Your advice on a new pond please.

I've loved ponds since I was tiny so I'm very excited about now finally being able to have my very own pond! I've never built a pond before so I could do with some advice as I don't know where to start. I also have a very limited budget. I would like a raised or semi-raised pond (dog likes swimming) and I'm thinking about 4' x 4' ish. I'm not too bothered about what's going in it, maybe a few small fish and some nice plants. There seem to be many ways to go about this, what in your opinion would be the cheapest/easiest? As it's a small pond would it be worth finding a solid container and just building a decorative surround? Or would even this size pond need to be stronger than that? This is the site:


Not ideal in some ways I know but it will have to do! I'm assuming I can lift the paving slabs and dig down if necessary, but I guess there may be pipes/foundations? I'm thinking of having it at the end of the patio, but I suppose it could be more rectangular (3.5' x 5') and along the wall instead. Your thoughts gratefully received! (Simple, 3 step, how to build a pond guides even more so ).

 

When we dug ours (my parents) pond we used a really thick liner instead of the solid prefab type. You then have more choice in how its built. More options for water features, shapes, plant placement and levels. I would strongly advise buying a thick liner as a cheap thin one can tear or be ravaged by cats (if they dare enter the garden I assume!)

Really not sure about the raised part sorry, how big is the woofer?

 

Hi Lindsay,
As you're on a limited budget, I'd avoid garden centres like the plague! For example, our local place wanted the equivalent of £11.50 a square metre for 25 year pond liner, that's excluding the underlay. Yeah, you could buy Axminster carpet for that price!

I'd suggest that you contact Pondkeeper and ask them to send you their catalogue. Many of their "basic parts" for building a pond are a good 50% off - though on the liner for my garden I saved the best part of £700, including the underlay! They even do a "pond in a box" - everything you need for a 96cm 3'2" square by 50cm / 1'6" high pond with a treated wooden frame for £200 (instead of £250) - you get a 3 in 1 pump - UVC, waterfall and filter, valued at £50 thrown in...

I'll be posting on the build of my pond here in the next week or two. We're almost at the point of laying the underlay, so in the meantime enjoy your pond.

Regards,
Steve

 

Dog is a collie and would only need it to be slightly raised for me to easily be able to teach her not to go in it. I'm more worried she'll fall in while chasing a ball/cat/person - she has form...
I'm a bit nervous about using a liner, especially in a raised pond, it sounds really complicated, involving concrete and things.
I'm off to have a look at that link now, thanks Pete!

 

This is a pond I made from loft water tank. they come in different sizes and prices. This one was about 3' by 2' and about 3' high. At my old house I'd used old fence panels to box it in and make it look a bit prettier.

 

Ooo snap ! I have just bought myself a 72 in long by 3ft wide pond. Its about 4 ft deep in the middle. I adore ponds , I have a massive one in my old house and had to leave it all behind I have a mental Collie cross and a daily visit from my daughters insane Boxer ... I think I will try and fence mine off ( I know for a fact they will ' herd' each other into it otherwise)

 

Forgot to add it cost £30.00. I was looking on facebook on items for sale . It is a Solid s one shaped like a Kidney

 

I`m just finishing my pond
the problem of a raised pond will be that in winter will froze and the fish may die
in case of heavy frost .

 

head gardener I would agree with the frost problem. Mine is around 30 or so inches deep no fish but loads of frogs, newts and other creepy crawlies. Always something happening with a pond. The dog will not drown but may love a dip so a bit of training will be needed. I have marsh marigolds out at the mo the colour is amazing. Go for it.

 

Head gardener , is that a pump ? If it is how big ? I am wondering what size I would need

 

I had wondered about it freezing which is why I was thinking of a semi-raised pond. The dog in question is very easy to train (typical collie) but it does all go out the window if a cat/pigeon appears in her garden. Or if someone picks up a stick with intent. She had to be dragged out of a lake by a stranger once in similar circumstances and has also ended up in my grandparent's pond. Plus, I prefer the look of raised ponds and like sitting by them too. Would a 2' deep raised pond freeze through even if it was insulated by say brick or wood round the outside? I have been looking at some raised pond kits online which seem good but have rejected any under 2' deep as being likely to freeze.

 

I think 2 foot would be fine (if you could manage 3ft that would be even better), I have a large tub that is 18 inches deep and barring any ice age enducing winter weather I don't expect to see it frozen solid. This last winter it had no more than half an inch of ice on which damaged nothing at all.

I used to look after a fishing lake that froze thickly one winter, ice approx 1ft thick and that was only after over a week of night time temperatures between -10 and -15!!

So long as any inhabitants have some clear water below the ice and importantly there isn't a lot of debris rotting on the bottom which could lead to a build up of toxic gases and de-oygenation it should be fine. Oh and try and always resist the temptation to break ice it causes shock waves that can stress fish out and even kill them. If cold water is forecast (I'm talking next winter ) try floating a ball on the surface or leave an air pump running and then that should keep an area ice free to let those gases escape.

Good Luck

 

Can I suggest to spend a bit more and go for preformed one , mine cost me £130 including delivery I`ve done all the work in about 1 hour , I got the pump on freegle for free and if money is your problem you can look out for second hand on gumtree or ebay .

most preformed pond have a high side and a deep side , the dog will manage easly to get out of it , funny thing my cat end up in the pond while trying to catch a bee , got out of in less then 2 seconds . . .



and this is like mine



you could go chip and get some pond liner but if you will have a hole in that , what you save will cost you in time .

the size will change by the size of the pond , will tell you on the pump how many gallons can handle .

 

Sorry to sound so thick , but by ' raised' do you mean like in a ' raised ' bed ?

 

No you don`t sound thick at all , the forum is here to help ; )

raised pond means something like this



saying that , I had a raised pond as well , made out of brick
and never had problem with ice ....I think you should consider this option as well




or actually seen those on sale at the garden center