Probably the biggest decision in building a water garden, is where to locate it. First of all... have a seat. Just sit down on your patio, or in the living room, or whatever vantage point you will be viewing your water garden from. Look at what spaces your eye is naturally drawn towards, and start taking some notes about possible locations for the water garden.

Once you have a few possible locations picked out, take a closer look at them, and evaluate how well they would work for a water garden. How much shade is available? You'll want an area that gets some sunlight but not too much. Too much direct sunlight will raise the temperature of the water, possibly making it unsuitable for plants or fish. Sunlight will also encourage the growth of algae.

Nearby trees can provide some necessary shade for the pond, but if there are too many trees too close to the water garden, you may have a problem with falling leaves in autumn. You can manually remove the leaves as the fall, or invest in a pond skimmer, but some advance planning will help you to prevent a lot of leaves in the pond.

If you plan on having a running water feature, such as a stream or waterfall, or if you need a filter and pump, you'll need to plan on getting electricity to your water garden. It's much easier to run electricity to a water garden located close to your house, than if the water garden is on the other side of a large lawn. However, there are solar powered pumps and pond lights that can be used in locations where it isn't practical to install an electrical outlet.

If you take some time to sit down and plan the right location for your water garden, you will get more enjoyment from it.

Very few people will complain about their water garden being too big. Too big, and your water garden will dominate your landscaping. Too small, and it may not have the desired impact. With these in mind, you'll want to make your water garden the right size to begin with. Before you decide on a size, you'll want to know the purpose of your water garden.

If you just want some running water, or even a few plants in your water garden, you can plan either a small discreet water garden in a container, or a larger pond. If the only space you have available is a small corner of your patio, you can build a small water feature from any waterproof container, and add a few water plants to it.

If you plan on adding fish to your water garden, you'll need more space, not only for the fish, but for the required filters, pumps, and plumbing. Some fish can tolerate smaller spaces, but you still want to give them plenty of space to grow, and shaded places for them to hide from the sun or from predators. Larger fish, like koi, will require a larger space. You'll want a large pond, at least 18 inches deep. 36 to 42 inches would be even better, especially in hot or cold climates.

Take a look at the location you've chosen for your water garden, and decide how big it should be. Lay out a garden hose or a rope where you would like the edge of the pond to be. Check to see if the pond will be too large, and overpowering, or too small. Rearrange the hose or rope until you find a size that will suit you.