A garden with a pond, a stream or next to a natural body of water lives from the transition between water and land. Whether that transition works comes down to a few questions: What kind of water do you actually have? How shallow is the bank? Which plants grow at which depth? And what are you not allowed to build on the bank of a stream or lake in the first place? This article goes through these questions in order. Two explained examples show how a pond and a constructed stream fit into a garden.
The gardens on this page are AI visualisations by GardenPilot, not built gardens. They show design ideas, not construction plans. Plants and water quality cannot be checked from an image.
At a glance
- First clarify what water you have: your own pond, a constructed stream with a pump, or a natural body of water next to your property. At natural waters, water law applies.
- Think of the bank in zones: marsh zone up to about 20 cm, shallow water about 20 to 50 cm, deep zone from about 80 to 100 cm (NABU). Each zone has its own plants.
- Native plants, no invasive species. Aquatic plants must never be dumped in the wild.
- At a stream or lake there is a riparian buffer strip. In Germany, some interventions are prohibited there, and jetties or bank walls need a permit from the water authority depending on the federal state.
- Toddlers can drown in water just 20 to 30 cm deep. A pond needs a fence or a grid; at a stream, the whole property does.
1. What kind of water do you have?
| What it is | What it means | |
|---|---|---|
| Garden pond | a constructed, still body of water, usually sealed with a liner | you design depth, banks and plants yourself |
| Constructed stream | a shallow bed through which a pump circulates water | needs power, equipment and a winter break |
| Natural water | a stream, river or lake bordering your property | water law and flood protection have a say |
If you want to swim, that belongs in a swimming pond or pool, see Modern garden with pool. If it's about a calm water surface with a fixed edge, the article Water basins in the garden helps. For water bowls and small basins on little space, see Small garden with water.
2. The bank: shallow and in zones
A bank looks natural when the water does not end at an edge but runs out shallowly. There are practical reasons too: animals can get into and out of the water over a shallow bank, and the DLRG, Germany's water rescue organisation, recommends extensive shallow areas for safety reasons as well.
NABU, the German nature conservation association, describes three levels for a natural pond:
| Zone | Depth (NABU) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Marsh zone | up to about 20 cm | transition to land, moist soil |
| Shallow water | about 20 to 50 cm | main area for bank plants |
| Deep zone | from about 80 to 100 cm | water lilies, refuge in summer and winter |
According to NABU, the deep zone should be at least one metre deep so the water does not warm up too much in summer. Two points from NABU's building guide that are often overlooked:
- No garden soil. Plants go into sand or a sand-gravel mix. The nutrients in topsoil lead to an algal bloom.
- Liner and protection. NABU specifies a pond liner at least 1 mm thick with a fleece underneath.
Natural stones at the edge look good and cover the liner edge. But they must sit firmly: the DLRG points out that unstable bank areas are a hazard.
3. Plants by water depth
For a natural pond, NABU recommends species including these:
| Zone | Examples (NABU) |
|---|---|
| Marsh zone | water mint, marsh marigold, water forget-me-not, yellow flag iris, Siberian iris, purple loosestrife, bogbean |
| Shallow water | flowering rush, arrowhead, water plantain, mare's tail, bur-reed |
| Deep zone | water lily, yellow water lily, water soldier, frogbit, pondweeds |
What to watch for when choosing:
- Some species spread vigorously. NABU advises putting water lilies in pots. It considers bulrushes and pondweeds more suitable for large ponds and describes fringed water lily as very prone to spreading.
- Some bank plants are poisonous. According to NABU, marsh marigold belongs to the buttercup family and is poisonous. With small children in the garden, it's worth looking up every species before buying.
- Invasive species are banned. The EU list of invasive species includes aquatic and marsh plants such as water hyacinth, floating pennywort, Nuttall's waterweed, parrot's feather, water primrose, water lettuce and American skunk cabbage. They are subject to a ban on trade, possession, breeding and release. The Giessen regional council in Germany also advises voluntarily avoiding other non-native aquatic plants.
