Garden pond kits can be used to create a water feature centrepiece for your garden. They can be used indoors and outdoors and can be placed on any surface, they are raised above the ground and eliminate the need for digging a hole. A raised garden pond is great for complementing a raised garden or for use as a stand alone water feature. Perfect for use as a fish and wildlife pond, water plant garden or as a timber water structure.
Our garden ponds are made from extra thick timber and are easy to assemble, they come with all required fittings and instructions. They all come with a pond liner included and all have a wide border edge around the top that is perfect for sitting on or putting pots and pond additions onto. With these kits you can have an instant garden pond in your garden, patio, or deck without the need for landscaping. They are great for complementing a raised vegetable garden or for use as a stand alone fish pond, water plant garden, wildlife sanctuary or as a timber water structure. Raised ponds are essentially a thick timber frame with a strong pond liner to prevent any leakage; they can be placed on any surface from concrete and tarmacadam to paving, earth, and landscaping stones or sunk down a bit. It is much safer for children and animals when a pond is raised above ground level as it eliminates the possibility of falling in.
Timber Used
We use a thicker timber board for our garden ponds than we use for our raised beds, this is to support the water weight and pressure against the sides. The timber used is extra thick 4.5cm (1.75in) timber boards that slot together with a tongue and groove system incorporating a 'Lock Cut' that make them very difficult to take apart. The boards have a stylish ridged face on the outside that ensure they will look great in any garden.
The border capping used for our ponds can be fixed on to the top of any raised vegetable bed or pond of the same size and acts as a shelf like finish that is ideal for sitting on or holding pots and containers. The capping timber is thick and strong and measures 5.5in wide x 1.75in.
Positioning Your Raised Pond
Raised garden ponds can be placed on any surface and, because they are raised, require no excavation with no excess soil. Choose the area for the pond before assembling as they can be quite heavy and difficult to move once assembled. Use a flat, stable surface anywhere in the garden or patio then assemble the kit on or as close to your chosen area as possible. The pond can then be moved into position before it is filled. Make sure the ground has no stones or sharp protrusions before attaching the pond liner and filling. If the surface is stony or you are unsure of it, lay down a protective layer of old carpet or at least 2 inches of builders sand in the base. A bed width of four feet is a good rule when it comes to raised ponds as this is the maximum reaching distance advisable for safe working and preventing unnecessary falls.
Pond liners are the base for any garden pond, they provide a water tight seal and make the pond last through years of enjoyment by also protecting the frame. The liners we use can easily stand up to any weather and water conditions that may occur and can be cut to size to fit any raised pond. Made from high quality PVC, our liners have excellent flexibility and high puncture resistance, and are equally suited to a fish pond, plant pond or ornamental water feature.
The raised pond kits we supply all have a wide bull nosed border edge around the top that hides the edge of the liner. The border comprises a timber frame that can be fixed on to the top of a conventional raised garden bed or pond to create a level surface perimeter measuring roughly 14cm wide (5.5in). This wide border edge can be fixed to any existing raised garden bed or pond of the same size. It is perfect for sitting on, arranging pots and containers, attaching a trellis or holding any other raised garden or pond accessories.
It may take some time for your outdoor pond to be noticed and used by wildlife, they may be wary of a new body of water at first but will warm to it eventually. If you are creating a pond for carp, koi or other fish you will need to wait for a couple of weeks after the pond is assembled and full of water before adding fish to make sure everything is running smoothly and allow the build of a small layer of healthy algae. While the beauty of raised ponds lies in the fact that no digging is required, you can also have a partially raised pond by setting it into the ground a few inches or a foot. This is particularly good for fish ponds during much colder weather as it helps to maintain water temperatures. The many species of fish suited to pond life in our climate are available from pet shops and aquarium suppliers but you will need a pond pump or filtration system to keep the water circulating throughout the winter. Some pond fish go into a low energy “stasis” during the colder months and will be fine as long as the water keeps moving.
