A pond is a beautiful natural addition to any garden; the relaxing sound of the water, the different fish you can have and the gorgeous plants that surround it, all come together for a perfect garden feature. It’s easy to know that you want a pond in your garden, but it is another thing to see where you want to install it and how it will work with the rest of your garden.
Before you jump right into building a pond, you should go over your garden design and consider where it’s going to go, how you are going to look after it, what type of pond it is going to be, and how it will fit into your daily life in the garden.
Here are just a few ideas for types of ponds you can have in your garden.
1. Close to the Patio
Having the pond close to the patio means it is easy to spot and manage. Position it beside or, incorporated into, your patio/decking, to make it your garden’s main feature. By doing so, you can sit comfortably beside the pond but also maintain it more easily due to its close proximity and lack of overgrowth (deckings/patios are simpler to maintain than natural patches of grass).
Although the pond is in a more maintained part of the garden, it does not mean you can become lax on keeping it clean. Water garden has a variety of high-quality pumps and filter sets for all ponds. Such pond filters keep the water clean but also helps maintain the ecological balance.
2. In-Ground or Above Ground Garden pond
There are two types of ponds you can have in your garden, one that’s below ground and one that is above ground in a container. Both have their perks and advantages over the other.
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In-Ground Garden Ponds
Ponds that are built in-ground have the water below ground, giving more flexibility for depth. These types of ponds are also more natural-looking than those in a container since it is all enclosed within the natural structure of the garden itself, rather than in a plastic container.
These are made by removing the soil and using a pond-liner. If there are trees nearby, it can be difficult to remove the roots, and you will have to excavate everything where the pond is going to be. If your garden has lots of trees, an in-ground pond may not be the right choice, but they go perfectly in a large garden design with lots of room.
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Above Ground Garden Ponds
Garden Ponds above ground are essentially the opposite of in-ground ones. They can be built with any water-tight container, they don’t require any excavation of soil or tree roots and can even be placed on decking or on patios.
While above ground ponds do look less natural, they are generally much easier to install. You can make your above ground pond blend in by surrounding it with pond rocks and plants!
3. Fish Sanctuary
Many people choose to build a pond into their garden because of the chance to fill it with all kinds of different fish. Fish do make a wonderful addition to any pond and can be the reason you get yours. Some of the types of fish you can introduce to a garden pond in the UK are:
- Golden Tench
- Golden rudd
- Koi carp
- Goldfish
- Fathead minnow
- Comets
- Shubunkins
And many more!
You could keep a certain breed of fish or have a wide range; it really depends on your preferences. Fish are a great addition, and if you have children, this is a great way to teach them responsibility. Most children will love the job of feeding the fish and keeping an eye on them as they grow. Have your children keep a record of the fish you have in the pond over the years.
4. Plant Pond
Not all ponds are used to house fish. If you prefer to take care of plants rather than fish, then a plant pond would be the perfect fit for your garden. These types of ponds are much easier to manage than a pond with fish since the plants feed themselves. However, do remember that you will still need to maintain the flora.
You can cultivate a diverse culture of pond plants from horsetail pond plants to water lettuce, to cardinal flowers and many more. The broad range of colors and plant types will liven and brighten up any garden!
A pond filled with gorgeous plants is a natural beauty that will elevate most gardens. If you are unable to look after the pond yourself, it may be worth hiring a gardener to keep the plants alive and well looked after.
5. Fountain Centerpiece
A natural garden pond can be bumped up in extravagance with the help of a magnificent fountain or statue in the center. A fountain will help the flow of water in the pond, and it will also make it stand out as a spectacular feature.
A floating fountain in the center of your pond brings the whole thing together. A fountain statue of a proud frog or fish shows that you are all about natural decoration and adds a touch of elegance to your water feature.
If you don’t want a fountain in the center, waterfall fountains are also an option to sit along the side of a pond. These can look much more natural, with the water flowing into the pond, much like a waterfall would, hence the name.
Ponds with a centerpiece like a statue, fountain or waterfall are a beautiful statement piece that will become the main attraction of even the biggest of gardens. However, do not overdo it, as too much can have the opposite effect and make the garden look gaudy.
Ponds can come in all shapes and sizes, and contain many different plants and fish; it’s all up to how you want your pond to look. Even if you have a small garden, a pond can still fit right in, just on a smaller scale. Miniature ponds are just as inviting as the biggest ones.
