Once you have settled on the proper site for your pond, it is time to begin excavation. 

Miss Dig - Before you begin to excavate the soil in your backyard or anywhere else, be sure to give your local utility company a call. Most of them have a program such as "Miss Dig" in which representatives from the utilities will visit your property and place flags over the location of underground cables, wires, pipes and conduits.

It is never pleasant and may be very dangerous to stick your shovel into a natural gas pipeline. There is no charge for the service so there is no reason not to give them a call.

1. By Machine - Depending on the size and location of your backyard pond, you might be able to use power machinery to excavate the hole. Small backhoes and bobcat diggers can do a quick job especially for larger ponds. Some of these tools are now available at local rental companies. 

The downside is that power tools often take either some learning time for a new operator or must be operated by a professional. This can add significantly to the cost of the project. On the other hand, a power digger in the hands of an inexperienced operator could result in serious damage to nearby trees, sidewalks, lawns, houses and the family dog.

2. By Hand - There can be a lot of satisfaction in doing a job yourself. There can also be a lot of calluses and sore backs involved. Depending on the size of your pond, hand digging is a real possibility. It will save money and give you control over how the hole is dug. The holes for the ponds in the pictures below were all dug by hand in a single weekend.

Generally, the depth of your pond will be dependent on whether you decide to have fish. If you are just having a reflection pool or will be growing a few plants, 12 inches of water may be all you need.

Goldfish and their relatives need about 18 inches of water depth if you are going to over-winter them in the pond. This depth will also provide enough water volume to moderate the fluctuations in water temperature that will occur more rapidly in shallower ponds.

Koi need more depth than goldfish. They are capable of becoming quite large and need room to maneuver and grow. Most koi enthusiasts feel that you need at least 2 feet in depth and 3 or 4 feet would be even better. 

Local Ordinances: Before you start digging, be sure to check with your local building inspector. You may need a permit for the construction of a pond. Also, different jurisdictions have differing requirements for backyard ponds. Some will have a requirement that your pond be treated the same as a swimming pool if it is more than a certain depth. If this is the case, you may be required to fence in the area to prevent small children from wandering onto your property and falling in your pond.

Level - It is very important that the top of the pond be level on all sides. If one area is lower than another, guess where the water will run. 

Stones - As you are digging your pond, be sure to remove all stones, roots and other debris from the hole. Even the smallest, smoothest stone may lead to a future puncture in a rubber liner. Remember that the liner will be pushed against the sides of the hole under a lot of pressure once it is filled with water. The liners are tough but, over time, they may wear through and spring a leak if pressed against a solid, irregular shaped object.

Digging Layers - Most ponds are excavated with shelves at different depths. It starts with a small 6 by 6 inch shelf that will serve as the top edge of the pond. By laying the liner over this shelf and covering it with stone, the pond depth may lower by 6 inches without exposing any of the liner to the sun. Remember that ultraviolet light is the enemy of these liners. It is what causes them to become brittle and crack open over the years. 

Once the first layer is completed, mark an area about 12 inches in from the side. Now dig down 12 inches in depth and this will be the shelf for your plants. It should tilt just a little toward the side wall so that plant containers will be less likely to slide off and into the center of the pond.