Basics to start a formal pond

[Dave]

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Make a formal pond if you like symmetry. Is your existing garden formal with clipped topiaries, straight walkways and square or circular patios? If so, you probably would like a formal pond best.

Decide your style if your garden barely started because you have just moved into a new house. Sometimes hiring a landscape expert is a good idea so you have a long term plan to work from as you develop your garden.

 
Choose the Location

Decide where your pond would be best installed. Try to place it where you can see it from the place you do your living in your house. Ponds are expensive and are usually the focal point of a garden. They have water that moves, fish to watch, water lilies that smell great. Don't put your pond back behind the garage just because you have space to fill there.

Pick out a sunny spot. Your pond can be in the shade under trees, but you will do more maintenance removing leaves. Water lilies want to have at least 5 hours of sun daily, so if you want water lilies, you must have a pond in the sun.

Dig your pond where you will not damage tree roots or underground wires. Know where your pipes and wires are.

Install your pond where you can hear it. It might be next to a bedroom window so you can hear it at night. Or near an outdoor patio where you can see and hear it.

Bring your pond in close to your house. Do not build it against your house because waterfalls look funny coming out of house siding. Always leave enough room to put plant material between the house and the pond. Keep plant material away from the house so termites can't use it as a means of getting to the wood of your house and causing much damage.