Ponds are a wonderful addition to the garden. I have wanted one for about 15 years and finally decided to take the plunge if you will forgive the pun. I am, therefore, a novice “ponder.” I thought some of my readers might profit from my experience and still others could give me advice or other useful information.

Step 1 is research. Since I had been interested for a while, I had been collecting articles, websites and visiting all the ponds that I could find. I tried to evaluate each one and take the positives from each one. I also quizzed owners about cost, amount of work, upkeep, plants, etc. As I was reading, I noted ponds that I thought were beautiful and tried to analyze what I liked about the construction.

Step 2 is to find the best location for the pond. I wanted it to be seen from all areas, yet look as though it had occurred naturally and been there for ages. I knew that full sun, away from dropping leaves would be a good start. I also checked local ordinances for their requirements such as distance from property line, and location. When I decided on a spot, I outlined the area with a hose and then turned the water on. I walked all around the property to see if I could hear the water and see some part of the pond. I then went indoors and did the same thing to see if the location was good. I then measured the size by squaring out the shape. My pond is roughly 10’ X 12’.

Step 3 is to get estimates from contractors and from suppliers even if you are considering doing it yourself. I used the information I had gathered from other pond owners to decide who to ask to come and estimate. I chose three landscape companies whose work I liked and that had good reputations. I set up my hose arrangement before each estimate to make sure we were discussing the same size, location etc. I knew that I would have to get my own electrical outlet installed which is a separate cost. I also wanted only the hardscape done because I wanted to do the landscaping myself. To my surprise one company would not agree to that. The remaining two companies were about the same price, but I felt that one was more open to suggestion and would give me a more creative pond that followed my ideas. At the same time, I attended classes on pond building and priced materials and labor. I finally decided that this was too big a job for a novice to try and decided to hire the company I liked the best. Your situation may be different, but this was overwhelming to me, and I did not feel confident to proceed on my own. I scheduled the construction date dependent on weather. The pond would be hand dug and would take two days if all went well.

Step 4 is to familiarize yourself with the pond being installed. The company used a system that had a magazine and a DVD for me to watch. I also made decisions about height of the falls, whether or not to have fish, and plants that I wanted in the pond. This step was helpful because as construction proceeded I had a clear idea of what I wanted.

Step 5 is the exciting job of watching the pond develop. I realized as I watched that this would indeed have been too much for me to tackle on my own. My pond took the full two days from 8 AM to 6 PM with 2 men working all the time. I took photos and slides to chart the progress. I watched as they were careful to build a shelf for the marginal plants such as flag iris and colocasia that are placed on the shelf submerged to 1 or 2 inches below the surface. The center was dug about 2 feet deep so I could have fish. I was so excited when the water flowed gracefully over the falls. I added three underwater spotlights with a timer so night viewing would be possible. My dream had become reality!!!

Step 6 is to landscape the area around the pond. I had to add 30 bags of light topsoil because the soil that was left was subsoil and not a good planting medium. I then laid out the evergreens, grasses and perennials for the edge of the pond. I spent two or three days rearranging and moving the plants until I was satisfied. I wanted a variety of materials, textures and colors. I also wanted to make sure that the winter vision of the pond would be beautiful. I was careful to leave access to the areas that would need attention like the filter and to leave 3 areas open to invite viewing. When I was satisfied, I dug the plants in and mulched with a black cedar mulch so that it would have a finished look. The cedar mulch is more binding than wood chips that might be kicked into the pond. I then tackled the pond planting. The readings suggested that about 2/3 of the pond surface needed to be covered. I used two hardy water lilies, 1 pickerel plant, 1 dwarf papyrus, dwarf horsetails, variegated carex, 1 water hyacinth (these multiply quickly), yellow flag iris, 1 lotus, and added 1 green and 1 black colocasia (elephant ears) as marginal plants. Of these, the papyrus, lotus and colocasia have to be removed for the winter but the rest are supposed to be hardy in zone 7. I followed suggestions and used special pots for underwater and aquatic soil. I also used fertilizer for aquatic plants that comes in tablet form that would cover the length of the growing season so I didn’t have to wade in too often and disturb the pond.

Step 7 is to wait for the water to stabilize and clear for about a week. It did clear as hoped. I then added the fish. I chose 6 shubunkin and then some friends gave us 4 more. There is plenty of room for 10 or more fish in a pond this size. As a finishing touch, I added a graceful low bench as the primary viewing area. We feed the fish every night at sunset and enjoy the beauty and peaceful sound of the pond outdoors and indoors.

That is my experience thus far. It’s been wonderful. Let me know if you have questions or wish to share your experience with me.

Two resources that were helpful to me are: Water Gardens by Jacqueline Heriteau and Charles B. Thomas, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1994 ISBN 0-395-70935-0 and The Practical Rock and Water Garden by Peter Robinson, Hermes House, London, ISBN 0-681-32328-0.

Gardens by Judy,

If you have any remedies or products that have worked for you, and that you would like to share, email me at gardensbyjudy@townedigest.com

Have your garden questions answered by Judy. Questions and answers will be included in the monthly column. Send an e-mail to: gardensbyjudy@townedigest.com

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About the author: Judy is a certified Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension who loves sharing the joys of gardening with others. She helps garden hobbyists solve their problems and is happy to provide information and suggestions about garden planning and maintenance.

Gardens by Judy prides itself in helping the home owner and garden enthusiast plan and maintain that special garden. Judy works cooperatively with the gardener. She evaluates each garden visited and consults with the gardener about his/her goals. She helps in the design of new gardens and in the re-creation and improvement of present gardens. Judy also creates beautiful container gardens to enhance decks, porches and landscapes.