A nature pond

Tying up these two threads http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/quick-project-stone-circle-to-fig-tree-maybe.56771/ and http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/nature-pond-ahoy.57105/ I've now built The Pond!

The crazy paving stone circle was dug up and the cement chipped off the sandstone pieces to use as edging. Amazing how much cement was used... I watched a couple of youtube vids and read a few guides on making the pond as although I had a good idea, I wanted to check, and there were a couple of good tips to be had. Probably the best one being to dig in shelves - shallowest top shelf first to give overall size, then lower one etc. This makes the earth remain compacted and therefore more stable for the finished pond.

This was always going to be a small nature pond so only has one shelf and a deep part. The deep section is created using a half old water butt that was in the garden when I moved in and I just knew would come in handy one day! Having dug everything out which was quite the job (I also found a blue sort of old cementy/claggy stuff, no idea what that was), removed the stones and packed with a lining of sand, the pond liner was finally placed in the hole. The water butts were full so turning on the taps and filling was simple enough and the liner pulled and folded as the water filled up. It was cold, oh so very cold!

After that settled, I placed the stones around the edge then moved them about. I'm still not convinced they'll stay in place but they're fine for now. Liner trimmed (always buy a bigger liner as a few quid more makes everything easier to fit), a few stones added for a way for 'things' to get in /out and a solar powered pump added. These are utter crap so don't be tempted!

Went to World of Water yesterday to get a few marginals and the neighbours let me have a small clump of oxygenators.



I'm pretty pleased with the result; it's small but big enough for a bit of extra interest and wildlife to use. I'll think about netting later in the year and time will tell if the weigelia next to the pond is a problem with leaves of shade etc.

 

I reckon that's a job well thought out and well done, Loofah You might have to keep topping it up because of natural evaporation [I know I have occasionally have to with my pond] but that's no real hardship. What kind of marginals have you put in???

 

Thanks all I like it and should add a new dimension to the garden. needs a bit of bedding in and the grass seed to fill out between lawn and edging.
Not sure on exact marginals but will check. I've taken a few other plants to break up the edges a bit.
I also added a spadeful of soil today just fir a bit of sludge for things to live in at the bottom

 

Pop into a local Charity Shop and see if they have any books on ponds and the plants, it'll pay you to understand and know what plants you've got in and around the pound because that will lead you to know and understand your pond more.

 

OK, just went out in rain and failed to take decent pics lol I have a greater spearwort or water buttercup

and these two


One on the left I think is Cyperus alternifolius and the stripy grassy thing a form of zebra rush.
There's also some oxygenating elodea crispa and water milfoil in the deepest part.

 

I'm hoping the frogs, when they move in, will wage a vicious and vindictive war on the molluscs!

Friend has dropped me off a lily so that's a bonus and I'm going to try out a canna in there too.

 

It looks very good Andy, nice and natural.

What's wrong with it?

 

They only squirt while the sun is out. The jet is fine but there appears to be no battery storage for when the lights go out, and when I say the has to be out I mean just that - any cloud cover and the flow stops. All a bit disappointing but as it only worked for about 3 days anyway... Luckily I had it from some other project and it wasn't expensive so just a learning experience really.
As it's a nature pond I was wondering if a pump is needed at all.

I'll let you all know when I fall in while digging the veg patch lol