Installing a Rigid Pond

A water garden is a popular and attractive addition to your home landscape. It will also increase the value of your property.

Step 1
Choose a sunny location and/or one with not less than 6 hours of light. Ponds should not be located near trees that will drop their leaves in to pond because it will upset the water chemistry. Place your rigid pond close to the patio where it can be easily seen and heard. Using a spade, outline the pool shape slightly larger (3-4?) than the rigid pond liner.

Step 2
If you are installing a pool without an interior side ledge you can excavate the hole to 1-2? deeper than the rigid pool bottom ensuring it is completely level.

For pools with an interior ledge, dig down to the depth of the ledge making sure it is level. After this step, set the rigid pool into the hole and outline the interior depth with a trowl. Dig this hole out to 1-2? deeper than the pool.

Step 3
Line the excavation with 1-2? of sand, making sure it is level. This procedure ensures the pool will not be damaged by sharp objects.

Step 4
Set the pool into its final resting site and make it level. Now start to fill it with water. If the pool shifts while it settles; drain the pool and make it level (otherwise the pool will drain).

Step 5
As the pool is filling, enlarge the perimeter 6-8?, back-filling soil against the pool walls. Pack the soil against the pool wall to ensure the weight of the water rests on the soil surrounding the pool rather than the pool walls.

Step 6
Decide on the type of stone edging that will surround the pool. Flag stone makes the edge most natural. The edging material should overlap the liner edge by 1-2? to conceal it. To enhance your pool, prepare a border planting to surround the pond edge. A mixture of low creeping junipers and rockery plants is most attractive. Be sure the water is clean before added fish or plants. (Drain if necessary) Dirty water will damage the fish and contribute to making your pond have a foul odor. Let the water stand for a week or two before adding fish or plants. This lets the chlorine, fluoride etc. be released from the water and lets the water come to air temperature.