Where to put a pond?
Last post 09-08-2009 8:35 PM by geoff51. 16 replies.
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21/02/2009 02:21 PM
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- new gardener
- East London
- 21 Feb 2009
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Hi, this is my first ever post! I am quite a new gardener and have plans to develop a long narrow garden into different circular sections. I really want the section furthest from the house to be a pond because our garden backs onto a small stream and we might be able to encourage some wildlife into the garden. Trouble is that the back is partly shaded in trees and some people have told me it will be a constant problem with falling leaves etc. Does anyone have any advice?
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21/02/2009 05:51 PM
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- geoff51
- Totton, Hampshire
- 13 Feb 2009
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187
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Do not put your pond at the end of the garden near the stream as the only wildlife you will attract will be rats!
Take advice from a pond owner(me) and put your pond at the house end of the garden away from the trees and vermin and maybe fill with fish and a fountain and lights, here you can enjoy the wonders of Water Gardening without having to traipse down the end of the garden and you can see it from the house in the colder days.
I inherited a large pond when I moved here 10 years ago and it is under an Oak tree and although you can net for leaves acorns go straight through and sink to the bottom and have to be sucked out regularly
PS the goldfish have grown very big in 10 years
Feel free to ask me any other questions about ponds and water gardening
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21/02/2009 09:03 PM
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- Phot's-Moll
- The sunny South coast.
- 06 Jan 2007
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4,547
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It's generally not recomended to have a pond in a shady place because it's more likely to have algae - and collect fallen leaves. Unless the garden is miles long, I think the wildlife will still find your pond if it's in a more open position. There are loads of beautiful plants that grow well in shade - why not save the end of the garden for them?
Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.
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22/02/2009 10:09 AM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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9,470
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From our experience, I would actually recommend having a pond in shade. When we first moved in here, our pond was in full sunlight and the water was forever green with algae and blanketweed. We planted some shrubs down one side of the pond and also built a pergola over the top of it to grow climbers up which will eventually help keep the sun out of the pond. Two large trees in next door's garden shed their leaves all over our garden and get blown into the pond but it doesn't take long to fish them out with a net.
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13/04/2009 11:58 AM
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- Zecis
- near Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK
- 13 Apr 2009
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5
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Advice please:
Last summer after years of campaigning I was given permission by the other half to have a "water feature" - her idea being a pebble pool (with no visible water) mine a lake :-) . The "water feature" will be built into a patio I am building with a lorry load of york stone that I managed to acquire.
The compromise in my head is to construct the patio, with a small pool and granite obelisk with trickling water at one end - then plant this end with marginal / water plants (I am not really interested in seeing water, just hearing it and having a chance to experiment with other plants) - the whole area of water will be probably less than a few square feet. This will be in full sun. Question 1 - ideas on plants please.
THe second question is related to the construction.... down the centre line of the patio (which is elliptical in shape) I am planning to run a small water course, that can trickle just below the surface, (the channel will be no more than 10mm wide, to prevent vermin using it as a home, or endless water source). What I also want to achieve is to be able to make the channel slightly overflow onto the patio, by switching on another pump - does anyone have ideas as to how this should be constructed?.... i guess butyl liner comes into the process but there will also be (presumably) sumps, pumps and the like. Does anyone know - or can anyone recommend a good book or web site on the subject?
Thanks
Adam
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13/04/2009 09:16 PM
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- geoff51
- Totton, Hampshire
- 13 Feb 2009
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187
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Hi and welcome to the forums
As you added your post to one of my previous answers on ponds I will try to help you.
Question1: As the area of open water is very small I would suggest one of the miniature water lilies would be ideal they are usually known by the prefix Pygmaea with the variety name following and maybe a small pygmy type iris or rush for height
Question 2: Although I am finding it difficult to visualise the type of construction you are describing one thing comes to mind for the rill(water channel) use a lining of Butyl t out line the edge of the over flow onto the patio and retain the water for recycling and to drain into a sump made of a small domestic cold water tank and maybe use rainwater guttering to create the rill and a larger water tank for the pond, place a pump in the bottom tank to provide water to the top tank.
A good book on all things pond is The master book of the Water Garden by Philip Swindells published by Salamander Books
I notice you live in Wiltshire I would suggest a visit to World of Water the one outside Romsey on the Stockbridge road is the one I use they have many model garden layouts to inspire you and give you Ideas they have other branches in the south so a visit to their website may give you a nearer branch and also some ideas
Hope this helps a bit and feel free to ask any more questions you may have I will try to answer them
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14/04/2009 08:46 AM
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- Zecis
- near Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK
- 13 Apr 2009
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5
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Thanks Geoff - you are right the word is "rill" not "water channel". Yes I went to World of Water with my pockets full of money only a few weeks ago, and to be honest they were so dis-interested in helping in any constructive way I walked out of the place with £500 still in my pockets. They just focussed every question on why I can't do this or that, rather than explaining even as much as you have below. Not impressed.
