Water Features

How to Create a Wildlife Pond

A beautiful wildlife pond will attract a whole host of beneficial animals, birds and insects. Make one with sloping sides, to allow easy access for creatures to come and go, and leafy edges that offer habitat and cover.

Excerpted from How to Grow Practically Everything
Filed under: Ponds, How To, Foliage Plants

Trim to Fit

As you fill the pond, move around so that the liner is pulled evenly into the hole. When the pond is full, trim the liner with a sharp knife, leaving up to 18 inches excess around the edges.

Edge With Turf or Stones

You can lay sod up to the edges, leaving 10 inches of excess liner and butting the sod pieces up to it. Or add stones by mortaring them onto the liner, making sure no cement falls in the water in the process.

Place the Stones

When positioning the stones, make sure that they don't overhang the edge by more than 2 inches. This will prevent them from tipping up and both you and the stones falling into the water when you walk on the edge.