Pond Construction

When designing a pond, it is critical to follow these basic requirements to help eliminate future problems with your pond.

First and foremost, the deeper the pond, the better off you are.  Deeper ponds are often easier to keep algae and weed free because these organisms grow at the bottom of the pond and require significant amounts of light in order to thrive.  Deeper water limits the amount of available sunlight.  So, dig your pond deep!  I would personally recommend that the majority of the pond should be at 15 to 20 feet deep for best results.

Another construction strategy is to make sure your safety shelves along the shores of the pond are small and that the shelf drops off rapidly.  A steeper grade allows the pond to get to depth quickly, again limiting growing conditions for algae and weeds.  If you do have weed and algae growth you can use Sanco's herbicides or algaecides to help control problem growth on the edges of your pond.

Keeping trees back and away from ponds is a good idea.  Trees drop a lot of leaves and these have a tendency to build up as muck at the bottom of the pond over time.  If trees need to be near the pond, choose evergreens, as their leaf debris is substantially lower than deciduous trees. 

Install rip rap around the shoreline.  If you don’t like stone, then allow natural plants such as arrowhead plants, pickerel weed or cattails to form an erosion barrier for the shoreline.  Without a perimeter barrier, your pond will eat away at the shoreline, eventually creating a shelf that allows algae and weeds a foothold in your pond. 

Place debris piles throughout the pond.  Debris piles should be constructed of broken clay tiles, large tree trunks, pvc pipes, etc.  These allow hiding areas for small fish and encourage breeding of game fish.

Remember, these ideas are the key to constructing a pond that will deliver years of enjoyment with little hassle.  For more pond maintenance tips contact the staff at Sanco.