If you are put off building a pond because it looks difficult, then think again. With some readily available information and instructions, the installation of a water garden can be as simple as digging a hole.

Since most soil is unable to hold water, some sort of retainer is necessary to stop the water from escaping. Some landscapers have chosen to build a pond using concrete, but this can be extremely difficult work. A rubber EPDM liner can also be utilized, but a liner pond requires much preliminary design work. The use of a preformed pond is cost-effective, and it allows you to build a pond without the hassle of pre-planning the design of your pond. Preformed pond shells are made out of plastic in various customized shapes. If you are building a pond for the first time and have no firm idea of the shape of pond, the preformed pond is your ideal choice.

There are many preformed rock pond shells in the market, but these tend to be extremely large and cumbersome. However, one manufacturer, Algreen Products Inc., has recently introduced a new granite flexible rock pond kit that can fold up and fit in a small box. The new folding rock pond includes 3 built-in plant shelves, is weather-resistant, and is able to withstand extreme temperatures from 0 F to 105 F. Each pond shell features textured ridges, which are strategically placed to allow beneficial bacteria to form growth colonies, which significantly reduces algae-buildup in the pool.

Currently, there are two sizes of granite pond shells available from GardenSuperMart (GardenSM.com): a 144 gallon shell, and a 72 gallon shell. They both come complete with everything you need for your backyard water gardening project: the preformed pond, a matching streamlet, a submersible pump, fountain heads, tubing and clamps, and a free SuperGlo underwater light. For more information about these kits, please go to http://www.gardensupermart.com/buypond/pics/granite_preformed.html.

About the Author

Gerry Fung is the Vice President of Northbridge Products Inc.