. Many water garden pond plants need sun for 80% of the day. Falling leaves from nearby trees will cause extra work as leaves are messy and can clog your water garden pond filter.

Small Spaces, No Time

If you have a small space such as an apartment and/or a small amount of time but still desire the tranquility and beauty a pond can bring, you can still have a water garden pond.

Fiberglass or plastic pre-formed ponds are available in many garden and aquarium supply stores - and these may be just right for you. They come with a ready-made place for you to put a filter. In effect, they are a beautiful moving birdbath.

You don’t have to have fish or plants in your garden ponds for them to be considered water garden ponds. A fishless, plant less water garden pond can still bring delight to their owners and a welcome bar to any birds, passing wildlife and sometimes even butterflies, which will drink mostly from any mud puddles the splashing of the filter creates.