The size of a new garden pond is usually determined by one thing – the size of the garden. When designing the pond, make sure that there are different shelf levels in the pond to position aquatic planting and to create a more diverse environment in the pond. A good idea is to include a pebble or sandy beach at one end of the pond. It creates a decorative edging and any wildlife that may fall into the pond will then be easily able to climb out.

Rake the bottom of the pond really well to remove any sharp objects. The better job you do now, the longer the pond liner will usually last and the less long term problems you will have. Using a cushioning underlay under the pond liner will increase the lifespan of the liner and hence further lessen the chances of a puncture.

The time spent now on your pond design and construction is really important so you should always take extra care and pay special attention to any problems you encounter. You will appreciate the time spent now in the future.

In part 2 of this article we will discuss how to lay out the liner and how to fill the pond.