Making a pond is easy. This could be the first headline of this post. That it looks nice is something different. At Gardenprue we are going to teach you how to do both and we are going to make it really easy for you, or at least we are going to try. You are going to need a few tools, illusion and of course, water!
Index
TYPES OF PONDS
Although there are many types, the most comfortable and most used are 3: fiberglass or precast plastic, concrete or waterproof fabric (plastic). The first one is to go to the store and buy it directly, the result is the same but it has one drawback that is important to us: you conform to the manufacturer’s design. The second one usually has a good finish but not everyone knows how to handle concrete (we include ourselves). The third, the plastic sheet, is the cheapest and most used, and you can also design the shape. It has the disadvantage that it is more susceptible to a puncture.
Whatever the different pond options you have at your disposal, what is certain is that the design of your garden will be altered in a positive way. You will attract animals , plants will grow, create visual excitement, etc.
THE PREFABRICATED POND (PRICE: €€€, DIFFICULTY: VERY EASY)
This form of construction is the simplest of all. The first thing you will have to do is buy the plastic or fiberglass pond that best suits your needs (size, shape, depth, etc.). Once you have acquired it, you will have to excavate the hole according to the shape of the pond. It is best to make the rectangular ditch and then cover the holes that may be formed with the excavated earth, which will be the sustenance of the pond (remember that a full pond weighs a lot and if the earth is not well compacted the pond can lower several cm). Once “molded” to the terrain, all you have to do is fill it and cover it with vegetation.
THE CONCRETE POND (PRICE: €, DIFFICULTY: DIFFICULT)
If you control the handling of concrete, go ahead and take it as a challenge. If you don’t have much idea , like us (let’s say we know the theory but fail in practice :(), it is best to try the other two methods , which stand out for their ease. These are the steps to build your concrete pond.
- Design the pond hole. Give the shape and depth you want to your pond.
- Lay a sand or gravel base and smooth it out. Then add a 15 cm layer of concrete. Depending on the structure of the floor, you may have to add a steel mesh.
- To make the walls, you will need some molds based on wooden planks. A thickness of 15 cm is ideal. Be very careful with the corners which is where they tend to leak.
- The concrete must be allowed to dry for at least 1 week and check that there are no leaks. Later you can coat the pond with waterproof paint. Once this step is completed, it can be filled again and the plants or animal fauna can be placed.
THE WATERPROOF FOIL POND (PRICE: €, DIFFICULTY: EASY)
This time we are not going to be impartial, we like this method . It is cheap and easy to build. Acquiring a sheet (or several) of plastic or waterproof material is very cheap and gives good results. Here are the steps to build your pond with waterproof sheet:
- The first thing you have to do is design the shape and depth of your pond according to your tastes and needs. The only thing you will have to take into account is to leave the corners rounded (it is plastic and can break).
- You have already made the hole (excavator? We did it by hand! :)) with the desired shape, now you just have to place the plastic. It can only be one plastic, you cannot put two, because the water will come out as easily as it has entered. It has to be a single sheet, wide enough to cover the space and that you have left over. Stretch it without leaving any uncovered spaces (you don’t have to be a perfectionist, the weight of the water will do the rest), and place stones around the edges to hold the plastic while you fill the pond.
- Add water. The weight of this will sink the plastic, covering holes and the pond will acquire the shape by which you have sweated making the ditch.
- When the pond is full, trim any leftover rim plastic. Leave about 20 cm around and cover them with rocks, pots, tiles, whatever you want!
- To avoid the risk of punctures, you can cover the bottom with a thin layer of fine sand. Over time, the walls will fill with moss that will protect the plastic from scratches and punctures. Without considering placing a double sheet of plastic much better.
HOW BIG AND DEEP DO I GIVE THE POND?
If you live in a cold area you have to give it greater depth, because if it is shallow in winter it can freeze all the water and kill its occupants. 60 cm deep is a good value for hot climates , as fish, amphibians and aquatic plants (water lilies) can easily grow. If you live in a cold climate with sub-zero temperatures, you will have to dig a minimum of 75 cm deep in your pond, to prevent it from freezing.