Installing a preformed pond can make a great addition to any landscape. Whether you’re installing it to put fish in, grow plants, or just hope that a neighborhood frog moves in, it will set your landscape apart from everyone else around yours. But, while it is much easier to install a preformed pond than a pond liner, there are several mistakes that people make when they are installing their pond that can lead to it being unlevel, which ruins the look of the whole pond. Here are a few of those mistakes and how to avoid them.

First, you don’t want to dig the whole to the same depth as the pond is they dig the hole to the same depth as the pond is. Instead you want to dig the pond a few inches deeper to allow you to backfill it with sand. It’s really hard to dig a hole that is completely level but the sand will allow you to level out the hole. Don’t forget to get the sand a little wet with the hose before you place the pond in as well. This will help the sand settle a little bit more.

The next mistake that many people will make as well is digging out places where the pond is supposed to have a step. Don’t do this. It’s incredibly hard to fill the area with loose dirt and it could also cause the pond to move as it settles in the ground over time. Clearly mark where there is supposed to be a step and keep the dirt there.

A third mistake that people make is that they don’t dig the hole wide enough as well. Once again, you need to make the hole wider to allow you to backfill the area with sand to keep it level. The sand will also help you to prevent rocks from being pushed up in the winter frost that could puncture the lining of the pond over time. After you’ve place the pond in the hole and made sure that it is still level, backfill these areas as well.

And finally, many people also don’t allow for the pond to settle before they install plants, edging and water. If you do this, the pond could sink further down in the ground than you would like. To avoid it, fill the pond with water, you’ll dump this out later, and very carefully step inside it and stand there for a few minutes. The pond should slowly settle down. It may still settle over time but you won’t be in for any big surprises.

Plastic garden ponds make a great addition to nearly any landscape. They can be used for many different applications and they come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. Just make sure that any preformed ponds you install get installed correctly to keep them level, otherwise you’re left with a weird looking pond!