Your suggestion of the guttering is something I had in my mind as well - so that looks as if it maybe incorporated - and the sump made out of a cold water tank is a good one too, thanks.
The concrete for the sub base of the patio is being delivered tomorrow - so when that is in and set I will start bringing together the other components - in the meantime I am off to Amazon to have a look at that book you suggested.
Thanks
Adam
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14/04/2009 09:46 PM
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- geoff51
- Totton, Hampshire
- 13 Feb 2009
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187
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I am surprise that WOW was so unhelpful but there are other specialist outlets for what you want and many web sites so have a look around for ideas.
any more problems you know where I am
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15/04/2009 08:33 PM
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- Zecis
- near Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK
- 13 Apr 2009
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5
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Will do Geoff, thanks.
I have ordered the book you recommended - and the concrete arrived for the sub base of the patio today..... given good weather, that will be laid tomorrow.... then I have the time consuming job of getting riven slabs of York Stone level and laid - all that time I will be mulling over the actual construction of the rill and mini pond / water feature.
Adam
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16/04/2009 08:38 PM
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- geoff51
- Totton, Hampshire
- 13 Feb 2009
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187
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Post photo's of your progress on the forum. We would love to see the job progress and the final outcome.
if you need any more help just yell or send me a private message if you wish
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27/04/2009 08:04 PM
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- geoff51
- Totton, Hampshire
- 13 Feb 2009
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187
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Hi Adam,
Has your copy of the book I recommended arrived yet? and how is the building work progressing?
You do realise that water gardening is very addictive and you will want to build a bigger one in about 5years?
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11/05/2009 11:25 PM
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- patiopal
- My Garden forums
- 11 Feb 2009
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72
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a question rather than a reply. I have been looking at container ponds. I have ALWAYS wanted a pond, especially the sound of water flowing, now I am thinking of container ponds or water barrels and designing around different cluster shapes of these,different levels and different shapes of plants and a fountain.
Does this sound too hard work for a disabled person or rather feasable. I just was a Artist and designer and I thought it would be a nice way to try to be both and indulge in a passion for water.
What do people think
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12/05/2009 04:40 PM
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- geoff51
- Totton, Hampshire
- 13 Feb 2009
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187
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Hi,
I am assuming that you do not want to keep fish in the ponds so half barrels would be ideal, these barrels are available in many different sizes from good garden centres, they mat contain preservative hence the fish question
There are ready made barrel water features available from specialist water garden centres which can be varied in their height and layout and often come complete with pump or you can buy them separate and design your own.
quite honestly the variations are endless and a visit to a specialist will give you inspiration as to what fits your needs. As regards to being hard work for a disabled person, you may need some strong helpers to set up originally but the maintenance of a water feature can be as easy or as difficult as you wish to make it.
Hope this helps but give me a shout here if I can help in any way
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06/07/2009 09:30 PM
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- patiopal
- My Garden forums
- 11 Feb 2009
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72
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Hi Geoff, I'm in! the new place that is. But boy, did we have a water barrel, forget my ideas the whole patio was a water barrel as we've had flash floods, not to mention that half my stuff didnt fit into new accommodation and the council never provided me with storage so sofa, kitchen stuff, beds, physio gear all were awash.
bit easier now as family carted off most, now i am down to the bones again and thinking of the barrels for real.
My idea -Buddha is in a corner on a raised bed looking good - I want a large barrel below him and then graduating one or two after that, then a final small one which will have a pump set for the 'noisey' bubbly water feature to flow into a trough around a seated area at front of patio, well thats the idea anyway.
Can you tell me how to take cuttings of water lilies, my wealthy sis has a pond as big as my patio with the most fantastic pale yellow water lilies and zillions of frogs. I will leave the frogs!!!
xminnie pal
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07/07/2009 09:38 PM
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- geoff51
- Totton, Hampshire
- 13 Feb 2009
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187
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 Hi Patiopal
Sorry to hear about your floods but I think you need to find out whether it is a regular problem in your garden, if so get the council to investigate as I assume they are your landlords and get it sorted before you do anything in the garden otherwise it will get spoilt after you have made it.
With regards to your barrel feature the pump must always be in the lowest and largest barrel otherwise it will empty the small barrel before any water reaches the top so you must rethink your arrangement to take this into account as you need a big enough sump to put the pump in to keep the whole thing full of water, if that makes sense to you.
I have never had alot of luck with water lilies and hardly ever get any flowers on mine, but you must get a lily that is suitable for the size of your pond otherwise it will choke it I think your sisters lily make be a large size and unsuitable for you, but if you wish to propagate a water lily you need to remove a rhizome with some stem attached and plant it in a basket with special aquatic soil and sink it in the water and wait
Hope this helps a bit
Geoff
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