Siting a pond on a sloping garden

Good job looks good.

What are you going to do will all the spoil?

I used some of mine to build a mound which holds a very small pond that feeds water over some stone to the main pond.

That excess butyl may come in handy. I used a bit to line a half barrel for a small water feature .

 

Looking good. What will you be planting?

 

Today I have the challenging task of hiding the spare butyl...

Thanks for sharing your method, @ARMANDII.

I'm thinking of cutting in at a slight angle, sloping away from the pond, and set back from the edge by an inch or so, where the ground level is near the level of the water (in other words where the overflow will be). Then tucking the butyl in, and also a piece of thin turf from the same area, so that the turf goes right up to the edge. This method should work up to where the raised "bank", or "cut", is more than 6" above the water level. At that point, flipping the soil back might prove to be a little challenging!

Once I have the surplus tucked in, it will be over to a little planting!
I have some flag Iris, and water mint, that is thriving in my whisky half-barrel. I also found dad's pond planters in the garage back home. They are probably 35 years old, but still looking good! So with some hessian, I will plant up what I have today, and then I might be going a-shopping!

 

We made a wildlife pond at the end of last summer which is now coming to life. The RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts have some good lists of plants. Also importantly what to avoid. I’ll find some links later. Exciting times!

 

Making progress around the edges

The "easy" two sides are done.

On the uphill side, I had in effect a cliff. I decided to cut it, and make a steep bank instead....

This snoopervision is hard work!


"Asleep on the job? Not me, mum!"

 

Feeling a little sore, but I'll survive! Thanks for asking - nearly as good as a back rub!!

 

Here are some links for pond plants good for wildlife:

Stocking a Pond | Garden Advice - The RSPB

What plants should I put in my pond? | Sussex Wildlife Trust

We made our selections from these lists, not enough yet but we've made a start. Here's a link to what we've done so far, in case you missed it.
We're Making a Wildlife Pond

 

Right, I think I'll be a little quieter for the next few days.

I did go a-shopping, and came back rather disappointed. I wanted a bag of pebbles, for the pebble beach, and they didn't have any!! I couldn't even find suitable gravel... I looked at the plants too, and the only obvious "interesting" one was a water forget me not. I might go back and have another look on Monday, this time armed with the buy/don't buy lists, from @Redwing's links. Worth waiting until at least tomorrow, as you can get 21% off a single item purchased, Saturday-Monday, a special May Day offer...

Anyway, did a little transplanting from the water barrel, and a final group of three photos for you.

At least someone is interested in the new wildlife attraction! Seriously, you can see the "dried waterfall" feature I've tried to create at the highest point...


And from the other side, the pond, and the dog! (Well, she is a HPR!)

And the view from the bedroom window.
I actually took this "arial" view first, before going down to tidy up. @Loofah - I'm officially shattered! My back is not speaking to me, just swearing loudly! And I've still got barrow-loads of soil to move and spread around the garden! Tomorrow, I think!

Once the sun has eased a little, I'll get the hose onto the turfs and moss, to settle them in a little. Then, I think, a much-deserved beer!

 

No elodea there, but I will try a koi specialist tomorrow...
I was hoping for some marsh marigolds- a favourite plant from my childhood - but none there... mares tail...gives me shudders, but then I spent 7 years battling horsetail - so they are really good at stabilising the water nutrients?

 

The remaining turf, left over from the patching of the pond edges, has a good, positive use. The turfs have been laid upside down, to create a retaining turf wall, below the patio bed. I will then lift the turf on the steep area below the grass area, and extend the flower bed. More space to plant, and no more scary mowing where the mower tries to flip over! Win-win!
The "soil" is harder to dispose of. There is very little goodness - it is basically sand. But I can use it to build up area, and it's still better than rubble! It means barrow-loads to be transported (downhill, thankfully!) to the hedge base, and a newly cleared area of hedge cutback. Then I need to build up on the steep bank under the patio bed. I've already had retaining boards in place, so filling in around the retaining boards. Lots of heavy work though, and my arms and back are not on speaking terms with my brain!!

In the end, I only cut a few strips of butyl. Really pleased that very little was wasted. A little bit to tuck under the turf - a few places it was folded double, but not too bad!!

 

@Sian in Belgium It's going to look stunning once it's established . I'm seriously amazed at what you've achieved in such a short space of time. Well done . You put me to shame. Our pond was put in a few months ago and I'm still fiddling around with it, moving/ adding plants, moving rocks, etc.