A Backyard Pond Will Delight Your Family And Friends

The best way to bring wildlife such as birds, frogs and butterfly's into your back yard is to mimic an environment that they seek in nature. You can do this with the addition of a backyard pond. A pond would be a fabulous addition to your backyard. They really aren't that hard to build, or to maintain, and can be built to whatever size you wish, small or large. With a simple online search you can find many ideas for ponds and instructions on how to install them.

You'll want to take some time to consider where in your landscape a pond would be best. If you're considering the overall health of the pond, and ease of upkeep, you'll want a place in your yard that is in full sun. Most aquatic plants thrive in full sun. You don't want to have it under a tree as you won't want to have to clean the leaves that will accumulate. You'll also want a pond to be a natural looking feature in your landscaping, and a place that can be easily enjoyed by family and friends. You can build a pond next to an existing patio, or where it can be easily viewed from a patio or deck. Always keep in mind the safety and well being of any small children who may be around the pond.

You will need to determine if you're going to use a pre-formed pond liner or dig a free form shape and use a PVC liner in your pond. Your in ground pond should be at least 18 to 24 inches deep, 24 to 36 inches deep is even more desirable. Your pond plants will be in containers so you'll want to make different shelves or tiers around the pond at various depths to accommodate these plants. You can also stack slabs of stone in the bottom of your pond to set the pots on.

Pre-formed backyard pond kits are extremely popular because they're so easy to put together. The pond shells will not chip or fade and have build-in plant shelves. You can purchase these pond kits starting at 30 gallons up to 180 gallons.

You'll also want to consider adding fish to your pond, such as Koi. If you're in an area where your pond will freeze you'll have to install a heater of some sort if your fish are to survive. You may also want to establish turtles and frogs into your pond.

One of the problems of a pond is the formation of algae. Algae forms quickly on a newly established pond. Once your pond is balanced algae should no longer be a problem. Plants such as water lilies will help reduce light, which leads to algae formation.