Design
Consideration
There are many reasons for
adding a water feature to the garden. For most of us it is the
desire to grow aquatic plants and/or keep fish. To do either,
we need to construct a water feature and when we do that, we
must create conditions that are conducive to the co-existence
of all the inhabitants - whether plants or fish. The design
of the pond is of utmost importance. First, ask yourself, "What
role do I want this pond to fulfill in my landscape?" Whatever
the answer may be, the design of the pond should take into account:
The pool's intended place in
your overall landscape design
Designing an entire landscape including a pond would be ideal;
however, the majority of the ponds installed are retrofitted
to an existing landscape. The relationship, therefore, of the
pond to the rest of the landscape should be carefully considered
before beginning. A list of questions to consider before starting
is given under "Site Selection".
Space available
The size of the pond is very important. The smaller the pond,
the greater the impact seasonal and diurnal temperature fluctuations
have and the less stable the overall pond environment will be.
Minimum size for a healthy balanced pond is considered to be
about 50 square feet of surface area (a mere 10 foot X 5 foot
rectangular pond or an 8 foot circular one).
Depth
Another important factor in the overall health of the pond is
the depth. Depth of the pond should range from 18 to 24 inches.
Greater than 3 feet of depth is not necessary and would prove
a maintenance hazard. In most urban areas, any pond over a depth
of 18 inches requires that it be enclosed in or the yard surrounded
by a fence 6 feet or taller. If space for adequate surface area
is not available, this can be offset to some degree by increasing
the depth of the pond
If you cannot afford much space
or the digging is too great a job, all is not lost. Consider
a barrel water garden. With proper plant selection and winter
maintenance, this can be a viable solution. See construction
of a barrel water garden
in "Construction Methods."
Shape
If the pond is to achieve its potential for your landscape,
the shape of the pond should complement the shapes dictated
in your landscape. If your landscape is formal in style then
the angles, lines, and smooth curves should be repeated in the
shape of the pond, preferably in a concentric arrangement. If
your landscape is informal, then this freedom of line and form
should be reflected by a less geometric design. If the pond
is constructed of flexible liners, your options are almost limitless;
however, if you elect to use a preformed shell liner, your options
are more limited
Size
Size of your pond should be a question of proportion and is
an important design consideration. If the pond is to occupy
a place of prominence, such as the central theme of the landscape,
then its size should reflect this by taking a greater proportion
of the area allotted to hardscape. If the pond is a nuance or
an accent, then it should be in proportion to the other accents
of the garden
Soil removal
What is to be done with the soil removed to make the pond? If
need be, arrange for its removal, but better yet, find a project
such as a raised bed to build with the soil. After figuring
out the gallonage of the pond, use this number to determine
the amount of soil that you must remove. For every 1 gallon
of water in the pond, there are 0.134 cubic feet of soil to
be removed, in addition to soil removed for edging and sand
cushioning underneath. Thus, for a 100 gallon pond more than
13.4 cubic feet of soil must be removed, enough for a 5 foot
square bed raised 6 inches
Edging
Edging materials help to tie the water feature into the overall
scheme of the garden. A coping such as brick, rocks, steel edging,
or wood around the pond can be used to accent the pond. Alternatively,
inappropriate edging materials can diminish or overstate the
pond's importance in the landscape
Use the colors, textures and
form of the individual pieces of edging material to complement
or reinforce the position that your pond occupies in the overall
hierarchy of your landscape. These materials, in any case, should
complement any edging materials already in use. Decide early
on in the design phase what type of edging will be used. This
decision substantially impacts the construction phase.
Local regulations
Some local governments have no restrictions on pond construction.
However, most require fences around the yard of any pond 18
inches or greater in depth. Many municipalities require recirculating
pumps and filtration systems. If garden hoses are used to fill
the ponds, they must be equipped with an anti-siphon device.
Some city and county governments require that all ponds be inspected
after construction for these and other sanitation issues. Some
municipalities require building permits. Check with dealers
in your area carrying water garden construction supplies about
specifics for your area or call the local authorities if you
are unsure
Construction material selection
Choice of materials should take into account the cost, life
expectancy of the material, installation requirements, availability
in your area, and how these materials may blend with the existing
materials in your landscape. The liner is generally the most
important and most expensive component of the water garden.
Some examples of liners in order of life expectancy from shortest
to longest are:
- PVC (fish grade)??7 to 15 years
- Butyl or Rubber (fish grade)??30 years
- Fiberglass??50 years
- Concrete??Lifetime, if done correctly,
but very difficult and much skill required.
Plants
Plant selection for the pond is, of course, one of the major
design considerations. However, as stated earlier, most ponds
are retrofitted to an existing landscape, so for best results,
the plant material chosen for the pond must be in concert
with existing plants in the landscape. Some design aspects
to keep in mind when attempting to match or contrast the pond
to your landscape are: overall plant texture, color and length
of bloom, foliage type and texture (including the effects
of variegation), height, evergreen vs. deciduous, and overall
form. If you do have the luxury of designing a landscape to
include a water garden, read the section on "Plant Life" before
choosing your plants
