Advice For Starting a Backyard Pond (& Mistakes to Avoid)

Thinking about a backyard pond? This guide covers the essentials—legalities, safety, design, and upkeep—so you can enjoy your pond for years to come.

If you are looking for pond design ideas, have a look at the backyard pond idea gallery here.

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Advice for Starting a Garden Pond

I’ve had several different types of ponds over the years and no matter what size or style, the basic maintenance and care is all the same.

I’ll walk you through everything you will want to consider before building your backyard pond. These tips will help you avoid some common mistakes that are very hard to fix once a pond is built, and show you what is involved in caring for a pond so you can decide if it’s right for you.

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Contents

1. Legal Considerations
2. Safety
3. Location
4. Access to Resources
5. In-ground or Above-ground
6. Pond Supplies
7. Water
8. Water Pump
9. Aquatic Plants
10. Pond Fish
11. Daily Maintenance
12. Winter Maintenance
13. Frequently-Asked Questions
14. Resources

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Tips Before You Build a Pond

Let’s go over everything to consider before you build a pond.

If you want to save these tips, be sure to grab the free tip sheet here.

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1Legal Considerations

Check local bylaws to make sure you are indeed allowed to have a pond.

Some bylaws dictate whether ponds are allowed, if permits are required, and what size, depth, and style is acceptable.

There are also often rules about how close to dwellings and property lines a pond may be situated and whether fencing is required.

You will also need a water source both to get the pond established and top it up as needed. Be sure you can either use tap water or collect rain water to fill and maintain your pond.

It’s also a good idea to make nice with your neighbors to get them on board.

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2Safety

If there are young children around or pets that do not swim, ponds are not worth the risk. It’s a lovely addition to a garden but only if you are certain it’s safe.

Alternately, you could consider having a small, above-ground water feature instead.

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3Location

Ponds are best situated in partially-shaded area, away from trees. You really do not want tree roots growing into your pond or falling leaves rotting in the water.

Another location mistake is building a pond at the back of a garden—so far you can’t enjoy it from the patio or house.

You will also take better care of it if it’s easy to check on year-round.

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4Access to Resources

Unless you are creating an all-natural, pump-free pond, you will need an outdoor GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) electrical outlet accessible to the pond area.

This should be installed by a licensed electrician to ensure it is safe and meets local codes.

Access to outdoor tap water or a rain water cistern is also needed, first to fill the pond, and then to top it up on hot days when some water will evaporate.

A water outlet is also handy for routine maintenance like cleaning filters.

I’ve answered Frequently Asked Pond Questions here.

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5In-Ground or Above Ground

The next big decision is choosing whether you want an in-ground pond or to build one above ground in a container.

• In-ground ponds can be more natural looking and are usually made by excavating the soil and installing a pond liner made specifically for this purpose.

• Above-ground ponds can be built in any water-tight large container like the pond form shown above. 
  
  Galvanized stock troughs are a popular choice right now—just be sure you get one intended to hold water—some are just for raised beds and not water tight. 

This pond was built in an old hot tub.

I made my above-ground pond in a raised garden bed by inserting a prefabricated pond form (like the one pictured above), also called a rigid pond liner.

You can also use pre-fab pond forms as in-ground ponds.

Whatever you choose, quality matters. Check how long you can expect it to last. Replacing a pond liner is a complicated, costly task, and may be a big problem if wildlife live there.

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6Pond Supplies

These are the basic materials and supplies needed:

• Pond liner (rubber liner and soft underlay) or preformed pond container
• Recirculating pump with (optional) fountain spout

Larger pond kits may come with:

• Skimmer box
• Tubing to connect skimmer to waterfall
• Spillway box (to create a waterfall)
• Cover for spillway box

You may also need:

• Rocks to line pond (on top of the liner)
• Leaf skimmer
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) electrical outlet
• Outdoor water tap or other clean water source

This is similar to the pond kit I used for building my pond:

Complete DIY Aquascape Backyard Pond Kit at Amazon

Where to Get Deals

• Off-season online classified ads
• End of season sales
• Look for kits instead of buying parts individually
• Yard sales
• Trash
• People getting rid of their pond – you uninstall it and it’s all yours!

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7Water

It’s assumed you have a clean water source to fill your pond.

For tap water, check with your municipality to know what’s in your water or get it tested.

If your tap water includes chlorine and fluoride it takes a day or so for the chlorine to off-gas before safely adding living things to the pond.

Once you have fish, plants, and other wild things like frogs in your pond, adding chlorinated tap water will be two-step process: first you fill a large tub and leave it for a day, then you can add the water to your pond. You can also speed it up with dechlorinating tablets.

If the water has chloramine, find out if any prep is recommended.

This article at fishkeepingforever.com has more information.

