With or without fish, a filtering system is recommended to prevent the pond from becoming a mosquito breeding ground and a fountain, waterfall or other type of accessory to keep the water moving will prevent it from becoming stagnant and, well smelly. With many yard ponds people think that once it is in and the pumps are running the work is done. However, in many cases it requires the labor of love to keep it in pristine condition.

Exceptionally large yard ponds can attract birds, butterflies and many other welcome creatures, but they also can attract some that may not be as welcome such as muskrats and raccoons. Ducks and geese, often attracted to even small bodies of water, can make quick work of grass around yard ponds.

Consider Function When Deciding Pond’s Size

When planning yard ponds what it is to be used for should be part of the planning process. If it is simply for decoration, a maximum depth of two feet will probably be sufficient. If you plan to add Koi fish, there should be deeper parts of the pond to provide protection on hot days and to provide habitat during winter months.

Keep in mind that a filter system is only as good as the maintenance and if the filter is not doing its job, the pond will quickly fill with scum. Even with a good system in place, suspended particles may make yard ponds appear dirty. If you are keeping fish in the pond, certain chemicals to help maintain the water’s clarity cannot be used.

If building yard ponds to provide a scenic attraction to the yard, consider adding walkways around the perimeter, or park benches on which to sit and enjoy the scene. Adding aquatic plants to circumference as well as some strategically placed large stones can add to the splendor of your creation. Decorating yard ponds is wide open to the imagination and with many decorations available there should be no trouble finding something that meets the owner’s interests.

Where You Can Find Waterfall Ponds

You can find the ideal waterfall pond that will beautifully enhance your outdoor living space. You can go to any home and garden store and view the waterfall ponds they offer. You can always go online and research options for waterfall ponds. You may be able to find specials and deals for waterfall ponds that are only available on the internet.

You can find waterfall ponds in kits that you can install and assemble yourself if you consider yourself handy with tools. There are many places you can find a complete kit to build your waterfall pond. If you don’t feel comfortable putting it together yourself, you can check the installation options from the store where you buy your waterfall ponds.

You can also consider building your own waterfall ponds yourself from scratch. When you search online you will be sure to find a wide variety of choices of blueprints. If you think your skills are up to the task, there is no reason you shouldn’t build waterfall ponds in your yard.

Advantages of Waterfall Ponds

Though having a pond in and of itself is wonderful, having waterfall ponds can be even better. Just imagine the shimmering water cascading gently, with the clear blue sky reflecting in the water. You can have fish swimming peacefully when you have waterfall ponds as part of your garden landscaping.

When you have waterfall ponds in your garden, you will create a unique place where all can come to enjoy the peace and tranquility. Birds and other wildlife may decide that your waterfall ponds are the place they should be. Not only will the fish, the birds, and the wildlife enjoy having waterfall ponds, but your friends, neighbors and family will too. If you have waterfall ponds in your backyard, it will become the place where will want to gather when the weather is cooperating.

It is best to do plenty of research to find out all there is to know about waterfall ponds before you spend any money. When you have done your research, you will be able to make an informed decision about which type of waterfall ponds will complement your landscape the best, and will be the most convenient to install. Before you know it, you and your loved ones will be sitting around the waterfall ponds, wondering what ever you did before you had such a lovely and tranquil place to escape to.

After Taking A Deep Breath…

If you look for businesses and do it yourself stores, you will find that ponds are often referred to as “water ponds”. If you want someone to understand your question, you might have to swallow your grammatical pride and ask about “water ponds”. Some professional break “water ponds” down into specific categories, such as “garden water ponds”, “standing water ponds”, “fresh water ponds” but still there are those two words staring you in the face “water ponds”. You might as well call Mark Spitz a “water swimmer”.

Okay, Here’s My Theory

Granted, there are more things in this world to get worked up about, but I’m in the communication biz and the need to communicate effectively is ingrained in every cell in my body. The phrase “water ponds” makes the entire cells shudder and go “Eww!”

How did we start calling “ponds” “water ponds”? Could it be that most kids nowadays grow up not knowing what a pond is? Perhaps. The Interior Department estimated in 1997 that over 17,000 acres of wetland were lost every year. And that’s just in America. Wetland loss happens everywhere, except perhaps Antarctica, which is dealing with glacial loss, but that’s another essay. Could it be that the word “ponds” is becoming just as rare as what it represents?

Ponds used to be considered an everyday word. And this was before the skincare cream of the same name came out. Everyone knew of a pond nearby. Heck, kids still in the womb probably knew what a “pond” was. But now, the word “pond” seems to be departing from the collective unconscious. The fact that if you Google “water ponds” you will come up with over 17,100 web pages shows some linguistic tide has turned.

English is a living language that lives entirely in living things. As living things, we all change as we grow. What was self-explanatory yesterday needs reclassification today, and vice-versa.

So the prominence of the term “water ponds” in everyday English should be a warning that we are about to loose a major element in the real environment and subliminal environment – the pond.

