Water gardens add a lot of enjoyment to a yard. If you'd like to make one for your yard, here's how:
1. Select a proper location. If you really want to get the most enjoyment from it, position it close to your home. Be careful that it's not in an area that receives a lot of runoff, and avoid placing it too close to trees. Falling leaves can make a mess. If you want to grow lily pads, your location should get 4-6 hours of direct sunlight.
2. Determine the size and shape. You can use a rope or garden hose to lay out the shape. Keep in mind that a larger pond is easier to maintain.
3. Figure out the liner size you'll need. To do this, measure the maximum legnth and width. Add the depth twice to these measurements pluse a foot or two for overlap. The number you get, is the size you need.
4. Start digging! Gardens in zones 5 and up need to be at least two feet deep. Colder climates need to be deeper to provide at least a foot of water below the freeze zone. You will also want to allow for shelfs along the edges for plants. Dig your pond so that it has a slight slope from the center to your edges.
5. You don't have to have water circulation, but I'd recommend it, because it helps keep things healthier and prevents stagnation (which will cause mosquitos to lay their larvae). Position any filters, skimmers, and pumps, and make sure they are level.
6. Line the pond with a pond underlayment
7. Place the rubber pond liner in.
8. If you're using a skimmer, connect it to the pond liner (follow the manufacturer's directions).
9. Use rocks around the edge to hold the liner in place. You can cover the rocks with dirt for a more natural look, or you can get a lot of rocks and create natural-loooking shelfs around the edge.
10. Fill the pond with water to a few inches from the top.
11. Add dechlorinator to the water.
12. Add aquatic plants. Water Hyacinth, Parrot's Feather, and Bacopa are a few suggestions.
13. Add goldfish, a few at a time, over the next several weeks.
14. If you have a filter, it's a good idea to use packaged bacteria to help keep your pond healthy.
15. Enjoy!
This would be cool were I back in Canada or the states. As it is, I am in Manila where ponds place themselves in monsoon seasons.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all of your writing endeavors, my friend.
Cheers!
Yes, if you have monsoons, you certainly don't need to dig your own pond!
DeleteMy wife has always wanted one of these.
ReplyDeleteThen you'll have to make her one ;0 )
DeleteI have a perfect little niche in my yard for a pond. You've inspired me. I think I'll have to pass on the goldfish. We have a neighborhood raccoon who has helped himself to a fortune worth of the Koi from down the block.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the pesky coon. Goldfish are really pretty in a pond.
Deletewe had a pond, that someone gave us a few years ago--and do you know, someone took it before we could do anything with it!
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible! I guess you'll just have to make another.
DeleteVery interesting; I thought there would be alot more steps
ReplyDeleteThe digging and laying out the liner are the hard parts. If you can get past that, it's not too hard to make a pond.
DeleteThis is it! I must try this. I love water garden pond! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I'm sure you'll really enjoy the pond when you're done.
DeleteSherry, did you have as much trouble as me with the liner? I'm not sure whether it's my OCD for symmetry but it took me almost five hours to get the liner sunk. I bought a heavy duty composite one from ukwaterfeatures.com and really struggled with finding a way to keep it even. It's a great material, I wonder if its' just my penchant and need for evenness...
ReplyDeleteIt took me a few hours. It sounds like you had more trouble than I did, though. Hopefully it was worth it!
ReplyDelete