Ponds are often a beautiful addition to residential or commercial properties, and choosing the right edging is one of the most important decisions in the overall design. Stone is one of the most common types of pond edging, but brick and concrete are also sometimes used. Another approach to edging a pond is to plant grass all the way up to the edge of the water, then accenting around the edges with plants suitable for marshy soils, such as lilies and ferns. Often, the type of pond edging chosen is dependent on a number of factors, such as climate, pond shape and depth, and the purpose of the pond.
Many people put small ponds in their backyard gardens as focal points for entertaining. For this type of pond, many homeowners choose pond edging that is somewhat elevated. Raised pond edging can also serve as casual seating, and is especially nice if there are fish in the pond. Guests will likely be drawn to the pond to admire the fish, and having raised edging around the pond gives guests a convenient place to perch.
Raised pond edging is typically done in stone or rock. The stone can be evenly shaped, or for a more natural look, uneven stones can be stacked together. Another way to achieve a more natural look in stone pond edging is to vary the colors of the rocks. For more uniform raised pond edging, stones should typically be of the same size and shape. Precut stones can typically be purchased at home improvement centers or rock quarries.
Another option for pond edging also involves using rock or stone, but rather than having it elevated, many homeowners choose to embed the rock around the edge of the pond. This can be done without using mortar by digging into the dirt all around the pond, then stacking in the stone. If the soil surrounding the pond is extremely marshy, multiple layers of rock may be needed for reinforcement. If this is the cases, a layer of rock is laid down, then covered with dirt, and repeated until the area is stable. This procedure is usually much more time consuming than using mortar between the inlaid stone.
Many ponds are not edged with stone or rock, but instead, grass and other plants are used all the way up to the edge of the water. This may require a little more maintenance, because there will be debris from the plant life that will eventually end up in the water. In addition, mowing or weed eating around the pond edge will usually scatter grass into the pond.