DIY duck pond step by step

Introduction

Duck ponds are a great addition to any backyard, and they’re very easy to build. You can use them for decoration, or you can raise fish in them and even keep ducks if you want! Duck ponds are also quite versatile; they can be built out of almost anything you want (including plastic), as long as it holds water.

Cut the liner

Cut the liner to size. Make sure you have enough liner for your pond. You can use a sharp knife to cut the liner, but don’t cut too small or too big.

Measure and cut three pieces of board to 2-feet by 2-feet, these will make the sides of the duck pond.

Now that you have the wood, it’s time to cut them. Use a saw to cut each piece of wood into 2-feet by 2-feet pieces. It is important that you measure correctly and make sure they are all the same size. To make sure they are straight, use a square as a guide.

Prepare the uprights

You will want to cut your uprights to the desired length, making sure they are straight and square. You will also want to make sure they are level, so it is best to use a laser level or a spirit level if you have one available.

Double check your measurements.

Once you’ve made sure your measurements are correct, double-check that everything is level. You want the water to stay in the pond and not run out onto the ground or down into your foundation. If your pond isn’t deep enough for fish or plants, adjust the size of your container accordingly. Also make sure that it’s wide enough for fish to swim through comfortably!

If you’re using a container (rather than building an entire pond from scratch), be aware of where any drainage holes are located on its bottom—you don’t want them too close together or too far apart from one another, or else there will be places where water pools instead of draining away evenly.

Using nails and screws, attach the two uprights on one side of your pond to the support piece.

Using nails and screws, attach the two uprights on one side of your pond to the support piece. Make sure to use nails that are long enough to go through both pieces of wood, or you can use screws if you have them handy. Be careful not to hammer your hand into a nail—a painful accident!

Secure the second side the same way.

Now it’s time to secure the other two sides of your pond. Attach one board to each side in the same way you did with the first. You’ll want to make sure that your pond is as waterproof as possible, so apply a thin layer of silicone along all seams in the wood, except for where they intersect with the liner.

Once you’ve finished securing both sides, fill up your new duck pond!

Attach the other two boards in the same way.

Attach the other two boards in the same way. Make sure they’re level with each other, so that your pond will be an even depth all around. If you don’t have a level, use a weight and a string to make sure that the boards are at an equal height on either side of your pond. Then, use nails or screws to attach them securely to their posts.

To make sure that your pond is as waterproof as possible, you can apply a thin layer of silicone along all seams in the wood, except for where they intersect with the liner.

If you are using a liner with an adhesive strip: Do not use silicone on any seam that has been glued together. The purpose of this step is to help keep water from getting under the liner; applying silicone would defeat its purpose by creating a seal between two parts of the liner.
If you are using a self-sealing or overlap seam (e.g., plastic pond liners): Apply silicone around all exposed joints on these types of liners so that there is no gap between them and other pieces of wood or stone.*

Check drainage is working properly by filling just enough water in so it can drain through completely. If water drains too slowly or no water drains at all, you should taper your hole so that it slopes toward one point in the center of your pond. The slope should be gradual enough that no water pools but steep enough to allow easy drainage of water.

You should check that drainage is working properly by filling just enough water in so it can drain through completely. If water drains too slowly or no water drains at all, you should taper your hole so that it slopes toward one point in the center of your pond. The slope should be gradual enough that no water pools but steep enough to allow easy drainage of water.

A 4” to 6”-deep layer of gravel on top of your sand will also help speed up drainage from your pond. After installing this layer, simply fill in with sand to reach your desired depth for holding fish and plants.

A 4” to 6”-deep layer of gravel on top of your sand will also help speed up drainage from your pond. After installing this layer, simply fill in with sand to reach your desired depth for holding fish and plants. Gravel is a porous material that will allow water to flow through easily. It’s a good choice for a DIY pond because it is inexpensive, easy to find and easy to install. However, it’s not recommended for ponds that are located in areas with freezing temperatures or frost heaves (vibrations caused by expansion as water freezes).

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Step 9 -Dig out 5” deep pool around perimeter

Now that you’ve filled the bottom of your pond with rocks, it’s time to dig out a 5-inch deep pool around the perimeter.

Grab your shovel and start digging. Make sure you don’t dig too deep or else you’ll end up with a hole in your yard!

The goal is to create a moat around the edge of your duck pond, so don’t worry about making it perfectly round at this point—just make sure that it goes all the way around.

Step 10 -Line with plywood if desired

If you want to line the inside of your pond, you can do so with plywood. This is optional and can be done in two ways:
Use treated plywood if you want to protect the liner from water damage.
Use untreated plywood if you want a natural look.

Step 11 -Place liner into form

Once you have filled the form with concrete and it has set, it’s time to place your liner. Carefully lift the pond liner into place, making sure that the seams are placed evenly along the bottom and sides of the form.

The liner will be heavy and may need some help from your friends while you work. If you want to line with plywood at this point, do so by laying down sheets of plywood over top of your form before you add water to fill it up. This step is completely optional but will make cleaning out after installation much easier!

Step 12 -Decorate! Plants rocks and terrain

You can add plants, rocks and terrain to your duck pond to help with water filtration. Plants will absorb the nutrients in the water that would otherwise go into your pond, keeping it cleaner and healthier. Rocks can be placed in the bottom of one side of your pond (the side you want to be deeper) in order to trap debris, which will then sink down into the dirt at that end of your duck pond. Finally, terrain can be used for variety’s sake: placing stepping stones across one side creates an interesting look that makes it easier for ducks or other animals who walk on land to access their water source without having an accidental swim!

Conclusion

Welcome to the wonderful world of DIY! We hope you enjoyed learning about how to make a duck pond by yourself. If there is anything you’re not sure about, or if anything went wrong with your project, don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who knows what they’re doing (or even just another beginner). We all have to start somewhere!