The first stage of building a pond is to choose a location.

When this particular project is completed it will feature an 8'x11' pond with a waterfall and a 6' pondless stream.

Once you've chosen your location you will need to lay out the perimeter for your pond using rope or a garden hose. Mark the outline with ground limestone or with spray paint so you can start digging.

Dig out the dirt all around the area that the pond will be in to a depth of about 16". Pile the dirt on the foreground as this will be used later to elevate the waterfall and the stream. Dig down another 10" after that to form a pit where the pump with go.
 

Once your area is dug, take your level and chalk line to ensure that all sides are level to ensure proper water flow.

Be sure to check both levels. Each level serves a different purpose. The deepest area of the pond is for the fish to swim around while water lilies and water hyacinths will float around on the higher level.

After the hole and pit is lined with screened sand and raked smooth, put down the geo-textile fabric that will protect the pond liner. This will have to be large enough to cover the bottom of the hole, the pump pit and the walls. Next, lay the liner and press gently into the hole. Start stacking stones on the pond floor.

Next, set the pump hose in position and extend it from the centre of the pit to the top of the hole. Lay stones over the hose and continue to stack them until they are even with the ground. Connect the pump to its hose and set the pump on a flat stone in the pit.

Real progress is starting to show. The larger rocks have been placed and the small river stone has been used to fill in the gaps. These are strategically placed to provide support for the bigger rocks.
 

Here we are using Waterfall Foam. This is a great product to spray in the crevices between the rocks to make the water flow where you want it to. This easy to use product is black making it easily hidden and expands and contracts as the weather changes.

The pond section is at completion and can be filled with water.

Moving on with the progress of the pondless waterfall. The black grate that has been inserted at the bottom will be filled in with river rock. This will assist the water in filtering through the rocks and into a pump that will create the waterfall effect instead of collecting at the base.
 

The next step is to dig out a base for the fountain we will insert. Just as we have constructed the pondless waterfall, the fountain will not collect water at the base but filter through the river stones and pump up to the top spilling gently over the fountain.
 

With all of the rocks now in place, Parkwood® 3 in 1 Planting Mix can be placed around the perimeter of the pond for plants and flowers.