Are you ready to fill in your pond? While it’s always sad to get rid of a feature that represents so much spent time and energy, it’s also an exciting time that opens the way to realizing new visions. There’s a lot to consider, but the first step is almost always to begin by removing any fish and plants. You’ll need to decide what you’ll do with them - rehoming is the best choice, but whatever you do, do NOT release your fish into the wild! Emptying the water can be accomplished using an existing pond vac or your Shop Vac, or you can set up an old fashioned bucket brigade. Keep in mind that if your fish are already gone and don’t need it, the water you’re hauling makes terrific fertilizer for your garden. Disconnect any equipment at this point, remove any rocks and any other decorations. Once the pond area is empty, your next step depends on how your pond is constructed. Use a hammer and chisel if you need to break apart any masonry, and if you have a pond liner, that also must be removed. This can easily turn into an all-weekend project, so consider inviting several friends over to give you a hand.
To fill the pond, you’ll want dirt - as in fill dirt. You can top off the last 5-8 inches or so with soil and mix it together with the fill dirt for a gradual transition, but your budget will thank you if the bulk is plain ol’ fill dirt. You’d be surprised at the amount of local dirt-sellers you’ll find if you search through the local paper and online. If you’re patient, you may even get it for free. Even better, if the pond was man-made, the dirt that was originally removed may still be in the area. Some ponds have raised, grassy beds surrounding their entire circumference; this is likely the original excavated dirt. You can easily use a machine to move this back into the pond, saving you a dirt-purchase and a dirt-haul. Wherever your dirt comes from, there will inevitably be settling once the hole is filled. You can minimize this by vigorously tamping down the dirt as you add layers. For a large hole, consider renting a clay and dirt compactor.