- Never dump anything in the wild. Disposing of plants from a pond or aquarium in a stream or lake is prohibited. Remains of invasive species belong in the residual waste, because even tiny shoots can start new populations.
If your garden borders a stream or lake, there is one more point: what spreads in the garden can travel on via the water. So stick to native species suited to the site along the bank.
Two examples, explained
The following images are AI visualisations by GardenPilot. The second view shows the same design from the air in each case; we checked that both images show the same layout. They are not construction plans.
Example 1: A pond in the kitchen garden
- Starting point: a detached house with timber cladding, a terrace and plenty of space for vegetables. A sunny, level garden is assumed.
- Key decision: the pond does not sit by the house but along a gravel path that runs between the raised beds to a pergola with seating. The bank is lined with natural stones, with grasses and perennials between them, and marsh plants grow in the shallow water.
- Transferable principle: the pond becomes part of your daily route. You pass it while harvesting or on the way to the seating area, rather than only seeing it from the terrace.
- Limitations: there is no fence in the image. With small children, the pond would need a fence or a grid, and the gravel path runs right along the water. The stones on the bank must sit firmly. A pond with all three zones needs much more space than the water surface suggests, because the banks run out shallowly.
- Simpler version: a smaller pond with a shallow bank on one side or, with small children, a bog bed with moisture-loving plants and no open water surface to begin with.
Example 2: A constructed stream between deck and fire area
- Starting point: a garden behind the house with a timber deck, lawn and a birch. A level, partly sunny garden is assumed.
- Key decision: a shallow stream of dark river pebbles and boulders curves from the deck into the garden. Stepping stones lead across to a gravel area with a fire bowl and benches. Irises, grasses and ferns line the stream bed.
- Transferable principle: the water divides the garden into two areas, the deck by the house and the fire area beyond. The stepping stones turn the way there into a small crossing.
- Limitations: a constructed stream only runs with a pump and power. The pump has to come out of the water before the first frost. Wet and mossy stones become slippery, and that includes the stepping stones. Birches drop leaves and seeds into the stream bed, and their pollen is a problem for many allergy sufferers. An open fire bowl between birches and grasses is not a good idea because of flying sparks.
- Simpler version: a dry gravel stream bed that only hints at the course. It needs no equipment and poses no danger to children.
4. A garden next to natural water
If your property borders a stream, river or lake, you are not only designing your garden but also the edge of a public body of water. Special rules apply.
The riparian buffer strip
In Germany, the Federal Water Act (§ 38 WHG) establishes a riparian buffer strip along surface waters. It starts at the mean water line, or at the top of the embankment where there is a distinct one. Under federal law it is five metres wide in undeveloped outlying areas. The federal states may set different rules, and the authority can also define a strip within built-up areas. In Baden-Württemberg, for example, it is ten metres wide in outlying areas and five metres in built-up areas.
Under § 38 WHG, the following are among the things prohibited in the buffer strip:
- removing trees and shrubs suited to the site,
- planting new trees and shrubs that are not suited to the site,
- handling substances hazardous to water,
- depositing objects other than temporarily that can obstruct the flow or be washed away.
For your garden this can mean: shrubs such as cherry laurel or thuja are a poor choice on the bank, an existing willow fringe should stay, and woodpiles, compost or garden furniture do not belong in the strip permanently. In Baden-Württemberg, building structures in the strip is also prohibited in outlying areas, unless they are tied to the location or required for water management. Your lower water authority at district or city level can tell you which width and rules apply to your water.
Jetties, bank walls, steps
In Germany, a jetty counts as a structure at a body of water under § 36 WHG; beyond that, state law applies. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, building structures in, at, over or under waters requires a permit from the lower water authority (§ 36 WHG in conjunction with § 22 LWG NRW). So clarify a jetty, steps into the water or bank reinforcement with the authority beforehand.
