Episode: Dragonflies and Snakes

Purpose: To build a pond for your back yard, which will add appeal and attract dragonflies and damselflies.

Materials: A garden hose or can of spray paint, shovels and other digging tools, a 4-foot level, several bags of sand (amount needed will depend on the size of pond), a 2x4 piece of wood long enough to span the hole, and a pool liner and pump.

Instructions:

1) Have a pond plan drawn up with your dimensions and depths. Experiment with different shapes and sizes, but remember a pond should have different levels or shelves for plants to rest on as well as a wide shallow area to allow reptiles, amphibians and birds to enter or exit.

2) Use the garden hose or spray paint to outline your pond design at the chosen location.

3) Now lay out the pond liner in a sunny place. The sun's heat will soften the plastic liner, making it easier to use later.

4) Next, begin digging! Keep in mind that the colder the region, the deeper the pond will have to be. The average pond depth is 30 inches deep. (A depth of 4 feet is required in colder regions to allow fish and hibernating reptiles and amphibians to survive winter.)

5) Using the 2x4 and the level will ensure that the shelves are even and that the pond perimeter is level from edge to edge. This will keep water from spilling out over the lower edge.

6) Pick out all large rocks and debris from the pond and rack it smooth. Add a layer of sand to the bottom and different shelve levels of the pond. The sand will act as a buffer layer between the ground and the pond liner.

7) Place the pond liner into the hole. Shape the liner to fit the hole by pressing it into the hole with your hands and feet. Be sure to extend the liner at least 9 inches around the edge of the pond. The extension will help prevent the water from draining under the liner if the pond should flood. Secure the liner by using heavy rocks, metal or plastic stakes on the edge of the liner.

8) For the final steps, you will need to assemble and add the pump to the pond (according to pump directions). Fill the pond with water.

9) The addition of plants and careful placement of some sticks and logs, for basking, will make the pond more desirable for many critters to make their home. Aquatic plants need to remain potted, since they cannot root themselves in the plastic liner.