Turn your ordinary backyard into a vivid landscape by installing a water garden. It’s a lot easier than you may think—and will attract beautiful birds to your home all year round. With the help of these user friendly instructions and a few supplies from the team at Blain’s Farm & Fleet, your yard will be picture perfect in no time.
You can create your own "Backyard Wild" no matter where you live. Careful planning and creative landscaping can make your back yard a welcome home for many attractive and colorful species of wild birds and animals. This project is the first in a series of projects which will help you turn your yard into its own "Backyard Wild."
One of the first steps in creating a natural habitat for wild birds and animals it to provide them with a source of water. Not only will your water garden be a very important factor in attracting wild birds by providing their water supply, but it can also add beauty and serenity to your yard—and installation is a lot easier thank you might think! Be sure to use our printer friendly version for complete instructions.
Before you start creating your water garden, you must pick a location. First, check with the proper authorities for local building codes and public utilities for buried lines and pipes. Also, choose a level area with a minimum of 5 to 6 hours of sunlight per day, avoid low lying areas where water runoff is possible or areas near or under trees. You may even want to outline the shape and size of your pond with a tape measure and layout string in order to get a better idea of how your pond will look.
Now you’re ready to start digging. Start by digging a hole a little larger and deeper than the pond, and make sure the excavation has a firmly compacted base. All areas should be smooth and free of rocks, and any roots should be cut back. 
Line the excavations with 1’ to 2’ of sand, spreading evenly with your rake and using your hand to build up the sand on the sides. Bed the pond on this layer of sand and level. You can do this by using a 2x4 board and a level. Simply place the board at varying positions across the pond, then place the level on the board.
Once the pond is level, backfill with loose dirt between the pond and excavation, stopping at the halfway mark between the excavation base and the pond’s flange. Begin filling the pond with water slowly while continuing to backfill. Be sure to gauge your timing so the filling and backfilling steps are finished together.
