In this blog we explain how to build a garden pond using WoodBlocX, quickly, easily and without the need for any specialist tools.

The beauty of using a raised pond is that you don’t have to dig a great big hole! By using a WoodBlocX pond you can create a raised pool that can be put on any surface, even a patio, allowing you to incorporate water into your garden very easily. Our ponds are just as easy to assemble as our raised beds, plus we can even calculate what size liner you’ll need. Choose from a pre-designed pond kit, use our pond calculator tool or send us your ideas and we will create a design for you.

Create the perfect pond

We have two styles of ponds which are available in a range of different shapes and sizes:

Single Skinned Pond
Sizes from 1-2m

These small ponds are ideal for small gardens pr tight spaces. are ideal. These design range from 1-2m in size as the single wall can only cope with a certain amount of water pressure. Prices start from  £147.00.

Shop our small pond designs.

Double Skin Ponds
Sizes 2m+

Our large pond designs are able to cope with much more pressure and can be built to any size up to 1250mm in height. Our designs features an inner pond which is 750mm thinner and shorter than the outer skin.

Shop our large pond designs.

Water blades

We don't supply water blades for your pond but we can adapt your design to accommodate one.

Here's how to build a garden pond using WoodBlocX...

Your WoodBlocX delivery will look similar to this. Everything you need here, wooden blocks, capping, dowels, angle plates and your bespoke pond liner. All wooden parts are cut exactly to the sizes requested so there’s no waste at the end of the build.

When you have decided where your raised pond bed will sit in the garden, you will need to level the ground, once this is complete carefully set out the bottom layer of BlocX. Refer to the instructions to check where the supportive buttresses and angle plates need to be positioned.

Our clever dowel system holds the structure together, simply knock these into the recess holes, make sure you refer to your instructions to ensure you’re putting them in the correct places - we provide full step by step instructions with every kit.

Angle plates need to be placed on the supportive buttressed for extra strength and on the corners of the final layer before you add the capping. Once you’ve reached the final layer before the capping is added, cut the dowels down by three notches using a saw. Now you're ready to fit your liner.

You will need to cut the liner to fit over the capping, this will not cause any leakages as the water level should always be lower than the capping. Lastly, fit the capping with a lump hammer, using a protective piece of wood to ensure you don't damage your caps.

That's how to build a garden pond using WoodBlocX!

Pond inspiration

What our customers say about our raised ponds

Read more of our customer reviews here.

The benefits of garden ponds

Our Small Garden Design Ideas guide aims to give you heaps of inspiration for your next garden project, whether you have a small garden, a patio, a courtyard or you have a small space within a larger garden, we will show you how you can use our modular system to totally transform your plot into a beautiful and functional space that suits you perfectly.

Raised beds for small gardens

Raised garden beds are perfect for creating low maintenance spaces. Our raised beds are different to others available in many ways, but the most interesting is that they are completely customisable. Build at a height to suit you, choose any shape or size. Being a modular system all pieces are light weight and pre-cut so there's no heavy lifting, cutting or waste.

We have a free bespoke design service so even if you have an awkward space, we can create something that fits it perfectly.

Traditional raised beds
Rectangles and squares are the most popular shape for raised beds and we have covered almost ever width, height and length variation possible.

Curves and angles
Add shape to your garden with circular and angular raised beds, whether a show-stopping focal point or you need to add angles to make your raised bed fit an awkward space.

Tall and slim
An extra tall and narrow raised bed will make a great feature if space it at a premium in your garden. These are perfect for bordering patio seating areas or small courtyard gardens.

Corners and tight spaces
Our corner and L-shaped raised beds can provide extra planting space in small areas. Different levels of planting can be added to our design easily to add height.

Small garden design ideas - ponds

You may think a pond could take up too much space when considering small garden design ideas. However, adding a water feature to a garden can completely change the dynamic of a space. Creating a calming atmosphere thanks to the sound of running water or creating a habitat for beneficial wildlife, even in small gardens. Our ponds for small gardens are built in exactly the same why as our other structures and customers have the option to add bespoke features such as areas for planting or water blades.

