Building Lakes And Ponds

Water of course, is the source of all the planets life. A man can live for thirty days without food but no more than three days without a drink of water. The natural element of water also is soothing, beautiful and is a gathering place for all kinds of wonderful wildlife.

A water feature on your property can also greatly enhance its value and desirability.

We all have different reasons for wanting a little more water in our lives and on our properties. Men have been making lakes and ponds for lots of years to mimic ones made by natural forces.

Geologists argue whether even those lakes and ponds we consider natural are indeed natural or just accidental water containers as all landlocked water tries its best to connect with the sea. Man made lakes and ponds should attempt to fit into the environment just as readily as natural ones.

DIY Build?

Unless you have done a lot of previous landscaping work and have a strong back, it is probably best if you hire professional contractors to build lakes and ponds for you. You need to be sure the lakes and ponds put in on your property will stay there and are done correct first time. That way the wildlife, or any fish you may want to stock in it, have a chance to move in without any upset. It is less expensive to pay a contractor to do the job right the first time rather than keep having to repair your leaky lakes and ponds.

Building and managing lakes and ponds is now its own industry due to their popularity. You will be spoilt for choice of specialist contractors. You can ask anyone you know that has a pond you admire, "Who did your pond for you?", or even ask national parks or arboretums who did their lakes and ponds if you are planning something on a large scale. Perhaps you have seen a university or mall that had a man made pond? Ask them what service they use.

You could also ask your bank if there are any contractors that they recommend for this type of work. This will smooth things in advance if you need to ask your bank for a loan because the bank will know you have done your research. You might even want to check with the Better Business Bureau for names of contractors in your area to avoid.

Before Taking The Plunge

Man-made lakes and ponds take time and lots of money, not only to install, but to maintain and look after. Be sure you have enough of each before any shovels hit the dirt. Make sure your land is going to be flat enough to accommodate man made lakes and ponds. Get your land checked out for any kind of contaminant by an expert. There is not much point in making a large pond or lake, filling it with water, and then finding out the water is being poisoned. Also you will need to know where your water source is going to come from to keep the lake or pond filled during any long dry spells.