Building a raised pond is a fantastic way to add a focal point to your garden without the back breaking labor of excavating several tons of soil. Raised ponds also give you much greater flexibility in where you put them, as long as it is flat your are essentially good to go. Plus, for those that have dodgy knees like me, it’s much easier option on the knees when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.
Here are the best options for building your own own. Which one you go for will depend on both your DIY skill level and also what budget you have for the project.
Timber Sleepers (Most Popular)
New or reclaimed railway sleepers are the gold standard for DIY raised ponds, they have been a very popular choice for raised ponds as well as raised flower beds for many years with their popularity holding strong. They are heavy, durable, and naturally beautiful.
- The Build: The key to a strong and successful design is to stack the sleepers horizontally. You should aim to stagger the joints between the sleepers like bricks to give the pond walls extra strength. Use long timber screws to bolt them together.
- Pros: These are a very sturdy and also simple solution as long as you have someone to help with the lifting of them. The depth of the sleeper also provides you a wide seat so that you can safely sit on at the edge of the pond, and they look great in rustic or modern gardens alike.
- Cons: Reclaimed sleepers can leak creosote which is harmful to fish, so stick to new, pressure-treated softwood or oak if you can, and also make sure that you buy a good quality pond liner.
Brick or Stone Masonry
If you want something more permanent and which also matches your house, then a brick built pond is probably the best is the way to go.
- The Build: Any brick based pond will require a concrete strip foundation footing to help prevent any future cracking occuring as the ground moves with heat and moisture. You can options in the construction in that you can either build a double-skin brick wall or alternatively you can use concrete blocks and “face” them with decorative stone or slate.
- Pros: Extremely long-lasting; virtually infinite design shapes – circles, curves, etc, limited mainly by your imagination.
- Cons: High skill level required or a professional bricklayer to create it. The materials are also more expensive for this option.
Gabion Baskets
If you are looking for a modern, industrial, or architectural look then this might be the choice for you. Gabions which are wire cages filled with stones can be an incredibly effective option.
- The Build: Assemble the wire baskets and fill them with cobbles, basalt, or flint. This option works best if you use a rigid pre-formed pond to sit inside the gabion, as there is the risk of damage to a more traditional liner from any sharp edges on the stones..
- Pros: Excellent drainage; no mortar or specialist construction skills required; give a very trendy look to your pond.
- Cons: You will need a high-quality, puncture-resistant underlay to protect the liner from the sharp edges of the stones if you go for the flexible liner option.
Interlocking Timber Kits
If you aren’t totally confident with using tools, pre-made slot together kits are probably the best option you. You can also get ones with a metal frame work and decorative outer skin and these pre-made kits are the easiest entry point. They are also very widely available both online and from garden centres
- The Build: Much like a log cabin, the planks have notches that slot together at the corners.
- Pros: Can potentially be assembled in under an hour; usually supplied complete with a fitted liner.
- Cons: These are generally smaller in size although a wide variety of options are available. They are also a lot less heavy duty than options that use sleepers.
Comparison Table
| Method | DIY Difficulty | Cost | Durability | Best For… |
| Sleepers | Medium | ££ | High | Rustic/Modern hybrid |
| Masonry | High | £££ | Very High | Permanent fixtures |
| Gabions | Low/Medium | ££ | High | Industrial/Modern |
| Kits | Low | £ | Medium |
