How to dig a pond on your land?

How to dig a pond on your land? How to make a pond hole on your land? We'll explaine everything here :-) !

A real pond in the garden is a decoration and a favorite place. Such a structure will beautify the landscape of the garden area, bring the coolness that is so often lacking in regions with high temperatures, and will become a place for recreation and walking.

However, it is not enough to dig a pit and fill it with water, since the construction of the pond remains a rather complex subject. In this article we will discuss how to dig a pond, put it into service and see the parameters to consider to achieve it properly.

Choose the land of the pond

Digging a pond on land is a simple operation, but it requires a lot of preparation than you might imagine. You need to find a suitable and suitable location as well as consider a whole host of site-specific requirements.

1. Topography

The first thing to consider is the topography. This sometimes indicates the right place to build. Low lying areas where the water will flow by gravity will be suitable for the pond.

This applies in situations where the waterproof coating of the walls of the basin will not be carried out. The natural unevenness of the terrain can be used to mimic rapids and create an artificial stream with the pond.

2. Soil composition

In addition, the composition of the soil must be taken into consideration. This is essential in determining the depth of the pond. If the soil is clayey, the bottom of such a pond can be left uninsulated because water will not be able to enter it.

On the other hand, if the bottom is sandy and the level of the water table is not accessible, the pond will be drained definitively.

3. Sun exposure

The indoor pool of a house does not contain much water, so it will heat up quickly in the sun. Harmful micro-organisms and algae multiply naturally in water. This will contaminate the pond and cause it to lose its own value.

You should therefore choose a place where the surface of the water will not be exposed to direct sunlight for more than 6-7 hours a day. Observe the area during the day and see how the light flow changes.

4. The trees and the pond

Avoid placing a garden pond near tall trees, especially fruit trees, as falling organic matter will decompose, which also leads to unpleasant odors and rapid contamination. Some tree species can compromise sealing with their roots (eg walnut trees).

The solution is to lay a layer of geotextile under the waterproofing. On the other hand, a metal or stone partition can be dug if the vicinity of a tree cannot be avoided.

5. Proximity to home

Do not place the basin near the house due to high humidity. Remember that mosquitoes breed in water. To avoid being bothered by these insects, care should be taken to keep fish in the pond to reduce the insect population.

6. Aesthetics and location

For purely aesthetic reasons, you should place the basin in such a way that it is visible from the relaxation area of ​​the property.

The right way to dig a pond on land

The dimensions of the pond

To choose the size of the pond, you must take into account the size of the land, your own needs, the intended use and the budget you have allocated for the construction. There are no specific regulations on this subject, but developers are recommended not to exceed an area of ​​3% of the size of the entire area.

Digging an excavation

After all the parameters have been calculated, the pond can be built. Proceed as follows:

We start by marking the outline of the future excavation. There are several ways to do this. If the pond is rectangular, a stake will be driven into the corners and a rope will be stretched between them. For irregular shapes, use sand scattered around the edges or spray paint.

Other methods consist of placing ropes, stones or pipes between the stakes which are often driven in.

If the approximate volume of the excavation needs to be calculated, the truncated cone volume formula is used. This can be done using an online calculator, which can be easily found on the Internet. The radius of the circle and the height are grabbed from the input data.

The boundaries between the area near the edge and the shallow waters are then marked using the same techniques. The operators rearm the shovels and continue to dig. The same pattern is used to determine the position of deeper zones.

If the pond is to have a watercourse, it is necessary to form its channel immediately.

Once the pit is ready, we move on to the next step.

⭐ You might also be interested: why use oyster shells in a pond or basin ?

Types of waterproofing for a pond

Geological conditions for the formation of a natural pond are rare. In order to prevent water from seeping into the ground, you must ensure that there is sufficient waterproofing.

Before polymeric materials came into use, a clay dam was used to retain water in the basin tank. Clay is practically impermeable to water. These solutions are mainly used in decorative basins.

The method is simple: apply three layers of clay to the sides and bottom of the excavation, generally with a minimum thickness of 15 cm. However, this method also presents its own difficulties. Before applying the first layer, the bottom of the pit is sprinkled with soot. This is to quickly and effectively repel earthworms.

The clay should be greasy, with as little sand as possible, otherwise it will crack after a few years and water will start to seep out of the cracks.

The material is mixed with water and infused for a day. It must be well kneaded, which in the old days was done barefoot. Care must therefore be taken that no sharp objects fall into it, on which you could injure yourself.

Additional layers of clay are applied only when the previous ones have completely dried. River sand is poured on top of the clay stone, followed by large stones, then small stones.

It turns out that this technology requires a lot of time and work. With modern materials, the process is much faster, even when using concrete.