With all of our products customers can use our free design service to get their perfect pond.

Standard ponds
Our small ponds are available in either rectangle or square shapes and a variety of sizes to fit your garden perfectly.

Bespoke ponds
If you need something a little more than a standard rectangle or square pond, use of free design service.

Small garden design ideas - Garden furniture

Our modular system has transformed how our customers approach the space in their gardens, helping them to maximise space in a big way.

If you're in need of small garden design ideas, thinking about where you would like to sit and enjoy your garden is a great place to start. Adding our stand-alone seating or incorporating seating into raised beds, ponds and walls is just one of those ways. From a small additional bench at the end of a raised bed to a sunken seat that fits seamlessly into a retaining walls and tiered planters.

Garden furniture
From standard benches to garden seats with added planting, we have created some brilliant designs for small gardens.

Bespoke garden furniture
With all of our products you can opt to get something totally bespoke for your garden and seating is no exception.

Small garden design ideas - retaining walls

Replacing or adding a retaining wall to a small garden can give it a brand new lease of life. WoodBlocX retaining walls can be used to replace crumbing brick, stone or block walls without the need for foundations. Or, if your garden is sloped or on an incline, our walls can be used to landscape it.

We have pre-designed retaining wall kits and a calculator tool which allows you to add your own measurements. Alternatively use our free design service and we can work with you to create the perfect wall for your space.

Straight retaining walls

Bespoke retaining walls

Curved retaining walls

Angular retaining walls

To see how easy it is to build with WoodBlocX head to our YouTube channel.

We have created our own Garden Furniture Buyers Guide to help you make the right choice for your next garden furniture purchase. We have a wide range of styles plus a free bespoke design service which will enable you to get the perfect seating solution for your garden.

Our seats and garden furniture makes a great alternative to the metal, plastic and wood options that are widely available and this guide is designed to help you make the right choice for your garden and your lifestyle.

What should I consider before buying garden furniture?
Think about where in your garden you would like to use your furniture, is it going to be used on a patio, in the garden itself or does it need to form part of a wider landscape project? You also need to consider whether or not you would like to be able to store your furniture away or if you would like to make it a permanent feature in the garden, if your answer is the latter then WoodBlocX is your ideal solution.

Will my WoodBlocX garden furniture require regular maintenance?
WoodBlocX structures are maintenance free, all timber is pre-drilled and then treated so that the treatment penetrates 100% of the wood. No additional wood treatment is needed.

What should I do to prepare for my garden furniture?
WoodBlocX seats and benches can, like all WoodBlocX structures, be built on any surface - patios, grass, concrete, soil, tarmac etc. You will need to ensure that the surface is level and may therefore need to make some adjustments to the surface in order to achieve this.

Is it easy to build?
Our garden furniture is built in exactly the same way as all of our structures using our lightweight wooden blocks and fixed together with strong dowels. All customers receive a set of step by step instructions that are unique to their project. We also have a series of quick and easy to follow how-to-build videos which can be found HERE.

Do I need any special tools or materials to build it?
You will need a lump hammer and a spirit level for the main part of the build. For the preparation work levelling the ground you may need a shovel, rake, sharp sand and sub base depending on the surface that you plan to build on.

Should I add a liner to the planter sections?
Yes, we always recommend using a geotextile line for extra protection and to allow for drainage and airflow.

How long will it last?
As long as you follow our simple guidelines for building you structure you should get 20+ years, even more use out of it. For extra reassurance we guarantee all of our structures for 15 years.

How do I place an order for a bespoke garden furniture design?
Use our free bespoke design service or send us an email with your measurements and ideas, our design team will then work with you to create your perfect design.

What types of garden furniture are available?

Add a spark to your garden

This show stopping-curved seating and planter combination has been designed specifically to create a wrap-around for a fire pit or a BBQ. Bringing people together in a space that can be enjoyed all-year-round.

