Choices can be floating plants, edge plants, or submerged plants. The floating ones can keep the pond clean and free from algae because they absorb all dissolved nutrients.

• water lettuce
• water lilies
• and duckweed

Water lilies come in different colors: yellow, pink, or red. There are types that bloom during the day and others that bloom at night. The roots of these water lilies are very delicate and fragile.

Another good choice from the list of recommended water garden plants is the lotus. They are not really floating plants because they hold their leaves and flowers a maximum of 8 feet above water.

The submerged plants grow under the water surface. These are also called oxygenators. The needed nutrients are absorbed directly through their stems and leaves. They keep the pond from becoming slimy because they absorb the dissolved nutrients in the water. These plants serve as the spawning areas and hiding places for the fishes.

Many submerged plants are invasive that’s why they should be grown in containers.

Examples include

• anacharis
• eelgrass
• water milfoil
• and arrowhead

Edge plants grow on shelves about 5 to 10 inches beneath the water surface to provide shelter for the fishes, frogs, and other plants.

Examples are

• sweet flag
• marsh marigold
• pickerel rush
• sedges
• and cattails

Consider where you might like to place a small garden pond. Some people choose an area away from their homes while others choose to create a garden near their porch or patio. Which window would allow you to look out over the garden pond and enjoy the wildlife that may gather there?

You may only want to have a rock pond. This is a pond which has plenty of natural rocks and plants around them but won’t necessarily contain fish or other animals. These are mostly for beautification and to entice nature to come into your yard.

Other people want to have a small garden pond which already has life in it. Most people think about putting Japanese Koi in their garden ponds because they’re a hardy fish. You can choose from other fish as well – Shubunkin goldfish and Comet goldfish are often sold for garden ponds. Start with a fish that is at least 3 inches long with a caudal fin. They come in a variety of colors.

Take time to do some research about pond fish. There’s a science to knowing how to take care of them. Depending upon the weather and water temperature, the fish will be more or less active and their appetite will also change. Feed the fish more during the warmer weather and much less when the temperatures drop.

You could hire someone to design and build a small garden pond, although this is one do-it-yourself project everyone in the family can pitch in and help with. Depending upon whether or not you put fish in your pond, shade is important. You’ll also want to consider the condition of the soil in your yard, and the elevation. Rocky or hilly terrain could make some modifications necessary, so keep those in mind.

Plants to include in a garden pond include floating plants such as water lilies and water hyacinths. You can also find other aquatic plants to add to the pond. Again, plants are important should you have fish in the pond, because they will need someplace to get out of the direct sunlight.

Pond kits are available at most home improvement stores but it isn’t really necessary to buy one. You can choose the location for the pond, dig out the area, and then place a thick, plastic pond liner into the hole. Cover the liner rim with natural material such as rocks or logs. Make the pond look as natural as you can and it will definitely be something beautiful for you and your family to enjoy.

Remember that you’ll also need to filter the water and keep the pond clean. Rock ponds may take more care keeping them clean because you’ll have to remove the water and rocks each year. If you choose to add a waterfall feature, a pump will be necessary. The pump will help keep the water clean and circulating so the amount of maintenance required is reduced. The best way to ensure the waterfall doesn’t fail is to have a second pump and filter system on hand in case the primary pump breaks down.
 
Adding a water feature can make all the difference in how your yard looks. These small garden pond ideas will give you some place to start and then you can research more to decide what type of pond is right for your budget and yard.

Border – Some use stones. Others use brick. Borders are used to frame the water garden. The best choice for a border material is that which cannot be damaged by water.

Excavation tools like shovel, back hoe, and stakes – Needed if you are the one building your water garden

Water pump – Determine the required flow rate of your water garden (ideally half of the volume of the pond).

Water filter – As important as the pump since this will help provide clean, quality water needed by the fishes. More expensive filter systems would only require minimal maintenance and produce better water quality.

Assorted fishes – Stocking up well on a variety of fishes will make your water garden really beautiful.

Water treatment – Water garden supplies that help the filter system produce high quality water.

Fish care – This one includes fish food and fish medication. A small net would also be necessary if you will transport the fishes from the pond during cleaning.

Lighting system – This adds drama and added beauty to your water garden. Installed lights can help you enjoy your water garden anytime of the day.

The very first step to setting up a water garden is locating the best placement for your garden. It’s genuinely a good idea to pick a place where it will be easily viewed, and free from surrounding debris. 

A pond would look nice framed with trees, but you would constantly be cleaning it out from fallen leaves and dirt, so try to keep it at a fair distance away from any trees on your property.

Once  you have the size a shape of your water garden in mind, it is time to dig out enough land to fit the your ponds underlayment.   The underlayment should be cut before hand to ensure the proper shape. 
The thick pond liner will go on top of the underlayment. Make sure everything fits snuggly.  Then install all of the components to the waterfall feature following the directions of the kit.

Pebbles and stones are essential elements for hiding the ponds underlayment and excess hardware.  Place them around your water garden to keep your equipment hidden.  Now  you can fill the pond with water and add any nutrients or substance to take care of any chlorine in the water.

It’s time to try out your water garden and make sure everything is in working order.  You should be able to visibly see a streaming water fall in your new garden.   When you’re sure everything is working properly, its then time to add the aquatic plants.

 Make sure you add the anarcharis water plants because they’ll take care of any nutrients that would otherwise keep algae thriving. Water lilies are a popular aquatic plant to use because they help give the illusion of a natural made pond.

If you want to create a real oasis for your water garden, consider adding some goldfish to the pond. Add only a few at a time to ensure their survival.

Place a couple of  plants close to the edge of the pond to help it blend in with the rest of your backyard oasis. Once it’s finished, you’ll need to take care of it to keep it going for many years to come.