Planning for a garden pond requires significant forethought. Not only must placement and size be surveyed, but also the exact style your pond will take is an immensely important concern. If you plan on water lilies, your pond must be in a sunny position. If you plan for fish, your pond should be about two feet deep. If you prefer a wildlife pond, it must also meet certain conditions to attract various creatures. The following article discusses different types of garden ponds and how best to create them.
No matter what style of pond you choose, it will be a unique element for your garden dependent upon your climate, the location of the pond and the flora and fauna you choose to incorporate in and around it. Apart from pond construction materials and installation concerns, water gardeners must also decide upon a style. Will your pond be formal, informal, a fish pond or wildlife pond, a raised pond or graduated pond? No matter what style your pond eventually takes, it is bound to raise the interest level of your garden.
Chances are if you already have a formal garden, you will want a formal water feature. Formal ponds tend to be circular or oval they may also be set in squares or rectangles. A formal pond is well manicured—foliage is tailored and even kept at a minimum. In this way, a formal pond works well near the house or patio. Whether the pond is raised or sunken, a formal pond is also perfect for additional water features such as
fountains, waterfalls and simple jets. Many formal ponds are rimmed with carefully laid stonework and lawns.
In contrast, informal
ponds have an irregular shape and seek to harmonize more closely with the natural surroundings. Cottage and rustic gardens seem like the perfect setting for informal ponds. Plant-lovers will also want to consider the informal style pond that allows water-loving plants to thrive. In fact, while the pond itself may boast some plant life, an extension of the pond into a boggy area to create a bog garden makes a perfect transition to other sections of the garden and allows the gardener a wider range of flora to grow and admire.
Informal ponds are the simplest to create and are usually the easiest to maintain, although checking pH levels and cleaning away excess detritus is important for the overall health of any pond. Just keep in mind that for water to keep clear, you will want to have a surface area of at least forty square feet (all ponds ought to be at least eighteen inches deep at some point in the pond).
A fish pond will require a bit more maintenance, but often it is a labor of love for the gardener. Whether you opt for a simple country-style fish pond or a Japanese Koi-filled pond, you will need to continuously monitor water balance, maintain healthy plant-growth, keep your fish from overpopulating (depending upon the size of your pond) and live in a climate where hardy fish can survive the winter—or make appropriate plans to transfer them indoors. Despite all the care needed for such ponds, they make ideal water features as they are lovely to behold and provide a home for both plant species and fish.
Wildlife ponds need the same type of maintenance as fish ponds, but they are designed to attract other types of animals as well. Wildlife ponds have different sections for different animals. Tall water-loving reeds or grasses where frogs can hide when they swim up from the water, the pond itself where fish swim, a ramp area at one end of the pond for access, and any number of features that might attract various types of animals. These ponds always suit natural settings and are environmentally friendly.
Raised ponds are usually built near or right off patios where visitors can sit along the edge for a great view of the water and animal life. In some gardens, excavation is not always possible or cost-effective so installing a raised garden is a practical solution. Graduated ponds boast a pebbled, sandy or stony beach that deepens into the actual pond.
No matter what pond style you choose it should enhance your overall garden. Remember to consider maintenance and care as a factor when making your decision. Fish and wildlife ponds are beautiful, but they require much more time than simple informal style ponds. Also, be careful with the plants you choose to grow near your pond. Many water-loving plants can be quite aggressive growing them in containers may save you lots of time for enjoying them instead of cutting them back.
by J. A. Young
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