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8Water Pump

One key to keeping a pond healthy with clear water is to have a good recirculating pump running at all times.

These pumps are made specifically for ponds. The motorized pump is submerged in the water, drawing water in and sending water out.

Some also have filters to help remove gunk from the water. Others are simply pushing the water around, to help keep It oxygenated.

Submersible recirculating pond pump at Amazon

It is important to use a pump that meets the needs of your pond.

Pumps are made in different strengths, measured in gallons per hour (gph).

You want a pump that moves your total water capacity every hour, plus extra strength to lift the water through any waterfalls or fountains as well.

Example: a 2000-gallon pond with a waterfall three feet above the surface would need a pump that is at least 2200 gph or perhaps 2500 gph. A pond professional can help you choose what’s right for your specific setup.

I also always have a spare pump on hand in case my current one fails for any reason.

This is not terrible in the warmer months but can be tragic in winter. During winter, you have to keep the water circulating to ensure fish and frogs survive. If the water freezes, they are toast.

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9Aquatic Plants

Depending on where you live, there will be different options for pond plants.

Just like any garden, invasive pond plants can be an issue. There are plenty of fast-growing pond plants that will take over while your back is turned.

I’ve had some that I thought were doing fine until I went to move their root baskets (sitting a ledge in the pond) and discovered they had taken over like beasts, tangled up with other plants in the pond and completely wrapped around rocks in the bottom.

Eventually, there’s such a volume of plant roots down there that there’s no room for fish or water circulation.

So, choose non-invasive aquatic plants and decide whether you prefer annuals or perennials.

Some aquatic plants float on the surface, others have roots and grow in rocks or aquatic potting medium in baskets below the water surface.

A pond expert at a garden nursery can be a great resource for choosing the right plants. And be sure to ask what to expect year over year.

This articles showing how I built my inground pond shares the names of some of my aquatic plants.

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10Pond Fish

If you live in a cold climate like I do, you will need cold-water fish for your pond. Koi and goldfish are popular choices but there are lots of things to consider first.

Both koi and goldfish are non-native here in North America and can never be introduced to natural waterways.

Whatever fish you get, be mindful that predators are likely to hunt the fish. Racoons will reach into ponds; herons will dive for fish.

If you’re still interested, choose thoughtfully.

While fish need to be introduced, frogs and toads will show up on their own.

Big fish will—sometimes—eat smaller fish, so there’s that. And some species will not get along with others.

Also, the number of fish you choose will depend on what their size will be maturity and the volume of water in your pond. A general rule is, allow 2 cubic feet minimum per goldfish to ensure their health and happiness. Koi require more space. This has a formula for how many fish to add to your pond.

Fish will likely breed as well, so allow space for future generations.

It’s best to find a local pond store that sells pond fish to get good advice on what to choose for your pond. And don’t add them until your pond has been established for at least few weeks or more.

Some pond owners feed their fish store-bought fish food. Mine live entirely off the pond itself.

When getting new fish, follow these instructions for safely introducing new fish to your pond.

Fish are really prone to shock, so you want any changes to be as gentle and gradual as possible.

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11Daily Maintenance

If your pond is well-built in a good location, it may only need occasional maintenance.

I check my ponds daily to make sure everything is running smoothly and the fish are happy.

If you feed your fish, you’ll want to create a routine where they get to know and trust you.

Some pond pumps have filters that will need cleaning out whenever gunk gets in them.

A skimmer tool is handy for removing any leaves or debris that has blown into the pond.

You may also need to top up the water on hot days due to evaporation. As mentioned, unless you have confirmed it is safe to top up small amounts, chlorinated tap water should be held in reserve in large open container for a day first to let the chlorine off-gas. Or you can use de-chlorinating tablets.

To help keep pond water clear, there are liquid bacteria products that boost the good bacteria in the water. These come in a squeeze pump and get added as needed according to the instructions.

The older a pond gets, the more it will naturalize, and this can mean algae will build up, especially in the hot weather. Some algae is perfectly normal and to be expected. It’s a problem when the water becomes stagnant.

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12Winter Maintenance

Winter pond preparation may require:

• Moving some hardy aquatic plants lower down in the pond, so the roots don’t freeze.
• Cleaning out filters and removing leaves.
• Making sure your fish will be safe by never letting the water freeze.
  
  I do this by keeping the waterfall running all year-round and adding a pond heating (floating de-icer) to prevent the surface from icing over. There are gases that build up from fish waste and these become toxic if they are not released into the air.

This has detailed advice on Caring for Your Fish Pond in Winter.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

I hope this has provided a good understanding of what’s involved in building and caring for a backyard pond.

Let me know if you have any questions, and be sure to sign up for the newsletter for more handy garden tips.

Once your pond is established, how about adding a bridge over it?

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