Asked on Apr 17, 2015
Backyard pond
by Rose
+20
I was given this! Can it be used above ground? I can't dig in my yard too many boulders :(
18 answers
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Sure, it can be used above ground. Just be creative with what you put around it. Maybe a few of those smaller boulders for support. I had one almost identical to that for about 5 yrs. It was a dry period in Texas Hill Country so I drove to the lake bed and loaded up on all the stone my little truck would carry. Filled in around it and dressed it up with assorted plants. Wish I still had a pic of it.
![Gonfshn77302]()
Gonfshn77302
on Apr 17, 2015
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I think it best that you stabilize it all the way around with dirt, bricks, rocks or whatever you choose. You can get some ground cover plants and plant in the dirt around the pond edges near the top so they trail downward. It would look great with rocks around it...you can put the dirt in between the rock gaps and plant something that doesn't need to go deep with its roots. Creeping jenny would work great. Good luck with it...show us some pics when its done. enjoy!
![Carmela Taglialavore]()
Carmela Taglialavore
on Apr 17, 2015
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Here is a picture of a "pond" in my yard. Its actually a cement birdbath I used to cover a darn tree stump that was quite an eyesore...I covered the stump with dirt and put the bath on top...then added dirt and rocks and plantings. It looks crummy right now, but when the lillys bloom it's pretty. The pale green ground cover is creeping jenny that I mentioned in the previous post.
![Carmela Taglialavore]()
Carmela Taglialavore
on Apr 17, 2015
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You might consider creating a "raised flower bed" type area with timbers, bricks, cinderblock, etc. fill it in with soil and set the pond form down in it so you can plant around it. They make raised garden bed kits now used for framing up small vegetable gardens that would probably do the trick if you're not keen on working with a power saw (like me). You can find these at Home Depot. Found this pic that looks a lot like your shape framed up with stacked pavers.
![BygoneVintage]()
BygoneVintage
on Apr 17, 2015
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I had one of these and I did dig it into the ground, filled it up with water, added some fish, and built a water fall out of rocks. Well, I got tired of cleaning the filter, inside the pond and making sure the fish were ok and decided to tear it down once the fish died off (actually, they were eaten by something, either a raccoon or a cat got them). Anyway, when we were breaking down the rock water fall we found a hugh rat snake under the last rock. Needless to say, I was glad to get rid of the pond, water fall and every thing else associated with this. If I had another one, I would put plants in it above ground and rocks around it. Just don't make a "pond" out of it, LOL!!!!!!! Good Luck
![LYNN]()
LYNN
on Apr 17, 2015
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Well,this IS a water pond form and yes in order for you to use this year round it needs to be put into the ground. It will freeze solid and crack if you don't and using a pond pump to keep air flowing and not stagnet also keeps the Eco system fresh and alive. Yes if you have snakes, frogs, turtles, dragonflies, but wait isn't that why most people like them so much. To sit on a bench nearby and listen to the water flow ( very relaxing ) sitting and watching fish swim with your neighbor over a cup of coffee and catching up on things. Well if you want a top side planter I suggest a half barrel and throw in some flowers. But for some fortunate enough to have one of these A Water Pond is a little slice of heaven in such a rat race world. Now get off your butt and clear a spot and use the rocks or boulders around your new Koi pond! Lol ( just between us here, this is funny, after you build it invite several friends over for a pool party and keep this Koi pond on the QT, have a few snacks, and lead them to chairs to see the new addition, it would be a riot, good friends and showing off your hard work. Party of the year right there ) Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
![JoAnna Cooper]()
JoAnna Cooper
on Apr 18, 2015
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We collected rocks and built a "hill" to drop a similar form into. Must have dirt and rocks to support the weight when it it full of water.
![Debby Brown Weaver]()
Debby Brown Weaver
on Apr 18, 2015
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You could use it above ground, and since you are in a warm climate, you could have fish in it also! Just make certain your area is perfectly level.
![Donna L. Etchberger]()
Donna L. Etchberger
on Apr 18, 2015
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I would say yes....if you build up the ground around it with rocks and dirt. Mainly rocks. I would use some pots and potted plants in this mix also, to give it some interest.
![Elizabeth]()
Elizabeth
on Apr 18, 2015
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Really ment for below ground but if you support the sides you should be fine. Without some support it will crack and leak.
![Sarah]()
Sarah
on Apr 18, 2015
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I have several raised ponds in my yard - actually prefer them that way so I can sit alongside to work on them, dip my fingers in the water and talk to my goldfish. One is surrounded with a rastra block structure around it that I added a slate tile top for sitting and stacked interesting rocks to disguise it. The rastra is set a little away form the pond, backfilled with dirt and planted with bog plants. Another is just surrounded with rock and dirt. A third was surround with the stackable concrete block that are made for creating raised beds.
![Susie]()
Susie
on Apr 18, 2015
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This looks like a streamlet that would drain into a main pond. I suppose you could build up. Make sure that when you back fill that nothing sharp (rocks,ect.) rub the liner. As the pond settles, rocks could puncture the liner,which of course will create more work. Good luckwith your project!
![Carole Kollar-Stocker]()
Carole Kollar-Stocker
on Apr 18, 2015
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build up a bed and plants around it.
![Ione H]()
Ione H
on Apr 18, 2015
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As everyone has said, this kind of pond needs to be supported to hold the weight of the water. You can build a lumber frame like for a raised bed, say a foot wider than your pond liner. Backfill with dirt (soil) compacting it as you go. Then you can plant terrestrial plants around the pond. The Empress of Dirt has a how to on this.
![BS]()
BS
on Apr 20, 2015
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We built a frame out of landscape timbers for our pond like this. We filled the inside with bags of inexpensive mulch (still in the bags) then set the pond in, added extra loose mulch around the edges & checked for level as we filled it. We added pockets of plants around the edges & corners of the frame. We kept gold fish in it for 12 years - in our SW Missouri climate we used a stock tank heater to keep in from freezing. I enjoyed it as an above ground pond right beside our deck.
![Denise Kramme]()
Denise Kramme
on Apr 24, 2015
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I have had a pond like this for years and it is just sitting on the ground and I have nineteen goldfish in it. They are still ticking after about five years I do keep a pump running all year. I do want to put some stones or plants around it one day.
![Brenda Edwards]()
Brenda Edwards
on May 03, 2015
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Where can I buy this insert
![Dorothy Johnson]()
Dorothy Johnson
on Apr 07, 2016
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Home Depot carries them in my local garden center
![Gerry]()
Gerry
on Apr 07, 2016
Gonfshn77302
on Apr 17, 2015
Carmela Taglialavore
on Apr 17, 2015
BygoneVintage
on Apr 17, 2015
LYNN
on Apr 17, 2015
JoAnna Cooper
on Apr 18, 2015
Debby Brown Weaver
on Apr 18, 2015
Donna L. Etchberger
on Apr 18, 2015
Elizabeth
on Apr 18, 2015
Sarah
on Apr 18, 2015
Susie
on Apr 18, 2015
Carole Kollar-Stocker
on Apr 18, 2015
Ione H
on Apr 18, 2015
BS
on Apr 20, 2015
Denise Kramme
on Apr 24, 2015
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