If you’re one of those budding garden artists who aren’t happy with just lawn and bushes, then it’s possible you have considered installing a plastic pond. And that’s a great idea! Ponds add life, movement and joy to a garden and are an absolute pleasure to watch as your plant and aquatic life flourish.

If you’re considering a DIY pond installation, then you’ll find that preformed plastic ponds are your best option; cost-effective, easy to install and simple to maintain.

Here are our top tips for installing your plastic pond.

Carefully Consider the Location of Your Pond.

Think about the following:

• Can you see it easily from your patio?
• Is it set low in the garden and likely to flood after heavy rains?
• Is it in full sun all day or is there a healthy sun/shade balance?
• Can you run an electrical cable to it to run your pump? Can these cables run underground for safety reasons?
• Are you likely to hit electrical or water cables when you start digging?

Placement and Preparation of Your Pond

• Once you are ready to set your pond, mark out the area that needs to be excavated and start digging. Remember, if your pond has various levels or shelves, each of these needs to be supported by a firm and level base of compacted ground.
• For a great finish, it’s important to spend the time needed to ensure that your base is completely level and even.

Filling and Securing

• Once your pond is set and stable, add a little water to weigh it down and keep it from shifting as you backfill the soil on the sides.
• Make sure that you fill and pack the soil around the pond as much as you can; this soil will likely compact and settle in the following weeks and you don’t want your surrounding area to start cracking or pulling away.
• A wet cement mix around the outside will set your pond firmly in place.

And there you have it – your pond is ready to accept fish and plants of your choice and then it’s time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Good luck!