This simple pond makes a great backyard feature and a potential home for fish and frogs.
The project
I decided to put a small pond in the backyard for something to do while stuck at home a lot. I thought I could eventually put some fish in it and maybe attract some frogs.
I started by marking out a 1.8m x 1.8m square and removing the turf.
I dug it out to a depth of a little over a metre at one end and a little under a metre at the other. I also made a shelf on one side of the hole that will only be 100mm under water so I can put some aquatic plants there.
I tried to keep the corners a bit rounded to keep the fish happier when they circle the pond perimeter and so they don't bang their heads on square corners.
It begins: pond liner installed and two outlets from the Spearpoint pump running into it. The bore water is going to be a little smelly.
My wife grabbed a couple of aquatic plants from Bunnings.
I looked into requirements for fencing – as it's a fish pond there's no fence required where I am. You always have to check with the council.
I added a couple of cheap solar-powered lights, and also added some plants that people were throwing away on Facebook Marketplace and had left on the side of the road. I also found a few rocks laying around as a temporary measure to keep the pond liner from falling into the pond.
It's a "slow burner" job, so from here things will definitely slow down a lot. I'll have to save for a small deck, a water feature of some kind and some fish.
How to install a garden pond
Experienced Bunnings Workshop contributor Adam Woodhams put together this handy step-by-step guide to installing a pre-formed garden pond.
More project inspiration for your home
Adam also created a video guide to creating a raised pond with built-in seating, and a step-by-step guide to creating a pond in a pot.
Bunnings Workshop member mich1972 showed how to make a fish-filled frog pond from an old bathtub.
There are also plenty of great ideas in our Top 10 most popular outdoor projects and Top 10 most popular garden makeovers.
Let us know if you need a hand with your project – we're here to help.
