Tips for starting an Outdoor Pond

• JM Aquatics
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Spring is a great time to get started with a brand new outdoor pond.  Outdoor ponds provide great nature watching, as they attract lots of butterflies, dragonflies, and even the occasional turtle or frog. They also can create a quiet, attractive backyard or front yard oasis.  Waterfalls create a relaxing sound and beautiful koi swimming by can be almost hypnotic.  We’ve listed 5 tips here for starting your outdoor pond, but really, the possibilities and ideas are endless! Once you think you have a plan, come and see us and we’ll help you with the details.

1. Plan your outdoor pond.  Where in your yard is it going? If you plan to have fish in it, you’ll need to pick a spot with some sunlight. Is the soil here stable enough for a pond? Is there a natural slope that could help to create a water feature? (That’s not necessary, by the way). Is it in a location around which you can add a border, perhaps a chair or two? If you need ideas on where to get started with planning your pond, check out our Pinterest page. 
2. Literally plan the pond.  Draw it out on paper.  Find THE pond you want to create from images online and print it out. Bring it with you to our store and we’ll help you gather all the pieces of the puzzle. You’ll want to plan for the pond to be a bit bigger than you originally think because once you add plants, a border, etc it will seem a little smaller than you thought.
3. Think about the depth of the pond. Again, if you plan to have fish, they’ll need a little bit of space to hibernate in winter.
4. Talk to your outdoor pond specialists (us) about liners for your pond and whether or not to consider a pond kit.  Pond kits can be great for first time pond builders because they contain everything you need! They’ll have your liner, a pump, a plant basket, and usually a fountain kit as well.
5. Think about your water feature.  If you go with a pond kit it will likely come with a fountain kit, but you can go beyond that.  If you’ve got the space, consider a waterfall.  Moving water is a must, so a fountain or waterfall will need to exist in your pond.  This keeps out algae and also keeps mosquito larvae from growing in the water.
6. Next think about your plants.  What will grow in your pond?  You’ll want 40-50% of the pond to have plants by the time everything is established.  Some to consider are:
   1. Creeping Jenny
   2. Pickerel
   3. Horsetail Reeds
   4. Taro
   5. Waterlilies
7. Finally, think about edging.  Do you want a modern look around the edge of the pond? A natural, rock look? There are hundreds of ways to edge your pond, from wood frames and stone for raised ponds to pea gravel and pavers for in-ground ponds.

If you’re looking for more ideas for starting an outdoor pond, stop in and see us at 2851 1/2 North Avenue in Grand Junction, Colorado.