Hi Sven,

I've always wanted a pond with fish and water lilies and now that we've moved into our new place I'm ready to build it! Please can you give me some tips?

Thanks.

Mel

Our Gardens Expert replies:

Hi Mel,

There are a number of points to consider that will influence the style and position of your pond. The first is how much space you can afford to devote to the pond.

The minimum size if you plan to have a decent pond for fish is around 12sq meters and should have a minimum depth of 50-70cm. You should also ensure to have a shelf around the edge, on which to place marginals (plants that grow with their crowns underwater) and this should be about 30cm wide and 25-30cm deep.

One of the most important factors is where to position the pond, especially if you are planning to plant water lilies. They need at least five to six hours of sunlight a day to thrive, yet they do need some shelter so a sheltered sunny spot is ideal.

One of the biggest problems is overhanging trees - they cast shade, and dropping leaves becomes a major hassle. The leaves rot in the water, producing gasses and salts that are harmful to aquatic life and also encourage algae (nothing worse than a green pond full of smelly rotting leaf matter).

The ideal spot for a natural looking pond is at the lowest point of the garden. Water would naturally collect at this point, so the pond will visually fit there. You will also need to consider how to get electricity and water to the site which also may have an influence on where you place it.

When excavating the pond you will need to ensure that you won't be digging through any services (gas, water, electricity, telephone, sewage, cable etc) It is unusual to have anything other than the sewage mains in the back garden but it does happen so be careful!

And digging a pond is hard graft! So if it is going to be a large one it may be worth hiring a digger for a day (also a lot of fun!)