Building a pond sequence

by Dustin Rice
(St. Paul, Ks)

First, let me say thank you for site and info. Late summer, '09, I went from 200-10,000 gallon koi pond, with Japanese design and garden, to come, I hope! I live in SE Kansas and resources are limited. I dont know what type of rock to use as pond edging and for walkways? Our rock here isnt attractive or oriental, but with supply cost cant imagine buying granite! I've done all work, with exception of dig. My outline wasn't followed and I ended up with rectangle, instead of kindney shape, should I concentrate my work on digging edges of pond, to round, or landscape around pond? I'm a bit overwhelmed!? Thanks for help, Dustin


Doug says that if the hole isn't right - then you don't have anything you want. As in all things, start at the basics - get those right and working and then move on. The "landscaping" is the exact last thing you do after all steps are done.

The exact sequence of construction starts here. and goes for several pages. Step by step. But get each step right before you worry about the next in the construction phase.

The design phase is where you put together what you want it to look like and you do that before you lay a shovel to the ground. You have to have everything down on paper (if you don't know where you want to go - how do you know when you arrive?) for a big project.

So spend some time with pencil / paper and dreaming. If you want a kidney shape - then make a kidney shape. Move onto the next step.

But yeah, get the hole right.