When starting the new pond installation the last thing I thought about was the weather. I mean how can that become a problem? Well, it turned out to be a huge problem making it really hard to install the new addition and almost impossible to dig. I suggest you think about the seasonal weather for that time of year before you begin. Let me explain.
First, I planned out the new addition to the pond. That’s simple enough. I made two small holes on each side to show how far each side I planned on digging each side to fit the new liner I had ordered online.
The plan was to have the new hole dug when the new liner arrived, which didn’t happen.
I originally planned on digging a less oval pond but after I got in there I just went with it.
As I dug out the new addition to the pond the weather wouldn’t cooperate. Either I was drenched in sweat or dripping from the downpours. This is not how I thought this would work out.
Did I mention I was also working my regular job each day? No, well I was making each day of rain a set time crunch problem.
Each day as I worked on the pond in the afternoon the rain would continue to fall making it very difficult to dig. I literally would lose a shoe in the mud and have to stand on the one foot trying to pull the shoe out.
What a sight! Can you imagine? Seriously, standing on one foot pulling my shoe out of the mud as it made this sucking noise as it would release from the depths of water and mud. It’s funny now, but it wasn’t then, I assure you.
I would recommend having someone dig this out professionally but if you’re looking to save money or there isn’t access to your yard for the heavy equipment you might have to grab a shovel too.
After digging part of the extension out I decided to pull the old pond to remove the walls separating the extension from the pond.
I grabbed my granddaughter’s kiddy pool for my fish and plants for a temporary home until I was finished digging and installing that new liner.
After a few days of digging the rain hit again and filled the entire hole.
Sorry for the horrible cellphone picture but it gives you an idea of how much rain had fallen.
The water was over a foot deep at the time I snapped the photo. Not to mention to the left of the kiddy pool, you can see the water in the low lying ground which was saturated from all the rain we had received over the past month. What a mess!
Yes, it took about a month to dig the hole because of the rain. I had to allow for the hole to drain some and the yard to recover as well.
After at least a week of drying time, I was able to finish digging the pond. It was so messy and I don’t think I was more excited about having a step of a project finished in my life.
Here are a few pointers to learn from my mistake:
- Pay a pro to dig the hole for the pond. It will save you a lot of work
- Consider the season and weather for your pond build. heat, cold, rain, snow
- Have a plan B just in case you end up with a situation as I did
So in a nutshell, prepare for the unexpected, expected, and allow for extra time to complete your project. Don’t get caught in a messy situation for poor planning. And, if you do end up like me, try to make the best of it. Wear old shoes.
