Cost to Install a Garden Pond

How Much to Build a Garden Pond?

The average cost of landscaping a garden with a pond can vary tremendously. But you can choose a pond starting from as little as a few hundred pounds (though by the time you add in some extras and typical features plus excavation it can easily cost a few thousand pounds or more depending on the size and style).

For deeper ponds or additional features this will typically increase the cost proportionally - so it is best to have a clear idea of what is required beforehand, to avoid additional costs or spending money unnecessarily.

What about larger ponds?

Additionally, for the larger/more complex ponds, this will take further time, so it is best to be clear with the tradesperson about their time estimates and daily rates for their work.

Typically a tradesperson can charge around £200 for a day (depending on the region, this can vary), so the number of days for the larger/complex ponds can soon increase the overall cost.

Due to the scale of this type of work, it is often best to prioritise the quality of the work done, rather than the speed (to save money), as any problems that could occur for a pond later would likely be much more costly than the initial cost of the work being completed correctly.

What type of work will the tradespeople complete?

The work that the tradesperson can include; digging the hole for the pond, applying underlaying (along with any other layering required to seal the pond), landscaping around the pond itself and any additional features that may be chosen - so the work can be quite varied.

In this case, some tradespersons may charge more depending on the variety of tasks involved, particularly if they are more complex/time-consuming.

Garden Pond Installation Prices

Below are some estimated costs of installing a pond.

Cost Affecting Factors for Pond Installation

One of the most popular questions we get, is how much does a garden pond cost? This is actually a very difficult question, but hopefully this article will help you by outlining some of the general pricing guidelines, while providing some background information on the different types of pond available and the different options and enhancements to consider.

While we've touched on the cost of the pond itself, there are a number of factors that can impact the budget required for labour and materials. Firstly, is the size of the pond. Needless to say, the larger the pond, the higher the price.

However, that's not the only thing to consider. Materials for your pond liner will make a big difference, while a ready-made plastic or fibreglass pond may be cheaper (£50 to £200 depending on size), they are often shallow with limited designs.

Alternatively, a flexible rubber lining (£5 to £25 per m²) allows you to be more creative. This is ideal for ponds being built directly into an excavated area, and allows for unusual shapes or grander designs.

Depending on the size of your build, you may need to hire a digger or professional excavator, this too can add extra cost - especially if it's a large project or in a difficult location.

Then there's the finishing touches, with some rough ideas and estimates outlined below:

• Filtration System - £50 to £500 depending on the size and quality
• Pond Lighting - £20 to £300 for solar or LED lights
• Waterfalls/Fountains - £100 to £1,500 depending on design and materials
• Plants - £10 to £100+ depending on species, quantity and any nutrients required
• Fish - £5 to £50+ depending on type (for example Koi Carp are more expensive than goldfish)

As to who you can hire to install a pond, first of all you can always ask a gardener or handyman, providing they have the right skills for the job.

When hiring a professional, labour costs can affect the end cost, not only depending on the work required but also other factors such as how many people are needed and whereabouts the property is located.

What Does Installing a Garden Pond Entail?

Garden water features and ponds in particular, are one of the most popular projects in the UK, particularly in the Spring/Summer.

Step 1: Decide the Depth of the Pond

The first decision of many to make is the proposed depth of the pond, which will have a major impact on the final cost. If the pond is purely for decoration, then a water depth of 0.6 metres may be sufficient. For small decorative fish the depth should be around 1 metre and if Koi Carp or other large fish are being stocked in the pond then the depth should be at around 1.5 metres.

Step 2: Consider the Pond Area and Shape

The pond area will also have a major impact on the price, but this usually is decided by the available space in the garden. Regular shapes are much cheaper to build than fancy ornamental shapes, so bear this in mind when thinking about designs.

Step 3: Choose the Pond Liner Material

There are a number of pond-liner materials which can be used as a water-tight barrier in the excavated hole, but the cheaper ready-made plastic and fibreglass pond liners are often quite shallow and only available in a limited range of designs and shapes.

Flexible rubber liners are more expensive, but offer far more variety in terms of pond size and shape. Whichever pond liner you choose it is always a good idea to use a protective underlay beneath the liner to stop root penetration and damage from stones.

Step 3: Installing Protective Underlay

Protective underlay is usually supplied in 2-metre-wide rolls and is easy to fit. You simply roll out the underlay around the pond contours with an overlap of at least 15-20cm. Any excess underlay can be easily trimmed with a sharp knife or scissors.

Step 4: Preparing the Soil

If the soil is particularly flinty, try to remove as many stones as you can, before installing the underlay. If you use a flexible rubber liner, there are no real restrictions to the shape or size of the pond so curved, square or rectangular shapes are no problem.

If digging out a pond as a DIY project then you need to check the ground level is level if possible, though this is not always practical. If the ground is not level then it will be necessary to make it level by building up the lower areas so that the water level is maintained, but this of course involves lots of extra backbreaking work (or additional time/costs if you are hiring someone to do the excavation for you).

Step 5: Marking Out and Start Digging

You should mark out the basic pond shape using string or a spray then you can begin digging, starting at the perimeter and digging inwards. A marginal shelf for planting can be added then the inner deep-water zone can be excavated to the full depth.

Make sure the sides of the pond are sloping gently inwards to prevent the soil just collapsing. Creating a small perimeter trench around the top area of the pond is always a good idea to prevent water from saturating the surrounding soil.

This can be easily achieved by using flexible pond hose following the shape of the pond. The protective underlay and flexible liner can then be folded over this lip and the gap back-filled with pebbles to create a physical barrier between the soil edge and the water's edge.

Step 6: Fill the Pond with Water

Lastly, once everything is ready it's time to fill your new pond with water. It's best to go slowly, allowing the water to settle naturally and giving yourself time to smooth out any wrinkles in the liner.

Always leave the water for at least 24 hours before adding any plants or fish, which will give time for any chlorine within the tap water to dissipate. If you are adding fish, check with an expert for any additional measures you need to take for their wellbeing and for plantlife, only add plants that are well-suited to living in outdoor ponds.

DIY vs Professional Pond Installation

While a small pond may be a budget-friendly DIY job, a professional installation will be done quicker and carried out to a high standard. If you are looking to install a large pond, it's definitely recommended to hire an expert.

However, below we take a quick look at the pros and cons of both.

DIY Pond Installation

Pros

• ✔ Cost-effective (only pay for materials and tools)
• ✔ Full control over design, layout and personal touches
• ✔ Flexibility to work at your own pace
• ✔ A rewarding project for those who enjoy DIY

Cons

• ✖ Time-consuming, especially if you've never done it before
• ✖ Physical labor involved, which can be strenuous
• ✖ Risk of mistakes leading to additional costs or problems
• ✖ May lack the expertise of a professional

Professional Pond Installation

Pros

• ✔ Quick and efficient installation
• ✔ High-quality results with guaranteed workmanship
• ✔ Professional advice on design, materials, and maintenance
• ✔ Expertise of professional equipment

Cons

• ✖ Higher cost compared to DIY installation
• ✖ Less control over design and timeline
• ✖ May require to coordinate timings with the contractor
• ✖ Potential for unexpected costs along the way

As many pond installations aren't as straightforward as digging a hole and inserting a pre-made moulded pond, it's recommended to hire someone that has the right experience.

It's always worth asking friends and family if they've had a pond installed previously, or look online for reviews and portfolio of work.

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