There are many different types of ponds you can have in your garden. These may range from water gardens and Koi ponds to formal ponds where wildlife is minimal.

You should remember that the water feature you choose should fit into the surrounding garden area and compliment any existing features. If you have decided to have a formal pond, the shape of the pond may well be the most important consideration. Most formal pond shapes are quite symmetrical like rectangles, circles and squares and the garden planting often follows the same rules. The new current trend is for a long rectangular rill (like a small canal) with a water feature such as a cascading fountain at one end. This feature will have the effect of elongating your garden and making the whole area seem bigger. Such ponds or water features are usually constructed in concrete with many being tiled and finished at the edge with stone paving.

Just because you decide to have a formal pond doesn’t mean you have to neglect planting. You can still include plants in your pond, but you should try to continue the symmetrical pattern your pond follows and include the same types of plants in the corners or place plants at fixed intervals along the ponds length.