With planting options on two tiers, to use for colourful plants, decorative grasses or herbs that can be easily cultivated for outdoor cooking. The taller back planter also acts as a comfortable back rest.

Customers have full control over the seating and many opt for natural paving slabs, we can provide recommendations of products other customers have used.

Create the ultimate capsule garden

This L-shaped planter bench is perfect to add seating to corners of the garden that need enhancing or as a way to divide up a large space.

The large planter provides plenty of space for plants, the combination of planting and seating will create the perfect capsule garden. For a little something extra add a rockery or water feature.

We provide the wood for the seats but you could switch it up with different materials.

Pause for a moment

Add a little something extra to a standard bench or planter...planters with bench seating! With a deep seat and comfortable high backrest, this is a twist on our traditional bench design which will bring you a little closer nature once it is planted out with your favourite herbs or flowers.

With all of our designs this bench can be customised to suit you, wider planters, an additional seat, a concealed section under the seat - no problem! Just let us know what features you would like and we can create an updated design just for you.

More options in the bookend range

Take a seat

A classic wooden garden bench or garden table and bench set that will look beautiful anywhere including patios, porches, balconies, lawns even allotments, plus it fit perfectly into all styles of garden from modern minimalist to cottage gardens. The sturdy design ensures these structures will stand the test of time.

The garden bench can be built and in situ within an hour and will last for years and years.

Furniture that fits your garden and lifestyle perfectly

We know that one size doesn't fit all which is why we provide a free bespoke design service to all customers, whether you have a design ready to go but need us to configure it into WoodBlocX or you need us to come up with some ideas to transform you space we're here to help.

We have worked with 1000s of customers to create seating, planting and retaining wall solutions for their gardens.

This is your spring dose of garden ideas courtesy of our wonderful customers and their gorgeous gardens. So if shows like Your Garden Made Perfect has given you inspiration to tackle your garden terrace, boost your borders or pep up your plot then you have come to the right place. These ideas are sure to provide some helpful inspiration for your next project.

Add curves

The majority of our gardens are linear shapes, adding curves and organic shapes can really transform a space and make it feel bigger, use a curved wall to border a pathway, or curve the edges or a wall or raised bed to soften. We recommend using our Free Design Service for curved structures, our experienced team can use your measurements and ideas to create the perfect solution for your space, and more importantly, do all of the calculations!

Go bold

Adding a touch of extra colour to the garden can make a big difference. All of raised beds, retaining walls, seats and ponds can be painted with a good quality exterior wood paint. Last year many of our customers opted for different shades of grey, will grey be the go to colour for 2021? Lets wait and see!

Create a focal point

Some of the best garden design ideas feature a central space that draws the eye to., however, most popular place for planting is the edges of the garden. Raised beds make it easy to add a pop of colour and interest to different areas, breaking up open spaces. Our raised beds can be built on any surface which makes adding one to a lawn or patio quick and fuss free. Go for show-stopping shapes like circles or octagons or stand alone square or rectangular raised beds.

Zone your plot

Creating different zones in the garden can make a small garden feel bigger and a large garden feel more intimate. Mix up your space with L-shaped raised beds, slim planters, ponds or use our Free Bespoke Design Service to create something totally unique to your garden.

Mix up materials

Mixing up your garden with a combination of materials that complement each other will add texture and additional colour. We love use of natural wood, stone and brick in the garden. Our customers have successfully switched up our seating by adding natural stone paving to seating and it looks fantastic! 

Building joy

All of our structures are built in the same way, there's no waste, nor mess. You don't need any technical skills to build them, plus every kit comes with step-by-step instructions to guide you through every part of your build. To find out more about how to build a WoodBlocX structure click here or watch our videos over on YouTube.

We have made getting inspiration and costs for your next raised bed, pond or retaining wall project quick and easy.

Whether you know exactly what you want and just need to add your measurements or you need some help, guidance or inspiration, we have got you covered with our calculator tools and free bespoke design service.

