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  you are in: JUST ADD WATER > CREATING YOUR POND > DIGGING



Just Add Water

Creating your pond: digging

Once you have decided on the location and shape of your pond, get digging!  The soil excavated from the pond area can be used to form an embankment nearby - see Enhancing your pond.

Depth 
A pond should ideally have a section at least 60cm deep to protect certain animals (like frogs) from weather extremes, particularly in winter.  

Shelved areas
Shallow, shelved areas are good for basking invertebrates and tadpoles, and can be the most diverse and abundant area of a pond.

Levelling off your pond
When digging, ensure the edges of your pond are level. Use a spirit level, a flat length of wood or stringed pegs to level your pond.

Before laying your liner! 
Ensure you remove any sharp stones or pebbles. Add a layer of geotextile material or some old carpet between the soil and the new liner to lessen the likelihood of punctures.

Liner edges
When tackling the edges of your pond, dig a small trench around the pond into which the liner can sit firmly. Use small rocks to hold the liner in place. You can replant some lawn cuttings from your earlier digging on top of the liner trench, this will hide the liner edges.