How do I put water in my landscape?

        This is arguably the most important step in creating a water feature in your landscape.  With out careful consideration
        of such things as type of pond, site to place it, depth, drainage, and maintenance things could go drastically wrong.

        Choosing a site
        Let's begin by thinking where you should place your water garden.  The most important thing to remember is not to
        place your pond in the lowest area of  your yard.  Runoff from chemicals and fertilizers used in lawn and garden
        maintenance can pollute your pond.

        Sunlight is also another important consideration.  Most water plants need 5-8 hours of full sunlight.  If you plan to use a
        variety of plants keep this in mind.  On the other hand, if your water feature is smaller than 100 gallons it will do better
        with only afternoon sun.

        Trees can be a pain when installation is to occur.  Firstly, trees mean roots.  This means that you will have to dig
        through them.  Those that you don't destroy in the process may come back and damage your liner in the future.  The
        most important reason is evident in the fall.  The seemingly endless amount of leaves that drop all must be cleaned
        up.  If they are left over winter the decaying process will release toxins that may kill plants and fish.  The water in
        the spring will  look brown, and there also will be a major algae problem.

        Depth
        Several factors come into play when choosing a depth.  Generally two feet is considered the minimum.  If you create a
        water garden less than this algae can be a major problem.  If you plan to keep fish in the pond over winter, a slightly
        deeper pond may be necessary depending on your climate.  It is also a good idea to check locally with insurance
        companies to see if there is a depth over which you need a fence.  The following is a good general layout, when installing
        a liner garden.
                                            

        Maintenance
        Ideally you want your water garden to be a self-contained eco-system.  However, there will still be routine maintenance
        that should be performed at various times of the year.  Clean up in the spring, periodic removal of debris, adding water,
        plant care, and leaf removal in the fall should all be included in your maintenance schedule.