Garden ponds have become a popular home improvement trend. For most homeowners, installing a pond or water garden is a do-it-yourself job that can be completed within a week-end, but this does depend on the complexity of the design, size and additional features.

Knowing what design of garden pond to create can seem a little bit daunting at first. There are a number of questions that should considered before beginning the project such as: How big should the pond be? Should it be a garden pond, a container pond, a koi pond or a wildlife pond? What features do we want added? What budget is available for the project? Garden ponds are considered one of the simpler things to install within a landscape and one of the most rewarding. By answering the following questions about your aspirations for a pond, you will be well on your way to enjoying your outdoor achievement!

The first, and most important, question to ask is “What is the purpose of this garden pond?” Every pond must be there for a reason, such as:
•    For the ambience that a garden pond can create, with its bubbling fountains and gentle splashing of cascading water,
•    To be able to watch birds and other wildlife drink from your garden pond,
•    Watch fish swimming around the base of the lily pads.

The second question is “What type of pond will fill this need?” There are 3 main types of ponds to choose from:
•    A water garden, which is the simplest to create. The size can vary from fairly small to as large as the space you have available. The water quality isn’t as much a concern because this type of pond is mainly used for growing aquatic plants. The basic equipment needed to create a water garden is a pond liner, a pond pump and a small filter. Features like waterfalls or fountains with proper lighting can also be added.
•    A Koi Pond, which are generally much larger than a water garden simply because Koi fish tend to grow quite big. This type of pond requires a good filtration system. While looks aren’t a major element many Koi ponds may be constructed to blend in with their natural surroundings – typically using pond liner material and a formal brick edging. They have to be constructed keeping in mind the various needs of the Koi fish and generally require a lot of maintenance.
•    Wildlife ponds, which constructed for keeping and attracting aquatic wildlife like turtles, fishes, frogs, tadpoles, dragonfli