Siting the Preformed Pond and Making the First Dig

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Decisions you have to make before starting to dig ...

1) Siting and size and shape.

2) Is the pond to be set in the ground, half in the ground or what?

3) Is the site level? If not is the pond to be rising out of the ground or is the other end to be set in the ground?

4) If the site is level, decide on the pond edging, e.g. rock edge, crazy paving, formal paving or a mixture?

5) If the pond is set in a lawn, the paving needs to be set below or flush with the grass. Use a sample piece of paving to gauge the depth of the pond edge.

6) What are you going to do with the excavated soil, make a rockery?

Materials check list

1) Sand for backfill support for the pond.

2) Sand for cement mortar.

3) Cement and lime if available.

4) Rock or paving or both.

5) If you are paving- chippings to dust for footings.

Tools check list

Spade, mattock for heavy soils, shovel, spirit level (longer the better), trowel, hose, barrow, lump hammer - for paving.

Method

1) Having decided site and position, mark out shape of pond in situ using a spirit level and trowel or lime or sand or marker.

2) Remove turf inside the marked area and put aside.

3) Excavate the soil in the shape down to the same depth as the marginal shelf, which is generally about 9 inches.

4) Save the topsoil. Dont bury it under the subsoil.