When we think about patios, we think of sitting outside, dining and entertaining or even playing out with the kids. It is like extending our living space outwards to accommodate our newfound outdoor lifestyle.
Since we spend the most time on our patio it’s the ideal place to build a patio pond. A Patio Pond might just be the perfect water feature to add a little life and a splash of color for you to truly enjoy.
Patio Ponds are sometimes affectionately called container water gardens, they work wonders for all kinds of tight spaces and tight budgets. It is much cheaper than building a backyard pond but with similar levels of enjoyment.
In most cases, patio ponds add plenty of interest to the deck, bringing the garden closer, and the sound of splashing water is so relaxing. Imagine having your own bits of paradise on your deck. Add a couple of goldfish and really bring the feature to life.
Aquatic plants are your thing? A lovely patio pond is a perfect way to indulge yourself at home growing aquatic plants like Water Lilies, Iris, Lobelia Cardinalis, Hornwort, Starwort, creeping Jenny, Cattails, Cannas, Water Hyacinths and Water Lettuce.
The above-ground design of patio ponds makes them a great choice for when you do not have a big backyard but only a small deck or patio. There are some many great patio pond ideas, you will be spoilt for choice and will be able to create a water feature that is unique to you.
I have always been fascinated with patio ponds. If you want to build your very own patio pond or need some patio pond ideas I will share that information here.
We could build this environment in miniature together! Let me share exactly how I get my patio pond started.
How did I build a patio pond of my own?
Here is how to build a patio pond at a Glance:
- Choose a patio container that suits your patio pond ideas.
- Choose your spitter, fountain or filter to help maintain water quality.
- Choose your patio pond plants, rocks and lights to make your pond look more natural.
#1. Choose Your Container
The first step in creating a Patio Pond is to measure the area available for your pond permanent placement. You want to do this so that you buy the patio pond bowl that is the perfect size, not too large and not too small. The container will serve as the base for your water feature.
Bigger ponds are better because you will be able to add more fish and a wider variety of plants. A smaller pond is better if you only have limited space on your deck.
The Patio pond bowls come in different shapes; round, square or octagonal; in a variety of colors including terra cotta, desert granite and green slate; and a variety of sizes from 24inches to 40 inches or from 27 gallons to 45 gallons of water.
Most Patio pond Bowls are fabricated using lightweight and durable fiberglass-resin composite. A few are made to have a real stone look. Many choices exist so that you can ensure that it blends in with the rest of your patio.
When choosing a patio pond bowl, choose a bowl that includes a ledge where you can rest plants submerged underwater. You can include the pump and filter under the ledge and out the way. The splitter can be attached to the ledge. The aquascape patio bowl has a cutout on the ledge where you can discreetly run a power cord for the pump, light and filter.
If the container is made of plastic and does not come with the cutout, you can cut out a small section at the top of the container using a drill.
Check out some of these bowls on amazon: Desert Granite, Terra Cutta, or Green Slate.
I may get a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you of course.
#2. Choose Your Spitter or Fountain and Filter
The patio pond bowl is selected, now it is time to choose your spitter, filter or fountain. Your deck pond will not look pleasing unless there is water movement. Remember that it is the movement of water that makes your patio pond look interesting. Let us add motion to the water.
On this step of your DIY Patio Pond journey, it is time to choose the spitter, filter or fountain to add motion to the water. Without motion, the water will become stagnant and the only thing that likes stagnant water is mosquitos. Motion helps to maintain the quality of water in the Patio Pond.
The fountain or spitter is probably the most important part of the patio pond setup because it resonates the sound of waterfalls.
With regards to spitter and fountains, you have a lot of choices. The choice is up to you on how you want to move water and add your unique personality to the project. When it comes to moving water you have three main options; spitters, fountains and filters. Choose the one that best suits your requirements.
Patio Pond Spitters
Spitters are the most common choice for small container water gardens. These little decorative pieces use a pump to spit a constant stream of water into the bowl, creating a constant, soothing flowing water sound.
There are a lot of spitters you can find on the market. Some spitters spit water from their mouth like the frog spitter, others open and close their beaks to let water out like the toucan and still others allow water to flow from the top like the bamboo spitter.
