article: Lilly Ponds

Lilly Ponds

First, you will need a liner and a pump. These are the two most expensive items that you will need. You will need to layout your pond. Take into account how much space you have to work with and how much you want to spend on a liner. If you are going to install a filter, it is best to have it on the high side of the pond. The easiest way to lay out your pond is to take a garden hose and outline the shape of the pond that you want. Shovel out the inside of the hose and work your way around the entire perimeter of the pond. This will take a while to do.

Excavation
When you are done shoveling, tamp down the soil in the bottom of the pond and any tiers that you may have excavated. Make sure that the hole you have dug is level. Get rid of any rocks that are sticking up so that it does not interfere with your liner. Next, you are ready for the liner. There are commercial pads available but if you do not want to pay the high price, carpet will work fine.

Install the Liner
Once you have done the above, you will need to layout the pond liner. Flatten out the liner as much as possible and carefully fold it so that it goes around the corners of the pond smoothly. Make sure that you have all the bumps out; you are ready for the water. As the water fills the pond, it will force the liner against the walls of the pond, continue to make sure there are no bumps in the liner. After the pond is full of water, it is a good idea to get in the water and smooth out the liner. Then you can treat the water for chlorine. Let the water sit over night. Once the water is settled it is time to trim the liner. Do not trim to close.

Stone is a favorite material for landscaping the pond and hiding the liner. Start laying the stone around the perimeter. Make a short wall around the pond. It is a good idea to put your plants in the water and let them stabilize. If you are adding fish, it is best to wait five days before adding them to the pond.