Creating Water Gardens
A water garden should be located in a sunny spot that receives at least six hours of sun daily. It should accent the surrounding landscape and allow for nice views of the water garden. Avoid low-lying areas and flood plains. Contact Miss Utility before digging to locate and mark the cable, gas, electric, and other utility lines. The location of these utilities may affect where your water garden can be located.
SIZE
Determine the overall size for your water garden. Bigger ponds are easier to keep clean than smaller ones because it is easier to achieve the right biological balance in ponds of at least 30 to 40 sq. ft.
DESIGN
Decide the general shape and layout. To visualize how the water feature will look, lay out a garden hose or string in the desired shape at the approximate surface level. Then measure to determine the materials required to complete the job. Ponds should be at least 18 inches deep to keep fish and plants alive and healthy in the winter. If you prefer a pond to be 24 inches in depth or deeper, you may be required to obtain a permit and possibly fence the property. Always check with your local government about such requirements.
LINERS
Pre-formed liners are made of thick, strong, and durable fiberglass which prevents punctures by sticks, rocks, and small animals. They come in pre-determined shapes and sizes. Pre-formed liners are easy to install and can be used above ground. They are simply placed in the desired location.
Flexible liners are made of butyl rubber, can be custom fit, and can be more cost effective than pre-formed liners (particularly for larger ponds). You determine the shape. The flexible liner will to be cushioned on the bottom punctures by lining the bottom of the hole with several inches of sand or a piece of old carpet, preferably both.
Be sure to get enough liner to do the job. Measure the length, width, and depth accurately. Account for room for a shelf on which to set rocks to hide the edge of the liner. For example, for a pond 18 inches deep, add 7 ft to the length and 7 ft to the width of the water surface. This accounts for 18 inches on either side of the pond, one foot for a shelf on each side and one foot on each side.
INSTALLATION
The edge of the pond (and the surface level) needs to be above ground level, preferably by about three inches. This is to avoid groundwater runoff into the pond that may contain mud, fertilizers, pesticides, or other debris.
Above Ground Ponds: For an above ground pond, surround a pre-formed liner placed evenly on top of the ground with topsoil or fill dirt. Use topsoil on top if you are placing plants around the water feature. Place larger stones around the pond to cover the edge of the black pre-formed liner.
Pre-formed liners placed above ground can be used alone for simple ponds or in groups to achieve a waterfall.
Support the second, or third, pre-formed liner by building up the adjacent area with soil. The top liner must have a lip designed to extend over the edge of the liner below to allow the water to spill over. The water is then recirculated by a submerged pump.
In Ground Ponds: Dig to the desired depth determined by the pre-formed or flexible liner. Cut a ledge near the edge to help hold stones in place. Clean out rocks, sticks, or roots that are on the bottom or sides of the hole. Put 2 inches of sand down as a base, especially if you are using flexible liner. Install an underlay, if possible, such as a piece of carpet of landscape fabric. Level the area. Install the liner. If you are using flexible liner, keep this liner loose. Fill the pond with water to the surface. Place stones around the pond. If you used flexible liner, cut off the excess.
WATERFALLS
A simple fountain, spouting figurine, or a waterfall can create a dramatic effect in the garden, providing the soothing sound of running water. A submersible pump is needed to circulate the water. The same type of pump used for filtering is used. They use standard electricity at low daily costs.
To determine the size pump needed, measure the water at the widest point of the fall. For every inch of width, the pump should move 100 gallons per hour (gph). (i.e. 24 inches at the widest point of fall will need a 2,400 gph pump.)
A small figurine with one hole spouting water (i.e. a spitting frog or water spilling out of a jug) will need a recirculating pump that pumps 80 to 90 gph. If there are two holes in the figurine, a 150 gph pump will suffice. For fountains with multiple sources of running water (i.e. all sides of an umbrella), please consult a member of our staff to determine the pump that you need.