Raised ponds are very easy to maintain and much admired, the extra height makes them more workable to everyone and makes it far less likely to fall in. Aquatic plants can really make a water feature, with a wide range of species to choose from. Typical plants for a garden pond include water iris, dwarf reed and other marginals for the edge of the pond, however everyone’s favourite has to be one of the many varieties of the water lily, they may look delicate but they are very tough. Water lilies are grown from tubers that can be planted under the water in pots. The stems grow upwards and produce large round leaves called lily pads with colourful blossoms that float on the surface of the water. Pond plants should be grown in aquatic compost, topped with grit. Always choose plants that are suited for the space you have available, noting that the required planting depth varies from species to species. Some maintenance of the plants is generally required and are often placed lower in the pond during winter to protect them from frost. With our garden ponds, no matter what size they are, you will be able to grow aquatic plants with a dramatic show of colour and foliage. This attractive feature will provide useful surface cover and shelter for aquatic wildlife and will inevitably encourage the frog population to grow in your garden, frogs feed on slugs and snails and are an effective control measure for these pests.
Garden Ponds
Garden ponds can be made from timber, bricks, blocks, stone, glass, and any other material capable of containing a large volume of water. Wooden ponds constructed using interlocking boards or upcycled railway sleepers have become the preferred pond for an outdoor feature.
If you have a wildlife area or are just looking to attract more animals, birds, and insects to your garden then a garden pond makes an ideal water source. Any outdoor pond will attract insects within a few hours of being operational. Animals and birds however will need to become accustomed to it, and will be wary of it at first. Sunken ponds work better for wildlife as they are easier to access and have varying depths.
If you do use a raised pond make sure it either has a sloped side or some way for animals to climb out if they fall in. If you are using a garden pond for fish and/or aquatic plants then you will have to take measures to prevent the water from stagnating.
Aeration is essential in a garden pond in order to avoid stagnation. A good pump will both add extra oxygen and circulate the water to prevent it from settling. Filters are usually added to pond pumps to remove particles of dirt as well as aquatic plant and fish waste. Both of these together are vital for sustaining fish and plant life in a marine environment.
Unless you have a stream entering and exiting your pond to keep the water oxygenated and clear you will need a pond pump and filtration system. It is possible to keep water clean using a mix of aquatic plants to filter and clean the water but this balance can be difficult to achieve so most water gardeners will opt for a pump and filter. The units vary from simple 'all in one' designs for smaller ponds to separate components used in larger pond installations; before deciding which system you need it is worth looking at what each component does.
The pond pump is responsible for circulating the water in the pond and passing it through filter for cleaning. If you have fish in a raised garden pond a pump is essential of the water will become toxic due to the waste produced by the fish. The pond pump sucks water through a basic filter screen and either passes it to the filter via piping or in the case of an 'all in one design' forces the water through a filter in the pump housing.
The pond filter is actually a biological rather than mechanical process and is designed to encourage beneficial bacteria which process the waste in the pond water. Typically the filter units contain a mix of media from sponge layers to short plastic tubes (a bit like plastic pasta) that increase the surface area inside the filter and provide a home for the beneficial bacteria.
The bacteria feed on the waste produced by the fish and any algae which are trapped in the filter unit. In order for the bacteria to thrive they need a steady flow of oxygenated water (provided by the pump) and food (provided by the fish and/or algae in the water).
Microscopic algae particles can pass through the filter system and will re-circulate through the pond which will result in green tinged water. The UV filter contains an ultra violet light which causes these single cell algae to clump together making them large enough to be trapped in the main filter unit. The result is crystal clear pond water.
Our premium range of garden ponds are extremely well built and designed to last. They utilise a double tongue and groove system that increases the sturdiness of the pond when filled with water and allows it to withstand the pressure longer. The complex overlapping, interlocking corner joints are produced with precision accuracy for a secure fit, maintaining structural integrity on all four corners of the pond.