Considering that water garden ponds are, as the name implies, a pond in which aquatic plants can grow. Sine they are often will with colorful flowers as well as birds or other wildlife, they should be installed as close to your house as possible so they can be enjoyed from inside as well as when you are outside. Don’t misunderstand, water garden ponds can be constructed anywhere there is enough room and an available power source, but they will can be constructed anywhere there is enough room and an available power source, but they will certainly be more appreciated closer to the house.

The first step is to decide what size you want to have and then find a suitable location. It should not be in the path of water draining from gutters or downspouts nor should they be located in the middle or top of a swell. Dirt flowing during a heavy rain can quickly take over water garden ponds, possible killing the growing plants.

Keep Top As Level As Possible

When digging the hole for water garden ponds, the top of the ground should be kept as close to level as possible to keep the pond from looking crooked. There are three different depths to consider and if the deepest part will be 24-inches, the area around the upper edge, called a coping shelf by some, should be the same six to eight-inch depth all the way around the rim. A second level should be at least 12-inches below that and while it may be better to encompass the entire pond area, it is not necessary.

This mid-level area is where plants will rest once the pond is complete, so if it is too deep, the plants you put in will have to be tall. Placing the lining in the hole and smoothing out all surfaces needs to be next, and then electric and water line, if used, is connected. Plants should not be placed water garden ponds until the new water has had a chance to settle, the filter has removed all the sediment from construction and you have checked the water for chemicals that will kill the plants.

Unique ponds can bring peace, enjoyment, and fun for the whole family – as well as for the ducks. With the destruction of wetlands and other natural environments ducks need for breeding and feeding, they will greatly appreciate the appearance of a safe haven. And building a pond is less expensive than building an in-ground pool.

Duck And Cover

Once you’ve determined how big and where your duck pond will go, it’s time to dig. You can hired or rent a small back hoe, dig with shovels, or somehow get a big hole in the ground at least three feet deep. Once you have the hole, you need to choose what lining your pond’s base needs. You just can’t pour water into the hole – the ground will just absorb it immediately. Some linings are:

Preformed pond shells: If there is a need, there is a product already made, even if the problem is making unique ponds inviting habitats. In gardening and hardware stores are ready made fiberglass shells in the shape of pools, which usually have a space for you to install a pump for filter. You can place them in your hole and cover the sides with stones. Flexible Brown Pond Liner: These aren’t shells, but flexible rolls of tough material that you can make into any shape. Concrete: If you haven’t worked with concrete before, it is recommended you get some professional help. After it dries, you need to fill your duck pond with water, then empty it and clean the concrete and then fill with water so the concrete is safe.

Before you fill your new duck pond with water and ducks, be sure you have a filter or pump installed. There are even solar powered pumps available. You might need the help of an electrician to hook up the pump. If you keep a power generator for the pump outside, it should be at least five feet away from the water for safety.

Like A Duck To Water

Where to get the ducks? If you want real live ducks, you can wait for wild ducks to discover unique ponds or you can ask your local animal shelter if they have ducks that need to be adopted. Keep in mind that ducks are social animals and you need at least a pair so they can keep themselves company.

What Do They Do?

Although aquariums need artificial lighting to mimic daylight for the fish, you don’t need any artificial lights for fish ponds. But ultra violet light is used to sterilize and filter the pond water. This technology is also used in industries, by doctors to get sterile water and by campers and armed forces for sterilizing drinking water. Ultra violet lights for ponds burns out algae.

Algae are the bane of any pond or aquarium. It is an invasive menace somewhat like The Blob for water environments. The shade of green might look pretty, but it will suck up all the nutrients and oxygen in the water, making any other plant, fish or critter quite dead. Algae also have a tendency to stink after a while, while even healthy fish in good pond water have no detectable odor at all.

What Doesn’t It Do?

Ultra violet lights for ponds will not completely sterilize a whole pond full of water. Nothing can live in completely sterile water. There always has to be some beneficial bacteria bopping about. Some beneficial bacteria may be killed, but not enough to harm you pond. But all of the algae will be killed.

Ultra violet lights for ponds are also not an adequate substitute for a filter. It specializes in killing algae, not filtering all the harmful bacteria out. Yes, it can make the pond water look clear, but clear water still might be unhealthy for your plants or fish.

Picking Properly

Ultra violet lights for ponds work best when the right sized light is used for the pond. Although it might be tempting to get the smallest and cheapest of the ultra violet lights for ponds available, it won’t do an adequate job. Since manufacturers don’t make the same strength or types of UV lights, check with the box to see how many gallons the UV light can safely handle.

There are a few commonalities for turtle ponds regardless of the species and one of the general rules is the pond has to have sufficient surface area to provide oxygen for the turtle population. Having a waterfall or fountain in the turtle ponds helps with aeration and its base can also serve as part of the turtle’s playground. While turtle do spend a lot of time in the water, they also like to climb out and look around occasionally. Having a large strip of grass around the pond can provide an area for their strolls.

Of course, they are also not fond of being cooped up in one place and will attempt to escape seeking companionship of the opposite sex. When building turtle ponds a fence needs to be erected around the pond and grass walking area to keep them from disappearing. The bottom of the fence should be solid, about as high as the length of the turtle’s shell, to keep it from becoming entangled in open grid fencing.

