If you don't have any children, you might want to consider adding a shallow pond to your landscaping. Even a shallow stand of water can be dangerous to small tots, so you must watch them at all times. The purpose of having a pond in your landscape is to have a restful scene...and having that and children rather defeats the purpose.



Installing a pond is an easy task.

The steps

1. Since you are going to have to dig into the ground in order to install your pond, you must call your local utility company and make sure that you are not digging close to any power lines. You must also check your local building codes to ensure that you can even install a pond - and the electrical equipment necessary to run a small submerged pump, which you'll want to use to keep the water within the pond from becoming stagnant.

2. Purchase your pond liner - it should be a shallow, one-piece fiberglass liner - set in a hole dug to match its shape. These pond liners come in many shapes and sizes, but experts suggest that it be about 6 feet long, 4 feet wide and 15 inches deep. You usually have a choice of two colors - blue or black. Black is the most popular color, as it gives an illusion of depth to the pond.

The water in the pond may become stagnant if you don't use a small recirculating pump. You may hide it or leave it visible.

3. As you dig out the hole pit, make sure that you level it about every twelve inches. The entire hole must be absolutely level, so take care here. You'll also want to dig the hole a couple of inches wider all around than the pool liner itself. Once you've finished the hole, spread a layer of sand from about 1 to 2 inches thick on the bottom.

4. With the help of a friend, lower the pond liner into the hole. If you're going to have a submerged pump in the pond, to prevent the water from becoming stagnant, you have two choices. Drape the power cord over the side of the pond, or hide it by running it through the dirt. If you're going to hide it, you simply need to drill a hole in the side of the liner through which to run the power cord.

5. The rim of the pond liner should be about one or two inches above ground level. (It will settle.) Fill the pool with water from the garden hose - slowly. Backfill dirt against the pool sides to equalize the pressure on the liner walls.

6. Shovel soil under the outer lip of the rim.

7. Landscape the area around the pond.