Check Out These Spitters at Amazon: bamboo spitter | Toucan Spitter | Stacked slate sphere | Lazy frog spitter | frog on reed spitter
Patio Pond Fountains
Fountains are the next step up from spitters. Many homeowners hide the fountain bases underground so that they look natural. However, if they are small in stature they can be placed in and be a part of the patio pond.
They look stunning when they are properly sized in the patio garden container. Small Stacked Slate Stone Fountain, for example, fits perfectly inside a large round Patio Bowl.
Patio Pond Filter
A patio pond filter is one of the most effective ways to move water in your container water garden. The patio pond filters include a little pump that moves the pond water through a replaceable carbon insert which helps to keep your pond water clear.
It has suction cups attached to the side of the filter to let you secure it inside the patio container bowl. The best position for the pond filter is to place it underwater for out-of-sight water movement.
Alternatively, you can position it in such a way where it breaks through the water’s surface, where it will create a trickling rain effect and help aerate the water.
The patio pond filters can be used in addition to a spitter or fountain. They’re a must-have if you decide to add patio pond fish to your Patio Pond setup.
Find a Container Water Garden Filter at amazon: Container filter
#3. Decorate with Plants, Rocks and Lights
Now it’s time to put the finishing touches on your Patio Pond by adding a few water plants, rocks and lights. This is where you make your creativity shine.
Patio pond plants
Plants will not only add color to your beautiful water garden in a bowl but also remove excess nutrients from the patio pond water, helping to prevent string algae. Patio pond plants are divided into three groups: floating plants, marginal plants and oxygenating plants.
Which plants for your patio pond garden you choose is up to you. The main consideration to bear in mind is that the plants should love water or don’t mind getting their feet wet.
The perfect plants for your patio pond may include Water Lilies, Iris, Lobelia Cardinalis, Hornwort, Starwort, creeping Jenny, Cattails, Cannas, Water Hyacinths and Water Lettuce.
If you have a larger patio pond you can include potted water lily in the center and include marginal plants to beautify the patio bowl. Marginals like Cannas, Cattails, and Creeping Jenny can hang out on the Patio Bowl’s shelf. Another great addition to the patio pond is the Water Lettuce and the Water Hyacinths, which float on the water’s surface.
If you want to successfully grow some marginal pond plants around the edges of your patio bowl, make sure to set them on the shelves in the bowl. Allow them to rest in the shallow water on the shelves. No shelves included in your patio bowl? Set the plants on top of a container inside the bowl.
Patio Pond Plants: Water Lilies, Iris, Lobelia Cardinalis, Hornwort, Starwort, creeping Jenny, Cattails, Cannas, Water Hyacinths and Water Lettuce.
Patio Pond Rocks
Choosing different size rocks will give your pond a natural look and feel. Rocks should be of different sizes and colors to make the pond appear more interesting. The added rocks will also provide hiding spaces for the two or three fish to protect themselves from predators – the house cats.
Patio Pond Lights
A few underwater lighting added to your Patio Pond will give it an extra decorative touch. Patio pond lights placed underwater pointing up towards the fountain or spitter is the secret to making the patio garden feature come alive.
You could also place the light so that it shines up to where the water splashes onto the surface of the main body on the water in the patio pond bowl.
Placing the lights this way ensures that you get to enjoy the feature when it gets dark outside and the lights on the patio are switched off.
#4. Add A Couple Patio Pond Fish to your patio garden pond
Opt for adding fish to your Patio Pond? Yes, fish helps to add color and life to your pond, helps to keep mosquito larvae out of your water feature, and fosters a symbiotic relationship with the patio pond plants and the fish. The plants purify the water and the fish provides fertiliser for the plants through their poop.
If you decide to go down the route of adding fish, keep these tips in mind:
Goldfish are the best choice for Patio Ponds because Patio pond Bowls are too shallow for bigger fish like koi. Big fish cause water quality to deteriorate too quickly and cause harm to the fish.
Goldfish are social, so if you add goldfish to your container make sure you include two or three, depending on the size of the bowl of course.
A Container Water Garden Filter is needed if you plan to add fish to your patio pond. Set it in such a potion where it will create ripples on the surface of the water.
The filter will clear fish waste from the water, and the water flowing out of the filter arm through the spitter will help keep the Patio Pond water aerated.
