Here, the objective is to find ways to get a pond (below ground) dug for free.

For the most part, persons interested in this kind of information face cash constraints affecting their primary objective of digging an artificial pond.

If you belong to this category of persons, the tips provided here will help.

How to Build a Pond for Free

In aquaculture, artificial ponds are vital in sustaining fish species as they serve as breeding grounds. What more?

Such ponds also serve as drinking or feeding locations for other wildlife creatures.

While there are two pond categories, above-ground and below-ground, we’re more interested in below-ground ponds as these require digging.

The Need to Have a Pond Dug for Free

Landowners have varying needs, which mostly tend toward improvement and aquaculture.

The digging process can be costly depending on pond size (width & length), depth, type of material to be dug out, spoilage space, and the availability of wet decay.

These factors will require minimal or significant expenses in terms of digging costs. Where you live is also a factor, as some locations tend to have higher living costs, affecting all aspects, including pond digging costs.

Depending on your situation, contractors may charge much more than you budgeted.

Given better options, most landowners will want to explore such to have their ponds dug for free. So, are there such options? While this is a great idea to try out, there aren’t many options out there.

In other words, free digging of ponds is possible but not widespread.

Getting a Pond Dug for Free

Your quest to have a pond dug for free on your property depends on available options.

The standard options typically include getting the job done via DIY, seeking government grants, and establishing contact with contractors that do offer such services.

It’s important to state that readily finding a contractor to dig your pond for free might be tricky. Many contacts need to be made to determine who offers such services and whether your area or location is covered.

With that said, let’s discuss each of these points in more detail.

i. The DIY Option

One of the most popular strategies for getting a pond dug for free includes getting yourself dirty.

Here, you’ll have to be involved in getting the job done. This is the easiest option for persons having difficulty finding free services.

While this technique won’t cost you a thing apart from supplies needed for the work, you should be prepared for some physical work.

Of course, you must be knowledgeable about the process, physically sound, and able to execute the job.

Before you start, it’s important to follow three basic rules. These include finding a consistent water source to avoid drying out, building ledges for aesthetics & keeping out debris, and the Need for drain pipes.

These pipes will be needed for cleaning the pond when necessary.

Tools are among the primary requirements for digging a pond. The basic ones include a shovel, rake, gloves, and a wheelbarrow. You’ll need a helping hand to make the process a lot faster.

This project can be spaced out over some time (days, weeks, or months) to make it a lot easier.

First off, you need to have the targeted area cleared. This will require removing any shrubs, rocks, or grasses around. Having cleared the area, digging should commence.

Such digging will need to be punctuated by shoveling out the loosened dirt.

Has the dirt been removed from the area? Knowing what to use the land for is essential, which may become problematic when not figured out. This is especially true for larger ponds.

With your pond dug, add rocks, boulders, or rubber liners before filling with water.

ii. Seeking Government Grants to Build a Pond

You might be lucky to find or qualify for government grants that support pond digging. To have any luck with that, you’ll need to ask around.

An excellent place to start is your county’s extension office. While such grants aren’t readily available, such are designed to foot part or total pond digging expenses.

An excellent example is the pond program designed by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. This program is designed to assist irrigators in renovating and constructing ponds for agricultural production.

Launched in 2001, this program has succeeded in helping irrigators create over 235 ponds translating to about 7,580 additional acre-feet of water storage in the state.

You may want to learn more about such a program if you live in Georgia.

Landowners outside Georgia can contact their state’s soil and water conservation department or similar agencies to determine what grant opportunities are available for pond digging.

iii. Finding Contractors that Do Offer Such Service

The third option you have to get a pond dug for free is to find contractors that do offer such a service.

Mostly, contractors are commercial operators that charge a fee for their services. However, some of these contractors offer great deals that can be mutually beneficial.

In other words, you might find a great deal that benefits both parties (you and the contractor). Aaron’s Trucking Service is one of such contractors whose services can prove highly beneficial to you.

It offers all kinds of solutions that include road construction and pond building.

Others include bulkhead installation, as well as site clearing & site work. Pond construction is one of its specialty areas covering digging private fish ponds and building large stormwater retention ponds.

To know if this is the right contractor for your free pond digging needs, you’ll need to contact the company for further details.

Other companies to try out include All Season Nursery & Landscaping Inc., Living Water Aeration, Midsouth Pond Supply, and Sugar Magnolia Landscaping LLC.

These are helpful tips for getting a pond dug for free. While such opportunities aren’t readily available, you’ll do well to explore such to see if you qualify.

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