Where to start?

That question may be the toughest one in creating a pond. You want some sun, but not too much. Some shade, but again not too much. Trees make a great back drop, but leaves can wreak havoc in the water and if too close will throw off the scale of the pond elements.

3 to 4 hours of sun is great for most aquatic plants and plants are very beneficial for the health of the pond.

Next is size and shape. Is the area contoured naturally for a waterfall, assuming you want one. The soil excavated to create the pond can be used to created the steps for the falls and a slight berm around the perimeter of the pond. When laying out your falls flow, Feng Shui says the water should flow towards the house or your Wealth and good Chi could be floating away.

Ponds with waterfalls don't really lend themselves to a rectilinear shape, too unnatural. If you want a formal or rectilinear shape you should use a fountain for water movement and sound. Shape will be dependent upon the size of the area you have to work with. The smaller the area, the simpler the shape will have to be.

I had a 16' x 26' area to work in. I removed an oval pool and replaced it with the pond. A larger area will allow for a more natural shape and if large enough you can have a stream.

As an example, on my pond, because of the length available, I was able to add a 10' stream between the waterfall and the pond.

As mentioned earlier, for a formal look go with a rectilinear shaped pool. If you plan on putting in fish it must be at least 32" in Michigan and similar climates. A small pond can be dug and shaped with a hand shovel. Use a level to check for plumb walls. A plant shelf is usually not included on a rectanglur or square pond, but could be and once the coping is completed would look quite nice. If there are going to be fish in the pond a filter of some sort must be used. Either a bottom drain or skipper are available. Bottom drain filters can be a bit mor problematical due to the need to unplug the intake/drain and it may reauire getting into the pond to reach it. A skimmer works great to contains leaves and other floating debris.