Ponds

You make a small pond by digging a hole in the ground yourself. Simon recommends creating depth zones for the various pond plants before lining the pond with pond liner. Then it's time for a bottom of pond substrate and decorating it with your chosen pond plants. See all of Simon's tips for creating a small pond in the garden.

A natural pond is also called a biological plant pond. It is constructed from depth zones for the various pond plants and is lined with pond liner. You put lots of pond plants in it, on the bottom comes a layer of pond substrate and you add pond bacteria. In this way, the pond itself can maintain a biological balance. In this blog you can read all about making this pond.

1. Terrace pond, balcony pond or mini pond: three names for the same idea: often a large barrel or tub filled with pond plants and water, which fits perfectly on a small terrace or balcony.
2. Biological plant pond: this type of pond is for lovers of nature who also like to encourage biodiversity. There is no use of a pump or filter and the plant pond is designed to keep itself in biological balance. This pond has an enormous attraction to insects and (water) animals.
3. Swim pond: a very popular pond that you see popping up more and more in backyards. It is not a pool, but a pond with a screened plant filter and a swimming area. The plant filter keeps the water balanced and clear.
4. Koi pond: not just a pond with fish, but with real eye-catchers: colorful koi fish. This hobby, which has blown over from Japan, requires the necessary prior knowledge before you decide to build a koi pond.
5. Natural pond: the name says it all; in a natural pond nature is allowed to take its course. There is no pond liner on the bottom and the water level is created thanks to a natural water source in the vicinity of the pond. Obviously there is no pump or filter, but this pond is full of all kinds of pond plants.
6. Sleek pond or mirror pond: this pond is often rectangular in design and made of concrete or stone. The water surface is tight and smooth so that the surroundings are reflected in it. A mirror pond is excellent for placing pond plants without losing the reflection.
7. Small pond: it is not so much a pond type, but one worth mentioning in this list. A pond is small once it holds no more than 10,000 gallons of water. The design often resembles what an organic plant pond looks like: nice and lots of aquatic plants that attract plenty of animal life.

The shape of your pond is a free choice and will be different for everyone. There are a number of things to consider when choosing pond shape. See how to design your own pond and think about these questions in advance:

• What is the function of the pond? Do you want to attract insects and amphibians, do you wish for a bunch of beautiful fish to enjoy, or does a sleek pond fit well in your fashionable garden?
• What do you like? Some like lush vegetation and a pond that blends into its natural surroundings, while others prefer a reflective water surface with clean edges.
• How much space do you have available? An important point that also determines the possibilities of the pond type and shape. Good to know: an organic shape pond is easy to dig out yourself, but for a pond with concrete walls (like a mirror pond) you will need to get help.

A natural or plant pond with pond liner should be at least -80 cm deep. Simon often recommends making a pond -100 cm deep, so that the underwater life and also pond plants have more space. This also applies to a natural small pond. The width should be at least 120 cm.

No, a pond that consists of a hole in the ground lined with pond liner does not require a permit. Such an ornamental pond is not considered a structure and therefore does not require a permit. Of course, the pond must be built on your own property - your own yard - near a home. Depending on how big you make the pond or what construction technique you use, an environmental permit may be required. Think of excavators or other machinery that can obstruct the public space near the house during construction. Check with your municipality for this.

A pond can be low maintenance. If you want such a pond, Simon recommends creating a biological planted pond where the pond plants together with bacteria manage to keep the water clear. A pump or filter is not even necessary in this type of pond. Do you have fish in the pond, is there a tree with falling leaves next to your pond or are there too few pond plants in it, then these are all factors that affect the level of maintenance of the water feature. Read all about the maintenance of your pond.

If you're talking about a small pond in the garden, Simon recommends making it at least -80 cm, but preferably -100 cm deep. This way you'll offer pond plants and pond animals like frogs and salamanders enough room to grow and live well. In addition, a width of 120 cm or more is a good starting point. The exception to this is of course the mini pond, where you can place the container with water on the balcony or terrace.

Pond liners come in all shapes, sizes and materials. And of course the price varies. A small pond of 150 liters you have for about € 50, one of 200 liters for about € 140. If you go for a somewhat larger pond of 500 + liters, you pay a price of around € 400. For ponds between 1000 and 2000 liters you pay about € 400 to € 900. Even larger ones with more liters often cost more than € 1000 or even thousands of euros.

For a pond in the garden, it is best to choose a spot that catches four to six hours of sunlight a day so that all the pond plants can grow nicely. It is also advisable not to place a pond next to or near a deciduous tree or bush, as you will then find it full of leaves every autumn. Read more tips for building a pond in Simon's step-by-step plan.

A natural pond is often large and is constructed without a liner on the bottom. It uses a natural water source in the vicinity. See how the construction of a natural pond works. Do you want a planted pond in which you place a lot of pond plants and attract animals, but where there is pond liner on the bottom? Then we are talking about a biological plant pond. Read more about this pond type.