Creating Restful Environment Keeps Turtles Happy

Turtles enjoy relaxing on logs and stones out of the water, provided they have a route for a quick get-away. Turtles are slow-moving on the ground but most can swim fairly fast. They also enjoy sitting under broadleaf aquatic plants and, when out and about, will be happy with a large planting pot lying on its side near turtle ponds.

One of the problems with turtle ponds is the access that natural predators have to turtle eggs and the hatchlings. Raccoons and other creatures will prowl the area seeking delicacies and many owners of turtle ponds have had to put a screen top over the entire area to keep the predators away. Taking the newborn turtles indoors until the are mature can help save their lives.

Building turtle ponds is can be quite a project, with the fencing and other appropriate accessories, but if the person is that infatuated with this creature it is an undertaking worth the effort.

No Limits

If you are thinking of helping reclaim wetlands or making a honking great lake on your property, may I suggest starting with small garden ponds? With small garden ponds, you can learn the basics without having to make such a huge financial and personal investment. You can pick from ready made small garden ponds that can be plunked atop the ground or dig a four foot hole with pond liner and add your own accessories and tools.

What All Ponds Need

Small garden ponds of any size need a few of the same things, such as:

A water pump or agitator to keep the water from becoming stagnant. A filter, which can often be solar powered now. A nearby source of water, even the garden hose. You don’t want to be lugging buckets of water over hill and dale. A firm edge. If you sink small garden ponds into the ground, the edge around it will get very muddy. You need bricks or stones to serve as a walkway. Keep checking the edges of above ground small garden ponds that they don’t begin to crack and fray. Water test kits. Clear water isn’t necessarily safe water. Water testing kits are cheap preventative medicine for small garden ponds. A place that will fit them. A heater, if you live in really frigid areas.

Where To Get Them

You can get small garden ponds and all the equipment to set them up and maintain them from garden shops, hardware stores, large department stores that have a gardening section, aquarium supply stores and their online equivalents. Be sure to get a book or magazine about small garden ponds to help you with any questions that are sure to pop up down the line. There are many websites about the care and design of small garden ponds all over the web.

Since pre formed ponds are available in different sizes and shapes combining different ones can help create interesting landscape designs. If the land has a slight hill, it could be transformed into a terraced pond using smaller pre formed ponds near the top and center of the hill as the water completes its journey to a larger pond at the bottom of the hill. A water pump moves the water from the bottom back to the top.

One of the downsides to this type of arrangement is during heavy rains, dirt from the hill can be washed into the pre formed ponds, requiring thorough cleaning and possibly needing the drain and refill the pond.

Ponds Of All Styles Need Constant Care

Whether pre formed ponds are used or a handmade design is dug into the ground, they both have the need to be kept clean. A pond without a filtering system to keep it clean and to help keep the water circulating is simply a hole filled with what will become stagnant water. It will serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other outside insects and will eventually need to be filled or removed.

The size of the pre formed ponds determines the size and type of filter, but every outdoor pond should be connected to a filtering system to remove the dirt and other organic debris that will magically find its way into the water. Frequent filter cleaning or replacement will also be necessary to help maintain the pond’s cleanliness. To reduce the chance of pre formed ponds filling with mud during bad weather, constructing a berm around the top can help divert dirty water away from the pond.

If the yard is surrounded by deciduous trees, a screen over the pond in the fall may keep it from being filled with falling leaves, which can also get caught in the water pump and filter.

Making the Most of Your Ponds and Waterfalls

To make having ponds and waterfalls more enjoyable, you should do plenty of research to find out what type of plants will do best in this type of environment. Of course you will need to consider weather conditions in your area as well when you are looking for plants to become part of your watery landscape.

If you would like to add fish to your ponds and waterfalls, you should do research on which species will thrive. You don’t want to fill your pond with lots of expensive fish that will only die because the environment is just not right for them to live. You can find lots of books online, at your local library, in a bookstore or at a store that sells garden supplies. You want to be sure that your choices are responsible as well as attractive.

You will need to research the care and maintenance before you install ponds and waterfalls in your backyard. You want to be armed with all the procedures you will need to complete in order for your ponds and waterfalls to stay looking their best, and adding a healthy environment for birds and wildlife alike.

Equipment You May Need for Ponds and Waterfalls

Depending upon the type of pond you choose for your yard, you may need to utilize a pond liner. If your pond is constructed from rocks, you may not need one, but it is best to know that for sure by doing the proper research. You may also need a pond filter. You will want to know what to expect when you are using a pond filter so you will need to find out information on that subject as well. If you are going to add a pond heater, you will need to find out what type of plants will do best and if you can support any fish in this type of atmosphere.

Having ponds and waterfalls as part of the landscape can make coming home a joy. You will look forward all day to the moment when you can breathe in the fresh air and hear the gentle cascading water from your ponds and waterfalls. You probably won’t be alone either; the birds, reptiles and wildlife as well as insects, will more than likely join you in your outdoor paradise.