Adding a water feature to your garden provides a focal point, a home for a host of new wildlife and a chance to experiment with a huge range of interesting plants.
Starting Out
If you are having excavation work done in your garden, it should be done in a way that looks natural
Topsoil is expensive and filled with all the nutrients your plants need to grow. So, after digging your pond, always try to reuse the topsoil elsewhere
Line your pond with a soft protective layer before placing your pond liner. This way you will reduce the risk of it being punctured by sharp stones. You can buy under-lining from your local garden centre or use sand, or even old carpets and blankets
Keep all pond liner off-cuts. If you're putting rocks around the water's edge, you can use these pieces to protect the liner from punctures
At water level, build a ledge of natural stone (or any material that will fit in with your garden)
When the pond is full of water you won't be able to see the pond-liner around the edges. The water laps up against the rock, creating a really natural look
Pond Life
Water lilies grow best in still water. Avoid planting them in streams or fountains
Ducks need to be able to get in and out of the pond easily, so if you want to attract waterfowl create a 'shore'
Duck feet are quite sharp and can pierce the pond lining, so don't use sand for your 'shore'. Instead, use flat stones that will not become dislodged
Once the pond is set up, it's easy to look after. The plants will help to keep the water crystal clear, because their leaves shade out the light that causes green algae to grow. In fact, apart from an annual clean up, you'll find there's surprisingly little else that needs doing
Planting
Wait a few days to allow the water in your pond to settle, then begin planting
Pot-grown plants should be potted into fine-mesh water plant containers, using aquatic compost. Top-dress them with gravel to stop the soil being disturbed, then place the plants on bricks, where necessary, so that they are at the water depth they require to grow
If you want to keep fish you will need oxygenating plants, which are usually sold in bunches. These can be pushed into the compost of one of the other plants
In spring, repot each plant and cut it back to a more manageable size. Oxygenators tend to grow faster than other plants, so you may need to cut them back more often
When the plants are growing in the summer, have an occasional tidy up to remove any yellowing leaves and spent flower heads
During winter plants will die down
In very cold weather, you may have to protect your pond to stop it freezing solid
Ideas
Small containers, such as a stone bowl, fit well into any garden space
Building a raised pond will give extra prominence to the plants it contains
An old white sink makes an ideal container for bright green foliage plants and colour-glazed pots can also be used to highlight and complement flowers. Another similar idea is to use old chimney pots, the large 'crown' topped ones are best, making interesting garden features in their own right
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