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Living in a house with a garden, or even a small backyard, can be a true blessing. There’s nothing quite like going out back for a cup of coffee while taking in a breath of fresh morning air.
Long, hard day at work? You’ll forget all about it after spending the afternoon on the back porch with a good novel and a fresh batch of brownies.
Bringing your green space to perfection can quickly turn into one of your favorite pastimes.
There is always something to improve upon, and choosing the perfect pond pump, flower arrangement or the best lighting solution for the alleyways will help you develop a refined taste worthy of an exterior designer.
On the other hand, picking the ideal garden composition can sometimes be a headache, especially if you don’t have a specific idea in mind.
After all, it’s nearly impossible to go through all of the possible setups you’d find on Pinterest. Nobody has time for that! The task is all the more difficult when it comes to water installations.
To narrow down your search, check out this list of the best affordable pond ideas for gardens of all sizes!
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Small Gardens: Container Ponds
Putting together a container pond is the perfect project to take up if you don’t have a lot of free time on your hands, and your garden space won’t allow you to install a sprawling setup with a fountain.
It’s also the best option if you’re working on a tight budget.
The resources you’ll need are limited to a large water container (a wide ceramic plant pot will do just fine) and a recirculating pump that’ll keep the water nice and fresh. On top of that, you should also invest in some aquatic flowers for decoration.
If you don’t think that your container is big enough for plant life to flourish in, you can always get a plastic water lily. It looks as nice as the real deal, and it doesn’t require all the watering!
Small to Medium Gardens: Still-water Pond with a Rock Formation
If a container pond seems too artificial for you, and you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, you should seriously consider digging up a real, still-water pond.
After you’re done, make sure to clear out the bottom of your soon-to-be pond of all rocks and similar objects.
You should also consider laying out a plastic net or foil across the ground so that the water doesn’t get contaminated. You don’t want your little oasis turning into a foul pit filled with filthy, green slime, do you?
Medium Gardens: DIY Flowing Pond with a Barrel
With a little more space at your disposal, you can really let your imagination run wild. The rustic look is back in style right now, which makes this summer the perfect time to bring it into your garden, with a minimum amount of effort.
All you’re going to need is an old wine barrel, a lot of water, and a shovel. Alternatively, you could figure out a way to turn this idea into a big container pond — a vintage bathtub would work best for that purpose.
As for the barrel, you can get one on the cheap, or even for free, if you ask around your local wineries. Just make sure you don’t get one that’s filled to the brim with termites!
Medium to Large Gardens: Inground Pond with Tall Grass
Another popular type of garden pond that never seems to go out of style is the inground pond with wild-looking plantlife inside.
It can truly transform your backyard into a sanctuary of nature, with tall grass, water lilies, and other flowers giving your pond that wild, rugged look.
As with all of the other concepts (except the container pond), remember about laying the bottom of your pit with the right pond lining so that your water doesn’t get spoiled too quickly.
Large Gardens: Naturalized Pond with Sculptures
It’s quite difficult to pull off, but this garden pond concept is guaranteed to blow your guests away.
The idea is to cover a significant portion of your garden with water and populate it with low-maintenance plant life. Then, you should just let it flourish, with regular check-ups to keep it under control.
Not everybody is willing to let nature reclaim a sizable chunk of their property, but if you’re willing to take the risk, you’ll be rewarded in the best possible way!
Bottom Line
Bodies of water are great and stylish additions to any garden, but you need to remember that they are also a huge responsibility. If you don’t take proper care of your pond, you may quickly end up with a green, smelly mess.
The right filtering and recirculation equipment is a necessity. It’s also a good idea to drain the pond entirely from time to time to clean it up and replenish it with fresh water.
