by Kristine Tucker

Created on: July 16, 2009   Last Updated: July 18, 2009

Do visions of lily pads and waterfalls make you wish that your backyard were an inviting place for tropical adventure? Well, since most people don't live in the Bahamas or near the Hawaiian islands, a backyard pond is probably the closest you will come to a daily tropical experience. Unfortunately, poor planning and illusive preparation can lead to a backyard pond that is both impractical and disappointing.

Most Importantly: Keep the Aesthetic Beauty

Don't let images of Fantasy Island and Lost hinder your perspective on creating a tropical paradise in your back yard. Your pond must flow with the other elements of your landscaping. If you just pick a wide-open space and plop your pond in the middle of it, you will find that the pond looks more like a watering hole than a tasteful decorative accent to your yard. Choose the location carefully, and use the pond as a focal point of the yard or garden. Use the surrounding bushes, flowers, rocks, and landscaping to accentuate the pond. Remember that a pond is a natural aesthetic decoration, so it needs to look fully incorporated into the setting.

Pond Scum Can Ruin the Effect

It is important to carefully consider the flora and fauna surrounding the pond. For example, you might like the idea of having a pond in the shade, but does that mean you will have to clean out tons of leaves every day? How about grass clippings? Is the area so shady that moss and algae grow at super speed rates? If you have the time and energy to adequately clean your pond and these elements of nature are not a factor, then go ahead and choose a heavily shaded area. Otherwise, choose a place where the pond will get some sun exposure during the course of the day. Possibly, you can situate the pond near shorter grasses and bushes, so the leaves and dying blooms fall away from the pond. In addition, if you are not planning to put live fish in the pond, add a small amount of bleach to the water every few days. This will keep the moss and algae from taking over the pond.

Size Does Matter

Ponds that are overwhelmingly small, or adversely large can diminish the overall appeal of the garden or backyard. There is nothing worse than hearing a trickle of water and having trouble finding the source. If you have a pond, then let people know it and see it with ease. Be sure to carefully inspect the area to make sure that the diameter of the pond fits the size of the yard. As a rule of thumb, a pond shouldn't be any larger than 1/10 the size of the outdoor space. In addition, carefully assess the depth of the pond. If you live in a temperature zone, you probably won't have to worry about the freezing temperatures. However, if you live in a colder region, your pond could freeze and cause structural problems the following spring.

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