Flooding
If your property lies in a designated flood zone, § 78a WHG prohibits, among other things: walls, embankments and similar structures that can obstruct the flow, raising or lowering the ground surface, storing objects that can be washed away, and planting trees and shrubs that run counter to flood protection. The authority can allow exceptions. Whether your garden is affected is shown by the flood hazard maps that the authorities draw up and publish under §§ 74 and 79 WHG.
Taking water
If you live by a stream, you'll want to water with it. In dry summers, however, German districts and cities repeatedly ban taking water from surface waters by general order, in 2025 for example in many districts of Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Violations can carry high fines. Watch for your district's announcements in summer.
This information is an overview, not legal advice. The rules of your federal state and the answer from your authority are what count.
5. Paths and seating by the water
- Build for sure footing. Timber, smooth stones and moss become slippery when wet. By the water, rough surfaces and some distance between path and bank edge are the better choice.
- Set the seating area back a little. Sitting right on the bank tramples it. A spot a few steps away with a view of the water spares the plants and is safer.
- Stepping stones over water only with care. They look good but invite small children into the water.
- Use light sparingly. A few lights along path and bank are enough. Electricity at the water belongs in the hands of a qualified electrician. More on this: Garden lighting.
6. Safety: children by the water
Toddlers drown silently. If they fall into water, they cannot lift their head above the surface and cannot call for help. According to a DLRG brochure, a toddler can drown in water just 20 to 30 cm deep, and in less if unconscious. A few seconds of inattention are enough.
What the DLRG recommends:
- Fence garden ponds like a pool: at least one metre high, impossible to climb, with a self-closing gate. Planting can make the fence less conspicuous.
- Or grid panels firmly anchored no more than 10 cm below the water surface.
- Stable banks and wide shallow areas under 20 cm deep.
- At a stream or lake the water itself cannot be fenced. Then the property must be fenced so that children cannot leave it on their own.
- Think of visiting children. Children without water in their own garden are especially drawn to it.
As the owner of a pond, you are responsible for its safety. NABU advises not making a pond freely accessible and placing it on an enclosed property.
Try it before you build
Where a pond could go in your garden and how a bank with stones and grasses would look there is hard to imagine on paper. With GardenPilot, you upload a photo of your garden, choose a theme world and add what you would like, for example "natural pond with a shallow bank at the end of the garden". The first image is free. For a comparison, have a second variant shown, for example with a stream instead of a pond (1 credit). The images are visualisations, not construction plans. Settle depth, sealing and the rules at the water on site, with a specialist contractor and the authority. How it works in detail is explained in AI garden design with a photo.
What would water look like in your garden? Upload a photo – the first image is free. Start free with your photo
Frequently asked questions
Which plants are suitable for the bank of a garden pond?
Native species that suit the water depth. For the marsh zone up to about 20 cm, NABU names marsh marigold, water forget-me-not, irises and purple loosestrife, for example, and for shallow water arrowhead, water plantain and flowering rush. Vigorous spreaders such as water lilies are best put in pots; invasive species on the EU list are banned.
How deep does a natural pond need to be?
NABU recommends three zones: a marsh zone up to about 20 cm, shallow water up to about 50 cm and a deep zone of at least one metre so the water does not warm up too much in summer. That means the pond needs considerably more space than a basin with vertical walls.
Can I build a jetty or a wall by the stream on my property?
Not without further ado. In Germany, a jetty counts as a structure at a body of water under § 36 WHG; beyond that, state law applies. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, it needs a permit from the lower water authority. On top of that comes the riparian buffer strip under § 38 WHG and, in flood zones, § 78a WHG. Ask your lower water authority beforehand.
How do I make a pond safe for small children?
The DLRG recommends a fence at least one metre high that cannot be climbed, with a self-closing gate, or grid panels firmly anchored no more than 10 cm below the water surface. Shallow, stable banks help as well. At a stream or lake, the property must be fenced so that children cannot leave it on their own.
Further reading
What would this look like in your garden?
Upload a photo of your garden and see design ideas on your own space. The first image is free.
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