Live in a cold state? If you live in cold states then your Patio Ponds can’t stay outside during the winter months.
You’ve got a choice, you can either bring your entire setup indoors – fish and all, or you can move the fish into your aquarium for the cold season.
How to Maintain Your Patio Pond set up
Now that your new patio garden pond is up and running you can enjoy its beauty for a number of months during the year.
However, there are some responsibilities that you have to take care of if you want to enjoy your pond’s beauty over the long term. The first step before adding fish to your pond is to add Pond Detoxifier to the water. Pond detoxifier removes chloramines from the water that could harm your fish.
You will also need to add a weekly dose of Beneficial Bacteria to your Patio Pond to help prevent green water. Beneficial Bacteria is a naturally occurring organism that eats excess nitrites in the pond water to prevent green-water algae from taking over the pond.
Beneficial bacteria is fish-safe and can be purchased in either a liquid form or a convenient maintenance tab sized specifically for Patio Ponds. My only advice here regarding beneficial bacteria is to follow the dosing instructions provided by the manufacturers when using in your patio pond.
At all cost, avoid algaecides, which can seriously harm your fish and plant life in your Patio Pond ecosystem.
The filter in your patio pond also helps to keep your fish safe but needs to be replaced at least once per year to maintain good quality water.
If you want to learn how to change those carbon inserts click here.
Keep your patio pond fish alive, feed them once per day with high-quality pond fish food. Only offer as much food as your fish will eat in a few minutes. Never overfeed your fish, as the excess food will sink to the bottom of the pond and cause problems later with water quality.
Note: Patio Ponds cannot stay running outside over the winter months, therefore, you have either of two options, first empty the bowl and store it in the garage and your fish in your aquarium indoors or bring the whole set up indoors and enjoy your water garden indoors.
How to set up the patio pond?
The patio pond bowl: Rinse down the patio pond bowl to remove any dirt or debris lodged on the interior. Find the location where you want to put it, a space on the patio where you will get the best visibility.
You want it located where you can get the most enjoyment – may be where it is facing your seating or in the center of the seating area as a feature – preferable away from direct sunlight.
Fill the container with water until it reaches the bottom of the upper rim and adds the water conditioner like Aquascape Pond Detoxifier.
Place your filter pump at the bottom of the bowl. Pumps can be added also to circulate and oxygenate the water, which is important for fish health and survival! Additionally, it stops your pond becoming stagnant. Some pumps come with ultraviolet light that kills bacteria, keeps the water clean and limits algae growth.
Add your spitter that will move water in the pond. The spitter adds beauty and the sound of waterfalls. A splashing water feature adds a soothing sound and oxygenates the pond water for the fish if you plan to add them.
Add your aquatic potted plants like lilies to your setup. Place marginal plants around the edges by allowing them to sit on the top shelf in the patio pond bowl. When adding plants to your setup, for the best results, prepare the aquatic plants with aquatic plants soil and fertilizer.
The water lily is the perfect plant for a patio pond. The round portion in the middle of the bowl is ideal for the water lily or one super tall plant that can be used as a focal point. Place marginal plants along the integrated shelf. Add a few floating plants like water hyacinth or water lettuce to top it off.
Add gravel and rocks to your pond to help naturalize the pond feature and a few small fish for color and movement.
You can add led lights to really bring the pond to life. Place the patio pond lights at the location where you want them, pointing upwards towards the spitter or the fountain.
Use substrates in your pond to give it a natural look. This step is depending on your preference.
The final step is to add your fish to the pond, preferable goldfish because they do not grow too big like koi. I usually leave the pond for a couple of days to let the water settle before introducing the fish. Two or three small goldfish ought to do the trick.
Acclimate the fish for ten to 15 minutes before gently releasing them into their new habitat. You can add the aquascape bubble tabs to optimize the quality of the water and reduce pond maintenance.
As a general rule, we recommend a 15 per cent water change weekly to help optimize water quality. Remember that replacing evaporated water does not constitute water change.
Now it is time for you to sit and enjoy your new pond feature, colourful fish, aquatic plants and the sound of splashing water. Thanks for visiting DIY Home Guru.
Reference: Image source Primrose.co.uk
