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You know that placing flowers, bushes and other ornamental plants on your property can enhance its look and add an attractive touch of natural beauty. But nothing beautifies a yard like a gorgeous water garden pond. These bodies of water add more than just plants. They offer accents like aquatic wildlife, decorative rocks, fountains, streams and waterfalls. Don't worry if your yard is small or your budget is minimal. Your dream pond can be as simple or as lavish as you choose. A lot goes into planning a pond. Here are a few things to consider.

Before You Start Planning and Building
Make sure to take care of the red tape first. Check with your local zoning office and find out if you'll need to obtain a building permit for your water garden pond.

Determine the Location
Location is everything when you're planning your garden pond. Choose an open spot in your yard that gets at least four hours of direct sunlight daily. The natural light will help the plants grow and aid in keeping the water clear.

Avoid locating your pond next to trees, bushes or plants that can drop leaves, branches, flower petals and other debris into the water. You'll also be less likely to run into roots and other obstacles when you dig. Stay away from buried electric, phone and gas lines. Call your local utility companies if you're not sure. In some states, digging before you check for lines is illegal.

Plan the Details
Now that you have found a suitable location, it's time to decide some details. Will your pond be a habitat for fish? Will it contain aquatic plants without fish? Will it contain both? If you're planning to add a fountain, stream, waterfall or rocks, you'll need to allow sufficient room.

Deciding on the Design
There are several designs of prefabricated ponds you can purchase at a garden center. Some nurseries carry them, and you can search the Internet. The design you choose doesn't need to be very deep. Keep in mind that many ornamental fish and plants can thrive in shallow water in warm-weather areas. Six to eight inches of water is sufficient for a pond. In colder areas of the country, the pond will need at least one spot that is 3 to 3 1/2 feet deep. This will provide a non-freezing space for the fish and plants during the winter.

If you chose not to use a prefabricated pond, you can purchase a swimming pool liner. Alternatively, you can use a small kiddie pool or an old waterbed as a liner.

Building the Pond
The next step is to dig out the hole for your pond. If you chose a prefabricated pond, follow the manufacturer's directions. You can also dig out your own design and seal it with a liner.

You'll need to make sure the dirt bottom and the sides of your pond are free from rocks, sticks and other debris before you place the liner. Otherwise, this debris can poke and rub holes in your liner and cause it to leak.

Once the basic pond is done, it's time to add water, fish, plants, rocks, fountains, streams, waterfalls and other details. If you don't use a waterfall, which will help to circulate and aerate the water, you may choose to use a pond pump instead.

Care and Maintenance
With the proper care and maintenance, you'll notice that your pond will flourish during the spring and summer seasons. You'll need to add water periodically to keep the level up throughout the year. You'll also need to check the condition of the water to make sure it can support plant and ornamental fish life. You may need to add bacteria or other water treatments. Fishneed to be fed regularly unless they have aquatic plants to nibble (which is preferable), and plants need periodic fertilization.

If you live in an area that experiences cold winter weather, it's a good idea to remove your pond's fountain, waterfall, and fish to protect them from the weather. Before you replace them in the spring, inspect them. Replace any worn or damaged parts and clean them out before you use them again.

During the winter months, your pond won't be as active. But it will still need regular maintenance and need to be kept clean.