Building a swimming pond in your backyard may sound like too much work. However, the truth is that it really isn’t. It does, however, take a lot of time and effort to set up. Also, there are several things you need to consider if you want to create a truly beautiful natural pond. Here are some things you should think about.
First of all, the whole idea of having a “swimming pond” in your garden may be quite appealing. After all, swimming pools are so incredibly popular nowadays that many people dream of having one in their own backyard. A swimming pond, however, won’t provide you with as many benefits. Swimming pools add to the beauty of your garden, but they also require a lot of maintenance. On the other hand, a garden pond will keep its value, allow for good wildlife and water activities, and make for a nice place to swim when the weather is not too cold.
You may also have issues with safety. While pools are a good idea because they keep mold at bay and provide an inexpensive way to cool off in the spring, they are far from ideal. In the summer months, for example, they can become completely saturated with bacteria, algae, and other forms of pollutants that could prove harmful to both your pets and the environment. Landscaping ponds, on the other hand, are relatively safe.
When it comes to aesthetics though, you might have some problems. Building ponds in your yard provides an excellent way to add some color and interest to your landscape. Ponds are also generally designed to be fairly low maintenance. However, you do have to take into consideration how the structure and location will affect the types of algae that live in your pond. Different types of water – especially spring and fall water – contain different kinds of bacteria, and ponds built near such bodies of water are typically more susceptible to problems than those that are located further away from the source.
As a result, it is important to make sure that you build your pond so it will support a wide variety of plants. You want to ensure that the plants will not drown when the water temperature dips below freezing. You also want to make sure that the plants will not die due to high water temperatures. A good rule of thumb is to select plants that will not grow for two or three weeks during the coldest months.
If you don’t have any aquatic plants in your garden, there are still many options available for landscaping a pond around your pool or lake. Many ponds contain waterfalls, which can create a lovely, natural waterfall effect while creating shade for your plants. Some lakes contain water fountains that can also be used to add to the beauty of your garden pond.
When landscaping around a pond, you need to pay particular attention to the wildlife that will be using your pond. Since most pond owners and operators are careful about adding livestock to their ponds, few realize that there is another group that can be problematic. While most fish are quite benign, some are naturally aggressive. Koi, for example, can be very dangerous to small animals like children. Therefore, it is best to refrain from introducing large numbers of non-native fish to your pool or lake.
Building and maintaining natural ponds and pools requires careful planning and ongoing attention to detail. It can be rewarding, however, to landscape your ponds with beautiful plants and native wildlife. The compliments you will get from local wildlife will make it well worth your time and effort.