Nothing says “tranquil escape” like running water in a fountain or backyard pond. Who could hold onto their cares as they watch the fish mill in the clear water? While most people like the idea of a backyard pond, and they certainly add to your home’s value, installing a backyard pond is not a project to be undertaken lightly. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Plan for Your Pond to Be a Focal Point
A pond is a major undertaking, and its impact will be even greater when the plants have filled in around the edges and the water has cleared. You can’t shoehorn a pond into a garden design. You have to start with the pond and work backwards. Luckily, in an extensive garden redesign, ponds are right up there with hardscaping — they have to be installed first, because you’ll need quite a bit of equipment to do it.
Decide up Front How Much Time You Can Devote to It
Pools of water are fussy. So many factors have to be just right, or you’ll wind up with algae soup. There are also many types of filtration systems. Some people want “natural” pools, where the filtration is done by plants and mud, just like in a real pond. Some prefer a more mechanized solution. You should plan to do extensive research before making up your mind. Size is also a concern — the bigger the pond, surprisingly, the easier it is to manage.
If you can’t devote the time to learning the ropes, or you know you won’t be able to manage it, put in a more staid water feature, like a fountain. You might still be able to have fish, but you can treat it more like an aquarium and less like a complicated miniature ecosystem.
Get the Right Materials for your Pond
Once you have decided that you are ready to commit to building a pond in your yard or other outdoor area, you are going to have to get a lot of materials, and to make some choices about which materials are right for your particular pond project. Luckily, at JK Enterprises, we have decades of experience helping people prepare to build ponds, and we carry many different kinds of materials that may be just what you need to build the pond of your dreams.
Sand
Traditionally, people thought that using sand for the bottom of a man-made pond was not ideal. It was thought that sand seemed dirty and difficult to maintain, and that it would turn your water from a beautifully crystal-clear blue to a murky dull brown or tan. In fact, many landscapers and contractors do use sand for the bases of backyard ponds, and today, using sand as a pond material is more popular than ever before. But there are still several precautions you should take before using sand to line the bottom of your pool. For one, you will want to wash the sand several times over to get rid of the tinier particles which may make it more likely that your sand-based pond gets cloudy or ugly. You also will likely have to use at least some rocks or gravel, dispersed at strategic locations near drains or holes in your pond-floor to prevent the sand from causing clogs.
If you do decide to use sand to form the base layer for your backyard pond, you can rest assured that the folks at JK Enterprises can provide the advice and guidance you need to apply the sand in the best way possible. And we have several types of sand that you may want to consider using. Our All Purpose Sand may work just fine for all of your pond-related needs, but it also may be beneficial to try something with a larger grain. For these purposes, we would recommend our Concrete Sand.
Rocks and Gravel
A more common approach to lining the bottom of your new pond is to use rocks or gravel. There are many rumors, myths, or misunderstandings about using rocks, pebbles, and gravel in your pond. One of these is that using rocks or gravel makes your pnd dirtier. In fact, it is simply an important part of owning a pond to clean it regularly, and no matter what you put inside it, it will get dirty from time to time. Rocks can accumulate dirt and make the pond appear dirtier than it might otherwise look, but as long as you clean it every once in a while this shouldn’t be a problem. And when it is cleaned, your pond will look like a beautiful, rocky oasis thanks to the pebbles, rocks and gravel you put in it.
Although many of the concerns about rocks in your ponds are misguided, it is important that you choose the right kind of rock to avoid any problems with your backyard pind. That’s where JK Enterprises comes in: our expert associates are aways happy to help you find the right material for your pond needs, and we have many options which are great for this purpose.
Do Your Research — Or Consult an Expert
Although many people desire a backyard pond, there’s no reason they have to install it themselves. There are many companies that specialize in pond design and installation. As a DIY task, you should be aware that this is fairly “master level.” It’s also hard, back-breaking work.
If you decide to install your own backyard pond, in the course of your research you will discover that some kinds of rock are suitable for ponds, and some are not, and you will realize that you need to source your materials carefully.
When that time comes, you will probably need to find a local landscaping supply company that specializes in hardscaping material (Ahem…like JK Enterprises). Their experienced staff will be able to help you locate any specialized materials so that your backyard pond will be a success.