A garden pond adds new dimensions to any garden. As well as
providing a tranquil spot to sit and relax on a hot
summer's day, it attracts a whole range of wildlife to your
garden such as frogs, newts, and water birds and almost
inevitably gives you a mini nature reserve. It also opens
up new plant growing opportunities both in the water and at
its edges.
Choosing the right location, shape and size of garden pond.
An ideal spot for a garden pond is in an open area with
plenty of sunshine, but not too exposed to the wind and it
is best not to locate it directly under trees to avoid
accumulating soggy leaf mould every autumn. You should aim
for as large a size as you can manage and the location will
comfortably support, as larger ponds will gave a greater
impact and are easier to clean and maintain than smaller
ponds and are less prone to green water. The shape should
be gently curving to blend with the environment and it is
best to avoid narrow necks of water if possible. The ideal
depth for a garden pond is around 2 feet deep, any
shallower and it will be prone to drying in the summer and
if much deeper it will accumulate mud in its base.
What lining material to use
Flexible liners are generally the best materials to use and
are usually made of either butyl or PVC. If working to a
lower budget then polythene can be used but this is thinner
and generally won't last longer than 3 years before it
needs to be replaced.
Preparing the hole
You should mark out the area to be excavated with a trail
of sand or an old hosepipe and the best months for pond
making are April and May, so you should start digging
around March. The hole should be dug to a depth of about 3
feet at its lowest point and be prepared to dispose of a
large amount of earth from the dig! If you want marginal
plants it is a good idea to leave a shelf around the border
and the sides of the hole should slope upwards at about 45
degrees. It is also advisable to protect the liner with a
layer of fibreglass matting or sand in the base of the hole.
Laying the liner and filling the pond
Make sure the liner is large enough and then stretch it
over the hole and hold the edges down with some heavy
stones and check that it overlaps an even amount all around
the pond and even out any wrinkles. Now you can start to
fill it with water. Lay a hosepipe on the liner and run the
water in, this will push the liner flat against the soil
and again look out for wrinkles and smooth them out. Fill
the hole to the brim.
Edging the pond
Usually the best way to edge a pond is by laying flagstones
and tucking the liner under them, they should be laid so
that they overlap the edge by about 2 inches. These should
be laid carefully to get a level finish and should be
bedded with fine soil or sand. It is best to avoid
concreting them in or repairs can be difficult. Now it's
time to stand back and admire your new pond but a little
patience is required as it requires about 2 weeks to bed
down and for undesirable chemicals in the water to disperse.
Then it is time to start planning to decorate it with water
plants of your choice and for you local wildlife to
discover it and hopefully take it up as their new residence.
It should always be borne in mind that open water can
present a dangerous hazard to young children and this
should be considered before making a garden pond.
In a future article I will discuss the range of plants now
at your disposal and some of the fish wildlife that you may
wish to introduce.
----------------------------------------------------
John McGuire is an active gardener and manages his own
smallholding with extensive gardens and keeps a range of
farm animals. He is also an internet marketer and runs his
own gardening information and products website.
http://www.TheGardenLovers.com
providing a tranquil spot to sit and relax on a hot
summer's day, it attracts a whole range of wildlife to your
garden such as frogs, newts, and water birds and almost
inevitably gives you a mini nature reserve. It also opens
up new plant growing opportunities both in the water and at
its edges.
Choosing the right location, shape and size of garden pond.
An ideal spot for a garden pond is in an open area with
plenty of sunshine, but not too exposed to the wind and it
is best not to locate it directly under trees to avoid
accumulating soggy leaf mould every autumn. You should aim
for as large a size as you can manage and the location will
comfortably support, as larger ponds will gave a greater
impact and are easier to clean and maintain than smaller
ponds and are less prone to green water. The shape should
be gently curving to blend with the environment and it is
best to avoid narrow necks of water if possible. The ideal
depth for a garden pond is around 2 feet deep, any
shallower and it will be prone to drying in the summer and
if much deeper it will accumulate mud in its base.
What lining material to use
Flexible liners are generally the best materials to use and
are usually made of either butyl or PVC. If working to a
lower budget then polythene can be used but this is thinner
and generally won't last longer than 3 years before it
needs to be replaced.
Preparing the hole
You should mark out the area to be excavated with a trail
of sand or an old hosepipe and the best months for pond
making are April and May, so you should start digging
around March. The hole should be dug to a depth of about 3
feet at its lowest point and be prepared to dispose of a
large amount of earth from the dig! If you want marginal
plants it is a good idea to leave a shelf around the border
and the sides of the hole should slope upwards at about 45
degrees. It is also advisable to protect the liner with a
layer of fibreglass matting or sand in the base of the hole.
Laying the liner and filling the pond
Make sure the liner is large enough and then stretch it
over the hole and hold the edges down with some heavy
stones and check that it overlaps an even amount all around
the pond and even out any wrinkles. Now you can start to
fill it with water. Lay a hosepipe on the liner and run the
water in, this will push the liner flat against the soil
and again look out for wrinkles and smooth them out. Fill
the hole to the brim.
Edging the pond
Usually the best way to edge a pond is by laying flagstones
and tucking the liner under them, they should be laid so
that they overlap the edge by about 2 inches. These should
be laid carefully to get a level finish and should be
bedded with fine soil or sand. It is best to avoid
concreting them in or repairs can be difficult. Now it's
time to stand back and admire your new pond but a little
patience is required as it requires about 2 weeks to bed
down and for undesirable chemicals in the water to disperse.
Then it is time to start planning to decorate it with water
plants of your choice and for you local wildlife to
discover it and hopefully take it up as their new residence.
It should always be borne in mind that open water can
present a dangerous hazard to young children and this
should be considered before making a garden pond.
In a future article I will discuss the range of plants now
at your disposal and some of the fish wildlife that you may
wish to introduce.
----------------------------------------------------
John McGuire is an active gardener and manages his own
smallholding with extensive gardens and keeps a range of
farm animals. He is also an internet marketer and runs his
own gardening information and products website.
http://www.TheGardenLovers.com
