Those looking to really dress up their large yard may want to consider installation of landscaping ponds, many of which can be installed as a do-it-yourself project. Whether a small pond of six-feet square to large landscaping ponds as big as 20 by 25 feet, there are kits that include everything needed to turn a section of the yard into a fascinating focus of attention. Everything that is except the labor of installing the kit, and maybe some gravel to buy locally, but once size is determined the yard work can begin to the planned installation.

Turning a hill behind or beside the house into a waterfall flowing into a fish-filled pond can be an exciting project in which to get the entire family involved. Although for the digging of the hole in which to place the landscaping pond’s liner most of the working group disappears, marking the area and depths to be excavated may require two or more people.

However, once the liner is in place, covering it with stones and rocks can be fun by arranging them in specific fashion. Washing the rocks before placement can help reduce the amount of dirt in landscaping ponds the first time it is filled, but expect the water to get dirty.

Plan To Keep Hills In Place

If the hill for waterfalls had to be built from dirt excavated from the pond area, building a retaining wall from natural stones or larger rocks may help prevent erosion and help add a more natural appearance to landscaping ponds. Once the pond has been filled with water, perimeter landscape can be added without fear of getting the water dirty as it will most likely already be fairly murky. May as well get all the dirty work done at one time.

It can take up to two weeks before the water clears completely, and for the sake of any aquatic life planned to inhabit landscaping ponds they should not be added until the water has begun to establish its own ecosystem.

Algae will begin to grow on the rocks when that happens and fish can be added. However with the limited size of the new system, starting with a few fish will give them better survival odds. Depending on the size of landscaping ponds being installed, the number of fish will vary. Talking to a local fish expert can provide valuable information about how many and what type of fish are the most likely to survive in your private lake.