Building a Formal Pond

[adamsmile]

Hello everyone,

I am putting in a new garden and would like to build an in-ground formal pond that will be in the center of the lawn. There is an inspiration picture and current picture of the yard showing the has been dug so far for the pond. It will have one center spray/fountain and flowering water plants but no fish. I have never had or built a pond before and would appreciate any suggestions and advice. Further below are some questions I have.

Thanks,

Adam

Based on the information I have found online, below are my current plans and some additional information including a list from The Pond Guy with the suggested items I will need.

Pond overall size: 10 feet wide x 20 feet long x 18 inches deep
Pond sides: Cinder block or poured concrete forms
Pond sides top: Capped with rectangular cut stone
Pond bottom: Dirt

The Pond Guy Parts List:
45 Mil EPDM Pond Liner 20 feet by 30 feet
Underlayment cloth
The Pond Guy Mag Flo 2160 GPH Pump with Fountain Ki
The Pond Guy Pond Aerator 2
The Pond Guy Defense Pac 2000 w/ InstaFix Algae Control

Additional information:
Flowering water plants and no fish
Soil type: soft loam soil, no sharp rocks
Location: Center of south facing lawn where there is currently no shade (Shade trees will be planted along one side about 12 feet away)
Northern Central California (1 hour north of Sacramento)
USDA Hardiness Zone 9b
Hot & dry summers (often 100+ degrees) and mild winters

Is the depth adequate for a pond with water plants (no fish)? I’m not sure if it is deeper than 18” whether it would require a pool fence around the area.

Is having a pump and aerator as recommended by The Pond Guy a good thing to have?

Any suggestions on the construction process or maintenance that I should be aware of?

 

[Laaf]

I would plan for fish, even if just minnows. They eat bugs and algae, and will fertilize your plants. You can pick very low maintenance fish.

 

[WaterGardener]

I would make it deeper. The water will heat up much more quickly with shallow water. And who knows, somewhere down the line you may decide to have fish. Or the next owners of the property may want fish.

Some plants, like water lilies, prefer water around 2 feet deep.

I really can't see an advantage for having a shallow pond. But that's just my opinion. I've not researched that.

 

[GBBUDD]

no plants no fish then i would go with chlorine or salt no algae no bugs

 

[WaterGardener]

He wants plants, so no chlorine.

Planting trees nearby might not be the best idea, depending on what type of tree. Deciduous trees will dump their leaves into the pond.

Some shade is good though, but there are other ways to accomplish that. Not sure how much would be needed without fish, but it could cut down on the algae.

 

[Lisak1]

This is really more water feature than pond. Not bad - just different. In your zone though it will be hot all the time. That may be an issue even for plants like lilies that prefer a bit deeper water. Just something to “ponder”.

 

[j.w]

and welcome @adamsmile
I'd go deeper as the plants might cook w/your higher temps in Summer! Most places allow about 2 ft deep before having a fence and some places might allow even deeper. Just check w/your county. Get it in writing tho!
Hydrogen Peroxide at the right dosage helps w/algae issues and won't kill the plants or if you decide on minnow fish later on to eat the skeeters. You don't even have to ever feed them!

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

Nice looking, but I agree about the depth. When you say “water plants,” do you mean strictly water lilies, or did you have other types in mind, as well. If you are looking for the effect of marginals cascading over the sides, you might want to incorporate some shelves. And while I love sunshine, too much sun can be a nightmare. If it was me, I would put up a little cover to give some shade. Another thing to consider is the height of the edge. I don’t know how much rain or runoff you get there, but if the edging is too shallow, everything will run into the pond water.

 

[addy1]

Welcome to the forum!

Nice dig, but i too would go deeper.

I had a 18 inch pond in arizona, tiny, my first one, a mistake, a pain to take care of.

 

[GBBUDD]

He wants plants, so no chlorine.

Planting trees nearby might not be the best idea, depending on what type of tree. Deciduous trees will dump their leaves into the pond.

Some shade is good though, but there are other ways to accomplish that. Not sure how much would be needed without fish, but it could cut down on the algae.

leaves aren't that big a concern in my book , but the roots sure can be.,

 

[4DDamion]

I would agree with everyone else about the depth. The other concern I would have is lack of any filtration. You will be doing a lot of maintenance to keep it clean and clear. Adding A LOT of algaecide.