There are many things to consider when you’re planning a new backyard pond and there are a lot of things that can go wrong.
Ponds can be expensive to install and difficult to fix, so it’s important to get it right the first time.
Here are 10 things to keep in mind before you start building your new backyard pond.
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10 POND MISTAKES TO AVOID
1. Choosing the wrong location
Many people make the mistake of building a pond in a far corner of the backyard where no one can see it.
When the pond isn’t visible, it’s easily forgotten about and usually ends up overgrown with algae and weeds.
If you live in an area with hot summer temperatures, it’s best if your pond is located in an area that receives morning sun and afternoon shade so that the pond water doesn’t heat up too much.
Tree roots and leaves falling into the pond can be a real nuisance for pond owners, so it’s best to build your pond away from trees, especially deciduous trees.
It’s also best to avoid building a pond in a low lying spot that can flood during periods of heavy rain.
2. Making the pond too shallow
If your pond is too shallow, the water can heat up quickly during hot summer weather, which is dangerous for fish.
Shallow ponds will also need to be topped up regularly during summer due to evaporation.
In areas with very cold winter temperatures, ponds need to be at least 4 feet (120 cm) deep so that the water doesn’t freeze solid.
Ensuring that your pond is deep enough will also protect your fish from predators like birds and cats.
3. Building the pond too small
Building your pond too small means you can only have a small number of plants and fish in the pond.
It doesn’t take long for pond plants to spread out, especially floating plants like water hyacinths
If you have fish in a small pond you’ll have to closely monitor their numbers and de-stock when the pond becomes overcrowded.
4. Creating steep edges
Many first time pond owners create a pond with steep edges, which makes it hard to stack rocks around the inside edge of the pond and there’s no ledges for pond plants.
Ponds with steep edges are also difficult for frogs and birds to access the water.
5. Using untreated water
You can use tap water to fill up a new pond but you’ll need to let the water sit for a couple of days to allow the chlorine to dissipate.
When topping up the pond it’s important to use a dechlorinator
6. Adding the fish too soon
After you finish building your pond, it’s important to let the water sit for a few weeks to allow the natural ecosystem of the pond to build up before adding fish.
You can add beneficial bacteria
7. Forgetting about aeration
Installing a fountain
If you notice that your pond smells like rotten eggs or your fish are gasping at the surface of the pond, it’s a sign that your pond is low on oxygen and you need to add aeration.
Aeration also helps to reduce mosquitoes, stabilize the pond temperature and keep the pond water clear and free of algal blooms.
8. Not providing shade
If your pond is located in full sun, you’ll need to provide shade to protect the fish, reduce algae overgrowth and prevent the pond water heating up too much.
You can install a shade sail
Some good choices include water lilies
9. Underestimating the ongoing maintenance
Many people don’t realize the amount of work it takes to keep a pond healthy and functioning.
Removing leaves and other debris that falls into the pond is something you’ll need to do regularly to reduce scum and muck building up in the pond.
You can use a long handled net
You can also add muck reducer tablets
If you live in an area with very cold winter temperatures, you’ll need to store your pump and filter somewhere that they won’t freeze and drain the water out of the pipes before winter so that they don’t crack.
If your pond freezes over, you’ll need to make a hole in the ice to allow carbon dioxide and other gases to escape.
You can use a hot saucepan to make a hole in the ice or use a pond de-icer
Plants like water lilies and lotus can be cut back and moved to the bottom of the pond to overwinter but tropical plants will need to be brought indoors to survive the winter.
10. Not testing the water
If you have fish in your pond you’ll need to test the water regularly using a pond test kit
If the test results show that there are elevated levels of a toxin in the pond water, you can take steps to fix it before your fish are affected.
So there are 10 common pond mistakes, so you know what to avoid.
Building a new backyard pond is a lot of work, but with some careful planning you can avoid most of these problems.
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Can you think of any other pond mistakes that beginner pond owners should be aware of? Let me know in the comments below.
Are you on Pinterest? I have boards dedicated to Garden Ponds and Pond Tips that you may find helpful.
Also, check out the Must-Have Pond Products page where I list the essential pond products to make life as a pond owner much easier!
This was really helpful. There are so many things to think about when you’re planning to build a pond and it’s not cheap either so I want to get it right
Choose fish carefully. Do the research yourself. I had a young person answer my questions about comet fish. She was wrong. They grow too big for my small 33 gallon pond.
Leaves, leaves and leaves. That’s all I can say. Never build a pond under a tree which loses too many leaves. Or leaves in general. The buildup of leaves on the pond floor can be such a mess and as far as I know it isn’t that healthy either for the fish.
Ponds built low to the ground allow easier access for snakes to get in and eat the fish. I have a plastic stock tank with sides about 3 feet tall. If the water freezes over I’ve used a cordless drill to make air holes for the fish. I also created a system where my pump sits in filter material-round plastic kitchen scrubbers, they catch the fish debris, I have to clean the material at least once a week in the summer to keep the pond clean. Watch out for floating lettuce plants, sometimes the fish get tangled up in the long roots.
I would love to know how to also keep bullfrogs and snapping turtles out of my pond as they kill my fish! Any ideas?
I had an 18 x 33 ft above ground swimming pool and it kept filling with leaves (we live in the woods, limited clear area) and making a mess. After 6 or 7 years we removed it because of the maintenance. Had a depression where it used to be so I had a backhoe come in and make a 4 foot deep pond, same area 18×33 ft. Loved it until the maintenance of removing the leaves was also too much. Drained and pulled the liner, left with a depression that I partially filled in, about 2 ft deep. That area is now filled with plants, vines, wildflowers etc.. I actually like it.. There was nothing like that pond.. Animals came to drink, had catfish, bluegills. If you can do the maintenance or find a natural way around it there’s nothing better you’ll do in your life to create good vibes for yourself..