| What type of pond | | | | and this will give you the size. Lay the liner into |
| You should consider first what type of pond you | | | | the bottom of the pond and feed it into the |
| want, in this case pond with waterfall feature. | | | | contours of the shape, remembering first to |
| Would it be a home for fish and plants, these are | | | | remove your shoes before getting into the pond. |
| things that you should take into consideration as | | | | Once you have completed all the contours pushing |
| well. But please keep in mind the most common | | | | the liner into the back of the shelves, keeping |
| mistake made when constructing a pond is the | | | | folds to a minimum, start to fill your pond. |
| size, do not make it too small, if you decide to | | | | Waterfall |
| add fish at a later date, it will only make you | | | | This is the time to start construction of your |
| more work as your pond may not be big enough. | | | | waterfall, first we raise the level to make a slope |
| Location | | | | for your waterfall, this can be achieved by either |
| You will enjoy your pond more if you install it | | | | a pre-formed waterfall mould, or you can make it |
| close to your home, or window, this way you can | | | | yourself by using stones, or soil remembering to |
| watch all the wild life visiting all year round. The | | | | shelve it up to the desired height, cover this with |
| pond needs to be located away from any drain | | | | more soft sand then place either your preformed |
| pipes, keeping it away from any run off of rain, | | | | waterfall mould or rubber liner, making sure if you |
| as this may contain contaminates. Also do not | | | | use the liner that you have it pushed well back |
| build your pond too near to trees as you will | | | | into all the recesses. Then you can add an |
| always have to be removing dead leaves and | | | | external water tank, which will re-circulate the |
| debris. Try to position your pond where it will | | | | water from the pond down through the water |
| receive a maximum amount of direct sunlight, this | | | | fall, to do this you will need either an electrical |
| will aid the growth of plant life. | | | | pump, or solar pump, you can both from a |
| Determine the size and shape of your pond | | | | garden centres or pond specialists. The pump |
| This can easily be done by using a length of rope | | | | should be placed in the bottom of the pond with a |
| or string, or even a garden hose pipe. Lay the | | | | feed pipe running to the waterfall tank, this pipe |
| rope down where you require to the shape you | | | | should be buried in the ground for safety reasons |
| want, you can then either peg the rope down, or | | | | and not be unsightly, |
| use chalk powder. Now you can start to | | | | The finishing touches |
| excavate, digging it to approximate six inch depth, | | | | All around the pond, your first shelf which was |
| making this the first shelf., this is called the coping | | | | called the coping shelf is now ready to have the |
| shelf, dig down a further twelve inches making | | | | coping stones put in place, these can either be |
| this the second shelf, and then a further six | | | | decorative paving stone, or cobble stones, this |
| inches to the base of the pond. The reason for | | | | holds the liner in place and gives wild life a way of |
| this shelving is for different types of plant life, and | | | | climbing in and out of your pond. It does not harm |
| maybe the fish you are going to put into your | | | | adding a few stones onto the other shelves of |
| pond. Remember a larger pond is more stable and | | | | your pond. This is also the time to add your plants |
| easier to keep. | | | | such as water lilies, oxygenated plants and other |
| Construction | | | | decorative water plants that add colour to your |
| Once you have got your pond excavated and | | | | pond throughout the year. Now you should link |
| ready, you need to line the hole with soft sand, | | | | your pump to the power supply, switch on, and |
| minimum of half an inch thickness, and pat down | | | | then you will see the water level go down, now |
| firmly. You are now ready to line your pond. You | | | | add more water to just below the coping stones |
| can buy pond liners from any good garden centre | | | | and then you have your final result. |
| or pond specialist. Determining the size of your | | | | Your pond will be a really nice relaxing feature in |
| pond liner is simple, measure the maximum length | | | | your garden, to watch and listen to on warm |
| and width, add the depth twice to these | | | | summer evenings. |
| measurements, plus a foot or two for overlap | | | | |