Why create a pond in your garden? 7 good reasons and the questions to ask yourself

Creating a garden pond is a project that appeals to many people in Belgium and France alike. Few features transform a garden as much as water, both for you and for wildlife. Here is what a pond brings, and the questions to settle before you start.

7 good reasons to create a pond

1. Biodiversity. Dragonflies, frogs, newts, birds coming to drink: a pond attracts wildlife within a few weeks, even in a small garden.
2. Coolness. A body of water cools the air around it during hot summers.
3. Relaxation. The sound of a waterfall masks street noise and invites you to sit down.
4. Fish. Goldfish or koi quickly become tame and come to feed from your hand.
5. Plants. Water lilies, irises, marginal plants: a whole range you cannot grow anywhere else in the garden.
6. A garden ally. Frogs and toads eat slugs and insects.
7. Property value. A well-integrated pond enhances the garden and makes it more attractive.

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To put it into practice, read How to create an artificial pond?.

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Choosing the right location

• 5 to 6 hours of sun a day: enough for the plants, not too much, to limit algae.
• Away from large trees: fallen leaves and roots cause problems.
• Visible from the house: you will enjoy it all year round.
• An accessible power socket if you plan a pump and filter.
• Check for buried cables and pipes before digging.

Size and depth

The larger a pond, the more stable its balance. A small volume warms up quickly and turns green easily. With fish, aim for at least 80 cm of depth in part of the pond so they can overwinter below the frost line; for koi, 1.20 m or more. Plan planting shelves at 20 to 40 cm deep.

Preformed or liner?

A preformed pond is quick to install but limited in size and shape. EPDM liner allows any shape and any volume, and lasts for several decades. In both cases, a geotextile underlay beneath the liner protects it from stones and roots.

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To compare the two solutions, see Liner or polyester for my garden pond?.

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Filtration and plants: the two pillars

A wildlife pond without fish can do without a pump if it is well planted. As soon as there are fish, filtration with a UV lamp is necessary to keep the water clear. In every case, plant generously: plants consume the nutrients that algae feed on.

Which type of pond matches what you want?

The reasons that draw you decide the project. If you want to see wildlife return, a shallow, well-planted wildlife pond without fish is enough, and it needs little equipment. If you want to feed fish, you need to think about filtration from day one. If koi are your dream, it is a different project altogether: volume, depth and filtration increase considerably. Finally, a natural swimming pond requires a proper study.

Decide before you dig: turning a wildlife pond into a koi pond often means starting over. Our article Building a pond you won't regret in 3 years covers the most common mistakes, and our guide to the pond without a pump will help if simplicity appeals to you.

What a pond needs through the seasons

A pond is not maintenance-free, but it follows a simple rhythm. Better to know it before you get started:

• In spring: clean the filter, test the water, trim the plants, restart the pump and resume feeding.
• In summer: top up the water level, remove blanketweed, monitor oxygen during heatwaves.
• In autumn: remove leaves, add a net if trees are nearby, cut back plants before they rot.
• In winter: no feeding below a certain temperature, keep a gas exchange opening in freezing weather.

For a fish pond, add regular filter checks during the season. A wildlife pond, by contrast, mostly needs just one session in autumn.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need permission to create a pond?

For a garden pond of ordinary size, generally not. Rules vary by municipality and size: check with your local council for a large body of water or a natural pool.

Does a pond attract mosquitoes?

Very few, if the water circulates or if there are fish and dragonfly larvae, which eat mosquito larvae.

Is it dangerous with young children?

A body of water is never risk-free. A safety grid below the surface, a fence or gently sloping banks reduce the danger.

In summary

• Biodiversity, coolness, relaxation, fish and plants.
• A sunny spot, but not in full sun all day, away from trees.
• At least 80 cm deep with fish.
• Filtration with UV as soon as there are fish.

Last updated: 28 September 2026.