How to Dig a Large Fish Pond

Having a pond in your yard or garden can provide a serene setting for late afternoon barbecues or for just relaxing and reading a book. Getting from start to finish can sometimes be a challenge, though, and digging your pond is the first step in a long road ahead.

Things You'll Need

  • Spray paint
  • Shovel or backhoe
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Instructions

    • 1

      Figure out where you want your pond to be. Placing a pond under trees is not always the best idea due to shedding leaves that will be a constant nightmare in the fall months.

    • 2

      Look up your local utility companies phone numbers and schedule to have them come out and give clearance for the pond. It is very important to always call before you dig as there could be electrical or plumbing work in the way of your dream pond.

    • 3

      Once you are cleared to dig, design the shape of your pond and mark the area using the spray paint.

    • 4

      Begin digging. You can use the shovel if you have plenty of time on your hands but renting a backhoe--though expensive--is a big time-saver when you need to excavate a large amount of dirt.

    • 5

      Dig from the center of the pond outward, this makes the process much easier when removing the dirt from the hole.

    • 6

      Work until the pond is slightly larger than you want your finished product to be. After digging, you can use any variety of liner, concrete or, if digging a naturally spring fed pond, nothing at all.

    • 7

      If using vinyl liner, lie the liner in the pond and use your hands to shape it to the hole that has been dug. If there are any seams to be made, they can be made with vinyl adhesive which is available at most hardware stores.