The purpose of a pond is to entertain, inspire, and relax you. Stand in the middle of your yard and decide if you want it in the middle, to the side, and where you would most likely want to sit. Make sure you keep the pond away from low-lying areas, however, as fertilizer run-off is not conducive to pond health and water clarity.
Next, go inside your house and look out the windows. Is there a spot in the backyard that you can see from your living room and kitchen? Then this may be the place for your pond. You can enjoy your pond from inside and out, especially if you’re in the colder regions of the globe. Some of the most striking views of your pond may be with your backyard covered in snow and the waterfalls mostly covered with ice. That’s what’s important about facing your favorite aspect (oftentimes the waterfall) toward the house for optimal viewing pleasure.
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally, the pond should receive four to six hours of sunlight per day. The full sun pond will require about 40 to 60 percent of the surface covered with aquatic plants. Owners of shady ponds will have fewer issues with algae and there are many aquatic plants that thrive in shady areas.
The Rest of the Yard
How will your pond fit in with the rest of the elements in the yard? Do you want it right next to the patio or gazebo? Or perhaps you’d like it to appear like it’s running under your screened-in porch. If you build the pond in the middle of the traffic pattern in the yard, you may want a bridge to span over it, or will you be content walking around it? Your pond can even accent another part of your yard, like the perennial garden, or even the small shed you’ve converted into your very own greenhouse.
Size Does Matter
Talk to any pond owner and the first thing they’ll tell you is that they wished their pond were bigger. It’s okay to start small, but eventually you’re going to fall in love with your water garden and decide to make it bigger to fit a few more plants, or to support a few more fish. So be sure to start out at a desirable size and don’t undercut yourself. You’re never going to want to make your pond smaller.
A Great Visual
Many people need a visual example in order to understand the size of their pond. That’s where a garden hose comes in handy. Lay the hose on top of the grass, moving it around to lay out the design and size of your pond. Once you have decided on a shape the whole family loves, think about the “finished” size of the pond. The natural, ecosystem style pond uses stone on the inside walls of the pond, making the inside pond size smaller than the garden hose design. You may need to account for that stone and stretch out that garden hose just a little more.