Building with WoodBlocX is a little like building with Lego. Our kits contain everything you need to build your structure and a set of step by step instructions to guide you every step of the way. You can find out more about how to build and the benefits of using WoodBlocX here.

Raised bed inspiration

If you need inspiration for your next raised bed project you have come to the right place. Whether you're looking to grow edibles or flowers our wooden raised beds are ideal. The modular nature of our system means that we can create almost any shape from traditional rectangle and square planters to bespoke designs that feature curves and angles.

Pond inspiration

Whether you're keen to encourage more wildlife into your garden, would like to keep fish or want to create the ultimate zen garden, our kits are popular choices for ponds. Choose from single and double skin options.

Retaining wall inspiration

Landscape your garden with beautiful WoodBlocX walls. Our structures make a great alternative to railway sleeper and brick walls. They can retain earth up to 1.05m, there are no substantial groundworks needed and you can build them yourself and make significant savings on labour costs. Click here to find more about the benefits of using WoodBlocX for your next retaining wall project.

Our Free Bespoke Design Service

Create beautiful combinations of our structures that fit your garden and lifestyle perfectly, from raised beds with seating to multi-functional retaining walls and much more. We can help you bring your vision to life, suggesting solutions to make the most of the space you have available to create your dream garden. No fuss, no hassle, just great service from start to finish.

Designing an entire garden or even just a certain area can be a daunting prospect which is why we have made our free design service as quick and simple as possible, in just three simple steps.

Whether you’re a new homeowner, the owner of a new build home with a fresh plot to put your stamp on, or have an established garden that needs a new lease of life, our modular system can help you transform it into a beautiful and functional space.

In 2020 nearly a quarter of our customers used our bespoke design service for raised beds, planters, ponds, walls, steps, and seating to fit their garden space and lifestyles perfectly.

Get a design for your garden in three steps

Step one

Send us a sketch, some sizes of the space you're looking to update along with any ideas you have. Use our inspiration page or our social media to see what other customers have achieved using our versatile system. You could also send photos, screen-grabs from garden design apps or even a link to your pinterest board.

Step two

We will be back in touch with you within 48 hours with any questions. Once we have all of the information we will work on your design, this will be presented in a design pack which includes a 3D model of your structure along with the price.

Step three

Once we have discussed and made any changes to your design, we then add it to our website and send you a link. This allows you to select a preferred delivery date and make your payment. Alternatively this can be done over the phone.

Recent bespoke designs

Top garden design considerations

• Note down the areas that get sunlight at certain times of the day, this is important if you want to include a seating area of if you plan on growing certain types of sun nor shade loving plants or you plan to grow edibles
• Are you overlooked by other properties and do you have any views you would like to maximise?
• Think about what you would like to grow and how much you are able to realistically manage
• What elements you would like to include; grass/lawns, seating, walls, beds and borders, water features, paths, patios, steps etc?
• Do you want to encourage wildlife into the garden?
• What style do you want to achieve? Modern, rustic etc
• Use a garden design planning app such as Veg Plotter to sketch out your ideas

Free design service review

"Whatever you ask these guys to do, the answer is always yes and then they suggest more great ideas you hadn't even thought of. One of the best companies I have ever dealt with."

Click to read more reviews on our Free Design Service

If you have a project in mind or you’re just not sure of exactly what you need for your garden click here to start using our free design service 

We’re best-known for our rectangular raised beds, they're functional, attractive, durable, long lasting and easy to build - but what other raised bed shapes can you make with WoodBlocX?

The modular nature of our timber raised bed system means that switching up to circular, hexagonal or octagonal raised beds is really easy…this is not something that can be done easily with railway sleepers or wooden boards.

WoodBlocX raised beds are perfect for growing edibles, ornamentals and trees, and thanks to our water-based pressure treatment, they are suitable for organic growing and will last 15 years or more.

