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[B953]Build Your Own Pond
by Johnny Roberts, Joh

The allure of a pond waterfall is a landscaping jewel that creates a soothing environment that becomes the envy of family, friends and neighbors. The gratification of being able to claim ownership of this outdoor feature is another advantage regarding this do-it-yourself project. Before you can build your own pond waterfall, becoming knowledgeable about the required components and tools is a must. In order to build a waterfall that functions – consider the following factors:

Saving Money

Even if you go for building materials of the highest quality – the design and construction of your own outdoor waterfall will cost a lot less than if you hired a professional. The price of materials combined with manual labor can create a rather costly bill. You would also pass over on the satisfying experience of building this DIY project by yourself. Nowadays, the market is filled with numerous designs for ponds and upgrades that are both simple and cost effective to accomplish.

Supplies

When building your own waterfall, rocks are generally the material of choice, as it is one of the cheapest approaches to embrace. You also need a submersible pump to control the flow of water. Tubing will run from the pump to the top of the waterfall, which recirculates the water and ensuring it consistently pours downward. The tubing is kept concealed with the use of a large flowerpot. A rigid pond liner is utilized as well.

As for additional tools and materials required to do a do-it-yourself waterfall, you should get a carpenter's grade, steady shovel, sand and a reliable garden hose. Hardware stores will carry all of the above materials required for this type of project.

Space

To make sure your waterfall is as stable and steady as possible, concentrating on your base is important. A steady foundation will be much easier in the long run to maintain. If you possess a large area to fill, you may consider creating a waterfall with over one water source. In this scenario, two pumps are required.

Creating a Pond

One of the first steps you will have to go through with a waterfall project is building the pond if you don't currently have one installed in your yard. The pond-base or pond-like pool will serve as the bottom of the waterfall. Directions on building a spillway (usually with long pieces of slate-like stone) with rocks laid in a cascade design are recommended. You will also lay the black plastic of your garden pond or base into the ground, ensuring it maintains a high level of security. The area is then lined with rocks, which will ultimately influence the flow of the waterfall.

Preparation

Before entering this type of project, you should consider the building, design and work associated with a particular pond waterfall design. You need to install a base (or the pool where the water will fall into) within your plans.

The framework of the waterfall is also a significant factor, which may or may not include the purchase of rocks. Some people have simply relied on rocks found around their own yard. Perhaps you'd like a waterfall constructed out of brick or bamboo – the potential are truly boundless.


The tools you will need are a shovel, pond liner and underlayment, a long piece of rope, coping stones and decorations, plants, a pump (you will need a pump to run a filter, fountain, or waterfall in order to keep the water circulating and the plants healthy), a filter system and some cooperative friends or family members! Now you can get started -

Building Your Pond

There's no reason why you couldn't build a pond in one day, although that purely depends on the size of the pond you'd like to have in your yard. The first thing you will need to do is find an area of the garden that is most suitable for keeping a pond. Make sure it is -

- Close to the house as you will need power to supply your pump with, unless of course you have an external outdoor power socket.

- Don't build your pond at the bottom of a slope, because when it rains, dirty water will runs down and into the pond, maybe containing chemicals from your garden.

- Try to place it in an area where it will have access to at least 4 hours of sunlight. Your pond plants will require sunlight to stay healthy.

- Don't place it in an area directly under leaf dropping trees. The last thing you want to have to do is clean all the leaves out of your pond every day.

Finally once you have found a suitable position to build your pond, you can start digging! You'll need to-

- Decide on the shape and size of the pond. Use the rope to outline the shape you want and then begin digging. That's why you need a couple of helping hands so that the work gets done faster!

- Do not go for a small pond for goldfish because they need space. Also try and keep different levels of depth, as in a swimming pool. Mark out the shallow areas and the deeper areas. This would give the pool a natural variety.

- Usually ponds in moderate climates should be at least 2 feet deep while in colder climates, you would need to make sure that the pond is deep enough to allow for at least 12" to 16" of water below the freeze zone.

- Dig according to the shape you want and dig a shelf-like level around the perimeter of the pond, which is about one foot deep and one foot wide. Also make provisions for a waterfall by digging a slight slope to one end.

- Time now to position the external pond filters. If you have pond skimmers as well, then you would need to place and level these in the proper places. Also dig a ditch to the external pond pump from the skimmer and from the pump to the external pond filter or waterfall.

Next you will need to line your tank with a pond underlayment that you can pick up at any hardware or landscaping wholesaler.

- Now you have to line the pond with what is called as Pond Underlayment. This is a lining that can be cut according to the shape needed and can be taped together. This underlayment will help the pond lining to stay in place.

- You can now put the rubber pond liner into pond and spread it out.

- Make sure you smoothen the folds and position it evenly. Some folds will still be there but the water will take care of that.

So that's the building process of a garden pond, from there you will need to add in a pump that is correctly matched to the size of your pond as well as purchasing plants and other accessories to add to the pond.
Article Source : Pg. 57

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Both Johnny Roberts & Dane Stanton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Johnny Roberts has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Dating and Romance and Water Garden. . Johnny Roberts's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.

Dane Stanton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Goji, Pet Guinea Pigs and Bird Parrot. If you want to learn more about keeping your healthy, including tips on breeding, feeding and much more than. Dane Stanton's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
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