Update!!!

The woman who stole my website copy has removed it. In fact, she has removed the entire website. (Thanks again, Ruth.)  Why on earth is my copy so valuable?  It's one of dozens and dozens of sets of directions about how to build a pond that you can find online.  

Mine is different because it shows how to build your pond up above the surround grade about 4". Now that's not difficult enough to steal an entire 2000 or so words about designing and building a pond.  In fact, it's pretty easy.

Of course, it's one of the most important things to do when building a pond because that 4" keeps run off out of your pond. That's the chemicals from your roof, your lawn, the neighboring golf course, the nearby fields or streets that can foul your pond and kill your plants and fish.

It also keeps the liner where it belongs--on the bottom of the pond instead of floating up during heavy rains. (Not that we have many of those anymore.)  But if we do, your pond water will stay put.

Oh, and building it up a bit looks fantastic as well.

Is that information really worth stealing when it's available for free on my website?

It's also in my new book, A Practical Guide to Building and Maintaining your Pond. Buy it here.

See it on my website as well.   pondlady.com

Tidbits from my website, pondlady.com

I have decided to feature a post from my website at http://www.pondlady.com today.  

Most of you who read this blog have a pond, but don't necessarily read the pond info on my website.  The folks who interact at pondlady.com are from all over, usually have ponds or want one and freely share what they have learned or ask what they want to know.  It's a great way to learn how to solve a pond problem, to share photos of your masterpiece or to tell us how you overcame your pond problem.  

The following post showed up this morning, complete with photos of the beautiful, but hungry pond visitor.

From the poster:

I'm in Tennessee this week visiting my brother. While I've been gone, the pump in the pond went bad and my wife had to install my smaller backup. After having just talked about not having predators visit my pond, my wife sent these pictures of a visitor that showed up today. This is a Little Green Heron, about 17 inches tall, so it can't wade in my pond to get fish. It can, however, dive into deep water in an attempt to get fish, but must do so from a high perch and it is often not successful. I could use some culling of the fish from the pond, but I don't want this guy getting used to coming to my yard for his meals. I wonder what green heron tastes like?

And my answer:

He is beautiful! Instead of saying 'Law of the jungle', maybe, we need to start saying 'Law of the pond.'

There's an ugly thing called 'gator guard'. It works. I think Bird X makes it. Here it is

http://www.bird-x.com/gator-guard-products-49.php?page_id=61

Wow, it has gotten expensive in the past 2 or 3 years. Ouch! But it does work here in Louisiana. Maybe that's cuz we have gators.

Putting ceramic roof tiles in the bottom of the pond so the fish can hide under them can work. I have even put a couple thick rocks with a flat rock on top to make a little bridge in the bottom of the pond so the fish can hide beneath it.

Did you know I wrote a book about ponds?

You can buy my Pond how-to book here

It is consistently in the top ten best sellers in Landscaping. 

It's on sale now for a buck.  Get it before the price goes back up.

And for pond info visit us at pondlady.com  You will find knowledgeable folks there who are glad to answer your questions.

Thank you for stopping by this morning.

How to build a pond

Is it possible to build a small pond in your back yard without professional stuff?

I'm not sure how, but I wanted to build a small pond that would mostly just contain plant-life and be a place for my dogs to play. It wouldn't be large at all, so I was wondering if it would be possible to build kind of a make-shift pond. Like with cement between the dirt and the water, or a tarp buried into the ground. I know that probably sounds silly. But I just want something small that the dogs can play in. Was just wondering if anyone had any ideas or input on the subject.

• 
  
  
  It's easy to build a pond in your yard. Here's how, with photos.
• http://www.pondlady.com/resource/pondbui…
• But as far as something for the dogs to play in, I would buy a kiddie pond from a big box store. You can easily hose it out and the dogs will have a great time.

My pond has air under it

When the water table rises and pond liners are floating up to the top of the pond, pushing the water out, you think that is air under your liner. Nope, it's water. 
If your pond was built 3" or 4" above grade, the weight of the water in the pond would keep the liner from bubbling up.

Nothing whatsover will keep that liner in place, so don't try putting rocks in the pond. It won't work. 
Here's what to do: Try to raise the edges. Build a levee around the pond and hope that you left enough liner to cover it. You can use most anything to build that levee.

I always use rocks on top of the edge of the liner, curl the liner up and over that course of rocks and then cover the whole sandwich with another course of rocks. You can see the 'how to' with photos at
How to build a pond

For all pond articles catalogued, see Backyard Ponds with the Pondlady

Above Ground Ponds

Questions I have received:

I have a backyard that is concreted over entirely. But I would like to build an above ground pond with a waterfall, but unfortunately, I have no idea how to do this. Mainly, I'm having some problems trying to figure out the plumbing and where filters and pumps should go. Do
you have any plans for above ground ponds that I could use for educational purposes? If not, do you have any advice that you could give a newcomer to pond building?



Pondlady sez: I have built many ponds above ground and have had no problems at all. The picture above is build in a large patio surrounded by condos. I used cinder blocks for the sides. Or you can build a box out of landscape timbers or 2 x 12's and then line that. Top it off with a 1 x 4 and put a waterfall in the corner. If you must have a filter, use a submersible one.

Layer rocks up the sides of the cinder blocks or put plants in containers to hide the cinderblocks.
I prefer the rocks layered to hide the cinderblocks because it gives pockets where you can tuck in plants. Those plants must have water daily, so the maintenance needs are more, but the results are worth it.