Barrel Pond Advice

Well @Gail_68 it only seems fair if I've been brave enough to show you mine you should show me yours :giggle:

 

Ooh, a dare, @luciusmaximus! I love a dare.... well, here it is, and consider yourself warned, it is not a handsome barrel like @strongylodon's stunner!



It does have potential, even though it was the second one I was offered. The first one had a hole drilled into the middle of the bottom, which they said might be handy when I said it was going to be a pond, but they were happy to change it for one without!

Planning on sanding and staining the outside, but not yet sure if it should be freestanding or partially sunk.

 

It's a nice barrel @Irmemac , potential as you say . It will still need an entrance/ exit route of some kind so it's a personal choice I think whether you partially bury it or not. You could use different height plant pots if you don't want rocks/ logs. Lots of choices for wildlife friendly plants to put in them too, which will help to attract the wildlife . It's going to look wonderful I'm sure whatever you decide upon . I look forward to pics as you progress with it

 

@luciusmaximus my dear friend you've out done me ....i could always show you my new plastic barrel or the water dish ....take your pic

 

Thanks, @luciusmaximus, I'm looking forward to it too!

 

Not finished yet but in the ground and filled with rain water and the basket planted up.
I think it needs another couple of inches of water but the butt is now empty so I'll wait until it fills a bit. I have put a small layer of aquatic compost on the bottom and two of the (cleaned) bricks the basket is resting on are old air bricks which may be useful for refuge for any aquatic invertebrates which might be in there. The basket might need to be raised too. Pygmy water lily and oxygenating plants are not on sale yet,
It's a start.

 

It's looking good, @strongylodon. I'm sure it will be no time before it looks like it has been there for years. Lovely job!

 

@strongylodon can't wait to see the finished job but so far it looks great

 

It also needs some logs or pots around for any other wildlife to get in and/or out.

 

Some logs would look nice arranged unusual ...that's my opinion though

 

It's taking shape @strongylodon . It will look amazing when you've finished with it. I hope you gets lots of interest from the wildlife.

I saw some half whiskey barrels in B&M, but they were rather poor quality. Had they not been I might have been seriously tempted .

 

@luciusmaximus what about ebay and Gumtree ...Gumtree have different area's mate and you can get some in bulk

Oak barrels | Garden & Patio Furniture for Sale - Gumtree

Wooden Barrel | eBay

 

I didn't think of Ebay. Thanks for the links . I already have the belfast sink and the preformed pond but a whiskey barrel might look nice as a feature on the patio.

 

That's been selling the half barrels in the garden centre's where i go @luciusmaximus £39-99 and £49-99 but for the condition to say they're supposed to be new haven't looked brill

 

The barrels in B&M were £24.99 and looked to be very thin wood with quite rusty iron bands and a couple had holes or splintered slats.