Rectangular raised beds

Raised beds date back to medieval times and rectangle and square shape have been a firm favourite of gardeners and growers ever since. You can find a huge selection of sizes and heights from narrow raised beds of varying lengths to wide planters in our pre-designed kits. We’ve also mixed it up to include raised beds with different height compartments too which you can also see here.

We offer a free design service to all customers, so if you have something specific in mind or can't find exactly what you need on the website, we can help.

Circles

Circular and curved raised beds, planters and edges are created using our standard WoodBlocX timber components cut at 7.5 degree angles. Circular raised beds make the perfect centrepiece for the garden and are ideal for a statement tree planted in the centre.

Use our raised bed calculator tool to get an instant price for a circular raised bed using your own measurements.

Curves

Using the same angled blocks as our circular raised beds you can use our timber system to add curves to the garden. If you haven’t got room for a centrepeice but still want to add a curve opt for a half circle raised bed shapes with a straight edge that buts up to a wall. There's loads of ideas for angled raised beds here.

Did you know you that you can use WoodBlocX to build retaining walls that are either, straight, curved or angled? Click here to find out more.

Angles

Lots of unusual shapes can be built using obtuse and acute 45 degree angle components which means we can also provide corner raised beds in various shapes including diamond, hexagonal, curves, octagonal and heart shaped raised beds. We can even add layers to these designs for anyone that wants to incorporate different levels of planting.

Our raised beds can be adapted to create larger continuous structures for the garden that can include all or a combination of retaining walls, steps and seating.

L-shapes

L-shaped raised beds are a great solution for untidy and uninspiring conrers of the garden but they needn’t be limited to just corners, L-shaped structures can add a creative touch in a freestanding area either individually or as part of an interesting layout of WoodBlocX raised beds.

All of our structures can be used for organic growing thanks to our water-based treatment.

Stepped and tiered

Stepped raised beds can be used for both flat and sloped gardens. Use them to add height and interest to a patio area, or to add different sections for planting or use them to landscape a sloping garden.

Lots of our customers opt to add steps to run alongside the raised beds that are used to landscape the garden to tie everything together.

Bespoke raised beds

The design flexibility that the WoodBlocX raised bed system offers means that we can create 1000s of different design combinations. We offer a free bespoke design service to all customers so you can get exactly what you need for your garden.

Use our super quick calculator tool on the website, select the shape and use the drop down menus to select the length, width and height to suit you.

Small gardens can be tricky spaces to work with and there are lots of raised beds and containers available that have been designed specifically for smaller gardens, however most are either made from plastic, poor quality materials or come highly treated with chemical preservatives.

Our raised beds and planters are long-lasting, each is guaranteed for 15 years thanks to the high quality wood we use and our water-based preservative which won't leach harmful chemicals into your soil, the structures easy to build, look fantastic and are ideal for gardens of all shapes and sizes, even the smallest of plots. Take a look at how some of our customers have used our modular timber system to transform their gardens.

Multifunctional

Tall planting

Get creative with the space you have available and think about ways you can incorporate different elements into the space. This bench is nestled within a raised bed providing a space to grow plants and herbs and place to sit and relax without taking up too much room. This design could also be adapted to include a small pond, or if your plot is on a hill switch the bench for steps.

Tall planters create the illusion of space, due to their height they free up floor space. Plus if you keep with width to a minimum, like the example above, you can still add colour and interest to small space, plus planting, weeding and watering is super simple thanks to the accessible height. WoodBlocX structures can be painted too if your plot is in need of a splash of colour.

Corners

Small section

Our modular system can help you to make the most of corners, choose from standard single-height raised beds or add some tiers and cascading plants to really add some interest to your garden. Corner raised beds take up less space too. Equally, if you small garden is angular use our free bespoke design service to get a shape that suits to the space perfectly.

By taking a small section of space from one side of the garden can really make a difference and won't impact too much on the entire space you have available. Installing a raised bed from one side of the garden to the other provides a large growing space without encroaching into rest of the garden, it makes a really nice feature too. Place your raised bed in front of a fence, wall or along the side of the house.

