Think of the visual impact that you can create with a pond - don't hide it away. A pond should be the focal point of your garden, giving you and your visitors great pleasure all year round. You can draw the eye with statuary, a fountain or strategically placed boulders too, and combine the pond with a rockery to one side to add some height to the scene. Seating near the pool is also a good idea so you can enjoy the view in comfort.

As you're less likely to linger in the garden in the winter, it's preferable to have a good view of the pond from the house too. And try to site your pond (and any adjoining rockery) so that it blends in with its surroundings, rather than sticking out like a sore thumb.

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Sloping gardens pose more problems than flat ones. A pond looks far more natural at the foot of a slope. But if the ground slopes away from your house, then site the pond at the top of the bank, so that you can see the water.

Aquatic plants need good light for at least part of each day, so study your garden on a sunny summer's day to decide on the ideal spot. Avoid parts of the garden overhung by tree branches, because, apart from the problems of shade, the roots will be as far out from the trunk as the branches. Digging through roots is not to be recommended because it can be hard work and will damage the tree. Additionally, future root growth could easily damage the liner and cause a leak. Leaves falling into the water are also a nuisance because the rotting process uses up the oxygen that the fish need to survive. Loads of leaves can be a nuisance in a fish-free pool too, as they will rot down to a sludge that will be difficult to clear if you ever have to re-line the pond.

Don't despair if the only suitable site for your pond turns out to be behind the garden shed. Link it to the rest of the garden with an attractive path. Or move the shed....