Building a backyard pond can change the way you and your family connect with the natural world. For children and grandchildren, it becomes a place to discover biodiversity, observe life cycles and spend more time outdoors. That time outside is more valuable than ever. We know regular outdoor play in childhood leads to healthier gut and immune function, improved mood and better eyesight. Building a backyard pond is one way to draw us all outside. When I built a backyard pond with my children, we developed a ritual of heading outside to our pond to see what new wildlife had come to visit every morning. This routine also drew us outside into the morning sunlight first thing each day, just as nature intended.
Whether you are building a large, impressive pond or a small, simple one, the key steps remain the same.
Step one: Select your site
A pond should ideally be placed in a semi-shaded area that receives some sunlight for plant growth but also includes shaded spots to prevent excessive water evaporation. Avoid areas with overhanging trees that drop excessive leaves, which can lead to water contamination.
Step two: Mark out the pond shape
Use a rope or hose to outline the desired shape of your pond. Consider incorporating shallow edges for wildlife access.
Step three: Excavate
Dig the pond to a depth of 30–60 cm in the centre, ensuring gradual slopes for safe animal entry and exit.
Step four: Choose a pond liner
Select a durable pond liner to prevent water seepage.
Options include:
Plastic liner: The cheapest option, though it does introduce plastic into your backyard. If your budget permits, look at other options.
Pre-formed fibreglass ponds: A sturdy and easy-to-install alternative.
Clay lining: A natural and eco–friendly option for large ponds.
Step five: Add an underlay
Place a layer of sand or geotextile fabric beneath the liner to protect it from sharp rocks and roots.
Step six: Position rocks and logs
Arrange rocks, logs and other natural materials around the pond edges to provide shelter and perching spots for wildlife.
Step seven: Fill your pond
Preferably use rainwater, as it lacks chlorine and supports a healthier ecosystem. If you only have tap water, fill your pond and let it sit for two to five days before introducing plants or animals. This allows chlorine to dissipate. Chlorine is toxic to amphibians like frogs. When exposed to chlorine, their skin can become irritated and inflamed, breaking down their protective outer layer and making them more susceptible to disease and infection.
Step eight: Plant native aquatic vegetation
Bring your pond to life with native aquatic plants like water ribbon, nardoo, sedges, rushes and water lilies — they add beauty, provide shelter for wildlife and help keep the water healthy. Even naturally arriving plants such as duckweed, azolla and water milfoil can boost biodiversity and help your pond thrive.
Step nine: Introduce native species
Here, you wait and see what species self–introduce to the habitat you built, or actively introduce suitable species. There are native pond landscape specialists who can help guide you on the most suitable species for your pond. However, if you are patient, you will see that ponds can attract a rich mix of native wildlife, including frogs, tadpoles, dragonflies, lizards, skinks, birds, native bees and butterflies. In some areas, even wallabies or possums may visit, especially in dry seasons.
Natural ponds are a great example of the ‘If you build it, they will come’ philosophy. Don’t forget to include flowering plants to support pollinators and shallow edges, pebbles and sticks to provide safe landing spots for your new visitors.
Troubleshooting common pond issues
ALGAE OVERGROWTH: Excessive algae can be caused by too much sunlight or nutrient buildup. Reduce sunlight exposure by adding floating plants like native water lilies. Remove excess organic matter. When we had a large algae bloom after a wet week, we watched aquatic snails, whose primary food is algae, naturally appear in the pond and feed on the overgrowth until it came under control.
MOSQUITO LARVAE: If mosquitoes are breeding in your pond, native predators or a small solar-powered fountain will help. With native predators, you can take the ‘wait and watch’ approach to see if they self-introduce. When our pond teemed with mosquito larvae after heavy rain, we took action as we didn’t want a backyard full of mosquitoes. To solve our potential mosquito problem, we introduced some small native fish called Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni). Australian smelt are found across much of south–eastern Australia. We chose this fish as it was local to our area, known to be an excellent mosquito predator and is ‘frog friendly’ as it won’t hunt tadpoles.
Introducing Smelt was very successful. These six tiny fish zoomed around our pond tirelessly hunting larvae. In fact, their impact was so large that I worried that they would run out of food. When live food is unavailable, Australian smelt can apparently be trained to eat dried food. We experimented with offering dried food, but this never seemed to interest the fish, and they continued to grow even though there were fewer larvae around. For now, I’m assuming nature is providing enough food for them while we check on them to make sure they are still thriving.
Other native mosquito larvae predators, including dragonfly nymphs, self-introduced into our pond. Dragonfly nymphs (pictured below) are baby dragonflies; they are aquatic, predatory larvae. These baby dragonflies are fast swimmers and great fun to watch. I didn’t realise until building a pond that dragonflies can spend months to years in this juvenile aquatic form. Fully grown nymphs use plant stems to climb out of water and emerge as dragonflies. I look forward to having more dragonflies in my backyard because of the pond. MURKY WATER: This can be due to soil runoff or excess organic debris. Use aquatic plants as natural filters and add a layer of gravel to the pond.
DYING PLANTS: If native plants aren’t thriving, ensure they have the right conditions—some need partial submersion while others prefer the edges of the pond. Check for signs of overcrowding and trim as necessary.
UNWANTED PESTS: If non-native species like cane toads are invading your pond, the advice is to create barriers using logs and rocks while ensuring entry points for native wildlife.
One of the best things I found about building a natural pond with my kids was the opportunity to help build an ecosystem together. Over the weeks of daily watching, we started to appreciate that some of the ‘issues’ listed above were simply part of a larger life cycle that, if we got out of the way of, would self-resolve. I think this was a lovely way to provide a Natural Health philosophy lesson for my kids!
A backyard pond is a fantastic way to bring nature closer to your home. A well-designed pond can provide an essential freshwater source for local frogs, birds, dragonflies and even small marsupials. It is a great project to get your kids or grandkids involved in, encouraging engagement with nature. Through doing this, you will give them (and you) a healthy dose of nature therapy.
By Rebecca Smith
This article is from our Winter 2026 edition of True Natural Health magazine. This issue will be posted to members soon. All Natural Health Society members receive a copy of our magazine packed with articles and inspiration every 3 months. Memberships start at just $36 per year. Register here: Account | Natural Health Society