Siting a pond on a sloping garden

Discussion in 'Water Gardening' started by Sian in Belgium, Mar 9, 2018.

  1. Sian in Belgium

    Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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    This is ridiculous!
    The pond hasn't been there for 2 weeks!
    IMG_4834.JPG
    (Excuse the "tree trunks" - a local rook has taken to bathing on top of the water forget me not, rather than using the designated bathing area!)
     
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    • Sian in Belgium

      Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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      Now two weeks in, and I'm still pleased how it's looking, although the moss is desperately needing some rain!

      I'm still struggling to find a source of natural-looking pebbles, so am slowly replacing the white ones with ones I find as we dig areas of the garden. Starting with the ones above water...
      IMG_4884.JPG

      The waterlilly from the water-barrel is now in its full depth, and putting up new leaves IMG_4886.JPG

      And the yellow flag is coming into flower! (Again, a cutting from the rampant plant in the water barrel) IMG_4887.JPG
       
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      • martin-f

        martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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        It looks great Sian nice work :dbgrtmb:,

        Looking at the ground when you dug the pond out it looks very sandy ? go to your nearest farmers field there will be hundreds for free,

        The land i metal detect on is sandy and full off pebbles, i sometimes collect them for the garden i could get a wheel barrow full in a few minuets.
         
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        • Loofah

          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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          Looking great and don't worry ,those white stones will be all mucky soon enough
           
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          • luciusmaximus

            luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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            It's lovely and looks natural too, blending into your surrounding landscape :wub2:. Agree a drop of rain on your moss will make a big difference. I can't believe how quickly your pond is establishing itself. My free water iris appears disinterested in living, nothing happening with either pot :whistle: . Do you have the Belgian equivalent of freecycle? You could maybe get pebbles? Ask friends, neighbours for theirs :snorky:. Any waste ground or building sites near you or even a field as Martin has suggested. Buy a metal detector :snorky:
             
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            • Sian in Belgium

              Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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              A bit of an update, a couple of weeks on...

              A few more plants, and I found some more natural-looking pebbles....
              IMG_4934.JPG

              You can see how dry it's been here, and which bits of moss have contact with the water! IMG_4935.JPG

              I still need more coverage on the surface, but the lilies are slowly getting established. IMG_4936.JPG

              We've got lots of damselflies already laying eggs in the pond - almost need wardens to control the traffic there at times!!
               
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              • Redwing

                Redwing Wild Gardener

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                I like your moss edging idea. I think I will incorporate into my pond.
                 
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                • luciusmaximus

                  luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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                  All I can say Sian is :awesome: . Looks even more amazing now :wub2:. The moss is a good idea. I can imagine it looking quite lush and verdant when you get some decent rainfall.
                   
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                  • martin-f

                    martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                    Yes its a nice touch to the pond until someone comes and pinches it
                    DSC_0459.JPG DSC_0469.JPG

                    :heehee: they have pulled it all off the water fall and any around it they have even been in and pulled some pond plants and soil out from the baskets in the pond, if your pond pots are tipped up its the birds trying to get nesting material.
                     
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                    • Sian in Belgium

                      Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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                      Don't worry, @martin-f, we have loads of moss in the grass, and in fact this dense moss is some of the toughest we have. Lots of loose sphagnum moss in the grass on the other side of the drive. It's actually the moss pushed into the pseudo waterfall, but there are areas where there is hardly any grass (don't tell @Sheal!!)
                       
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                      • Outlander

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                        • Sheal

                          Sheal Total Gardener

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                          Your pond is looking great @Sian in Belgium, very natural. :thumbsup: I'm surprised you haven't got a beach knowing how sandy your soil is, but the pebbles look good. :biggrin:

                          I have the same problem with the lack of grass on my front lawns. One is covered in moss and ground elder, the other nearly all weeds. If you need any more moss you know where to find it. ;) :biggrin:
                           
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                          • Sian in Belgium

                            Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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                            5 weeks in, and things are looking good!

                            I've been away for 12 days, but was pleased to see how good things looked when I came back.
                            IMG_4989.JPG


                            But we have hooligan rooks, who seem to take delight in throwing the pebbles out of the pond not the surrounding grass... IMG_4991.JPG

                            This has created a clear patch of liner exposed, as you can see here. IMG_4990.JPG

                            After a bit of tlc, it's looking good. The moss is holding up, and after a quick weed, looks "right tidy"!
                            IMG_4993.JPG

                            I'm really pleased with the clarity of the water, considering how much sunlight we have had, and the relative low amount of surface cover. The waterlily near the bottom of the pond is in water over 80cm deep, yet you can make out the gravel on the planter. IMG_4996.JPG
                             
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                            • luciusmaximus

                              luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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                              Looks wonderful :) :wub2:. Naughty Rooks :snorky: . Why are they doing that, is it a game ?
                               
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                              • martin-f

                                martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                                They hold general protest with them from time to time lol,

                                In 2012, a flock of crows was seen pelting several expensive vehicles owned by political figures who were visiting a regional legislative body in Russia. One local lawmaker, Maksim Ryapasov, blogged about the experience, writing, “When leaving the office, I saw a group of drivers of ministers’ and deputies’ cars who were moving chaotically and swinging their arms.” The Russian media made jokes about the rock-dropping crows being politically motivated and described the event as a “bird protest.”
                                How Crows Use Rocks to Damage Your Property - Safeguard Pest Control
                                 
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