Our top three WoodBlocX planters for small gardens

A contemporary and stylish feature for your patio or decking, the Small Cubic Garden Planter is an ideal way to introduce a touch of nature into your living space. This smaller design is suitable to showcase a variety of small shrubs, heathers and even some hostas who enjoy more shaded areas.

With its modest design the Slender Garden Planter is ideal for more narrow spaces or fence lines and provides a sleek foundation for a trellis feature for climbing plants.

Unlike a square or rectangular shaped planter the Hexagonal Garden Planter offers a modern alternative design that can feature as a centrepiece in your garden. This multi-sided design can also prove as an effective shape to fit into less conventional shaped garden spaces.

Free bespoke design service

Use our free bespoke design service to ensure your raised bed fits the space perfectly, we can also take into account any slopes. Just send us your measurements and we'll do the calculations for you, to find out more about the service click here.

New build gardens are often small and uninspiring, this garden design case study is full of ideas for transforming a blank canvas into something beautiful. Simon and his partner had lots of ideas for transforming their small new build garden. Their story is filled with ideas for small gardens and large ones.

Tell us briefly how the garden was before you began updating it...
As with most new builds, the house builder provided us with topsoil and slabs, nothing more. Our garden also had a gradient, sloping away from the house, which made the space mostly unusable.

What ideas did you have for transforming your small garden?
We wanted to create the ideal space for entertaining friends and family and give it a sense of purpose. We’re also keen gardeners, but sadly we don’t have much free time. With this in mind, we also wanted to create space for plants that would be easy to maintain.

How did you hear about WoodBlocX?
When we decided that we needed to level off the garden we started searching online for retaining walls. A few clicks later and we arrived at the WoodBlocX website.

Did you look into any alternative materials for the walls and seating?
We considered using reclaimed railway/timber sleepers but quickly decided it wasn’t an option worth pursuing. Using sleepers would have not only cost more due to the waste, but the effort that comes with having to lift, cut and attach them together was also off putting.

How did you find working with the team and using the free bespoke design service?
Incredible. We worked with Lachlan who was extremely helpful (and patient!) as we refined our design multiple times to make it perfect. When you’re in our garden you can immediately feel that the design is unique and has been designed to fit and maximise the space.

The garden before....

The garden after...

Tell us about the different elements of your new garden

Our garden is now split into two levels. The first level has a slate floor covering and is supported by two WoodBlocX retaining walls. We also worked an inset seating area into one of the walls maximise the space and provide a place to put the shopping down when you walk through the back gate.

We then have a semi-circular set of WoodBlocX steps that take you down to the lower level of the garden. As our neighbour’s land is around 50cm higher than ours we have a retaining wall that supports their garden along the fence - this also provides us with a perfect raised bed for growing trailing plants along the fence (currently Sweet Peas). Moving further down the garden we needed to continue the retaining wall, but we wanted to ensure there was still space for seating. The space at the bottom of our garden appeared as an obvious place for a cosy seating area, but to do this while also needing a retaining wall was a challenge. During the design process we worked with Lachlan to create the perfect shaped benches that would also act as retaining walls. This has saved us space and money as we now have permanent seating that, unlike other garden furniture, doesn’t need to be stored away during water in a shed that takes up space!

Our designer Lachlan says...

“Simon’s garden was a great project to work on and a great customer to work with. We had to go through a few iterations of the design, but this is all part of the design process. We always ensure that our customers receive exactly what they need for their project regardless of what it is they want to achieve. For an intricate full garden redesign like this one, it was paramount that we focussed on the details to squeeze the most out of the space and budget, whilst fulfilling the original brief.”

If you're ready to start transforming your garden or to find out more about our free bespoke design service click here. Or if you're unsure where to start with your new build garden the RHS has a great guide covering soil, planting and privacy, which you can find here.

More ideas for small gardens using WoodBlocX