 |
|
 |
Intro: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Dig the pond when the ground is fairly dry; wet earth is difficult to work with. Remember that some dirt will fall inward as you dig. To get at least 3 feet (91 centimeters) down, you may have to actually dig deeper to account for the loosened dirt. Lay padding along the tiers if you plan to put large rocks (more than 10 pounds, or 4.5 kilograms) there. |
|
Time to get dirty. From the edge of the original outline, dig down at a slightly sloped angle (about 15 degrees) either to the shoreline depth, or to the depth of your first tier. When you reach the depth of the first tier, clear out all the dirt--the tier should be fairly level all around. Mark the tier's inner edge with another spray painted or staked-and-strung outline, then dig to the next tier or the floor, again at a slight angle. As you dig out the center of the pond, keep its floor roughly level.
Note: Clear out any roots or rocks as you work. Objects protruding into the hole can tear the pond's liner, which can lead to water drainage and contamination. If you're having a hard time removing a particular object, you can pad the area to create a buffer between the ground and the liner. Outdoor aquatic supply stores sell polyethylene padding material, but dampened newspapers, old pieces of carpet or carpet padding, or a layer of wet sand work just as well. Finally, if you're wondering what to do with the big pile of dirt you've just created, leave it for now. You may need to use some of it to build up certain areas of the pond.
|
|
Dig the pond
