A pond is a worthy addition to your property as it can improve the aesthetic appeal of your home and help create a relaxing, calming space. There are many health benefits of spending time near a pond. The sound of flowing water calms the mind and soothes the soul.
There are many things to consider when planning a new backyard pond. So, it’s important to get things right the first time. To help you plan your project, we have compiled a list of some pond building mistakes to watch out for when taking on a pond building project in Windsor. Take a look.
Choosing the Wrong Location
Many homeowners make the mistake of placing a pond in an unused area of their property or in a far corner where no one can see it. It’s a shame to install a key feature in an unused area. A pond that is placed in a remote corner of the backyard can be out of sight and out of mind for most people.
Place your pond in a spot that is visible from your house and outdoor areas such as the patio or deck. Keep in mind that trees near the pond may ad maintenance, but can also help with a good mix of sun and shade. Avoid low-lying spots as they can flood during the rainy season.
Creating Steep Edges
If you create a pond with steep edges, you will have a hard time stacking rocks around the inside edge. Plus, as there are no ledges for aquatic plants and it may be difficult for frogs, birds and other aquatic animals to access the water. If there aren’t any shallow areas, it will become difficult and dangerous to get in and out of a pond with steep edges for maintenance. Creating shelves in a pond make it easier to get in and out of, provides a more stable excavation, creates dimension within the pond and is aesthetically more pleasing.
Building the Pond Too Shallow
The water in a shallow pond heats up too quickly during the summer months. When the water temperature gets higher than 90 degrees, the fish in the pond have difficulty breathing and can die from a lack of oxygen.
Additionally, a shallow pond needs to be replenished more frequently. Shallow ponds are happy hunting grounds for predators such as herons and raccoons. To prevent these problems, build your pond at least 24 inches deep and scale the depth to the overall size of the pond.
Building the Pond Too Small
If your pond is too small and it has floating plants such as water lettuce and water hyacinth, you will have to trim them back periodically, which can be time-consuming and frustrating. If you have fish in your pond, you will have to closely monitor their numbers and de-stock frequently. Environmental changes such as leaf debris and air temperature effect a smaller pond more rapidly. Go as big as the space and your budget allow.
Sweetwater Landscape is a reputable landscape design and installation company. Nothing excites us more than transforming dull, tired outdoor spaces into oases. Need help on a pond construction project near you in Windsor? Call (707) 887-0140.
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