Building a backyard pond is a mighty big task. Even more so if this is your first time building one. But never fear! This outline will guide you in setting up your pond so you can familiarize yourself with the necessary pond building techniques. And all you need is a day.

That’s right. One day.

Starting Small

A starter pond? What’s that you say? Think about it is a test pond. A simplified pond project that allows you to see what goes into making a proper pond. It’ll allow you to think about things like pond size, pond depth, materials and equipment; things which first time pond-makers usually forget.

Build an Outdoor Pond

“Aim small, miss small” said Mel Gibson in The Patriot. At the time, he was talking about shooting. However, this is the same principle for deciding the size of your starter pond. It’s your first time to build a pond and anything could go wrong. Should problems arise, you’ll be able to handle.

Getting Ready

There’s a whole bunch of things that you’ll need for your starter pond. Although this isn’t as big as some other construction projects, there are some things that you absolutely must have.

First of all, you’re going to have to excavate your pond. You’ll need some sturdy digging tools and maybe a few friends to help. If you’re planning to use a pre-made shell for your pond, make sure that you dig a hole to match the shell’s proportions.

For a rigid pond shell, make sure that the hole matches its size and shape. If you don’t want to use a pre-made shell, you can use flexible liner instead. Canvas is a good choice, although you should take a look at other available materials.

A garden hose and some spray paint will come in handy when you’re setting up to dig. You can use them to mark the location of your pond and the shape it will be. This allows you to work faster and more accurately than just guessing where you should dig.

Pond pumps and filters are a must for any home pond. A filtration system keeps your pond water clean, saving you a lot of maintenance work. Just remember that the equipment needs electricity. You may need to install a power source near your pond, preferably somewhere out of sight so it doesn’t disturb the look of your pond.

Step-by-step Guide to building your starter pond

This is an outline of the pond building process:

1. Make a pond plan.

2. “Draw” your pond’s shape with spray point or garden hose.

3. Dig the hole for your pond.

4. Place the pond shell or liner

5. Set up the pump, filter and tubing for the water cycling system.

6. Put in water to fill the pond.

7. Activate the filtration system by plugging it into a nearby power source.

And with that you’ve successfully built your starter pond! If you like, you can treat it just like a full-blown pond by adding plants and fish. Just make sure that you’re ready to handle them. While the pond may be small and a bit plain looking, the experience will undoubtedly help when it’s time for your real pond building project.

Looking for some ideas and inspiration for your outdoor pond, then visit pond-building-mastery.com to find essential tutorials, know-how and tips about pond building.