We've had a recent discussion about yellow flag @B3. It's definitely too big for many small ponds unless it's restricted by a good container. There are lots of good alternatives though. Look forward to seeing your progress with it. This is when I wish we had some more specific categories on the forum. A dedicated pond one would be invaluable for people looking for info.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Haven't even started excavation stage yet! Serious negotiation, bribery, blackmail and gentle persuasion required before OH commences grunt work. Rain forecast over next few days which should soften the clay a bit
We've had a recent discussion about yellow flag @B3. It's definitely too big for many small ponds unless it's restricted by a good container. There are lots of good alternatives though. Look forward to seeing your progress with it. This is when I wish we had some more specific categories on the forum. A dedicated pond one would be invaluable for people looking for info.
You're right about a specific forum for ponds Fairygirl, it could come under 'Water Gardening'?
Very exciting to hear about new ponds being planned! We dug ours out in May and stocked it by June. Within a week we had damselflies, water skaters, water fleas, various birds coming to drink and it was enthralling to watch. I used Puddle Plants to stock it and they were excellent. Now the pillwort and lilies are dying back gradually, but the water is still clear and I spend many hours sitting near it and looking inside. Hoping the frogs find it some day...apparently they smell the water! We just dug out a shape we liked, with a good deep section and planting shelf, compacted sand on top of it and then lay a thick liner over. Cheap but effective and as @Lyn said before, less liable to end a marriage! Good luck and keep us posted 😊
That looks amazing @dappledshade. I had a look at our patch today and it's a bit daunting. But, when all's said and done , I suppose it's basically a hole full of water. Doable😐
Exactly how we felt before we’d started. Total novices too, when it comes to ponds. OH wasn’t keen to start with, muttering about mosquitos eating us alive etc etc, but even he loves it now and sits on the bench with a beer, watching the wildlife come and go. Had to buy a sonic fox repellent though, as one of the younger ones was coming in at night, hauling the planting baskets out of the pond and eating the plants! Lost one lily, hope it comes back...and the pillwort got nibbled badly. Who’d have thought...
That's a pretty pond dappledshade. Give the frogs a bit of time, they'll find it
Thank you! I do still wonder how on earth they can, but I’m not going to transfer any spawn into it, as I’ve read it’s a bad idea. Problem is, I’m not the world’s most patient gardener!
Posts
There are lots of good alternatives though. Look forward to seeing your progress with it.
This is when I wish we had some more specific categories on the forum. A dedicated pond one would be invaluable for people looking for info.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We dug ours out in May and stocked it by June. Within a week we had damselflies, water skaters, water fleas, various birds coming to drink and it was enthralling to watch.
I used Puddle Plants to stock it and they were excellent.
Now the pillwort and lilies are dying back gradually, but the water is still clear and I spend many hours sitting near it and looking inside.
Hoping the frogs find it some day...apparently they smell the water!
We just dug out a shape we liked, with a good deep section and planting shelf, compacted sand on top of it and then lay a thick liner over.
Cheap but effective and as @Lyn said before, less liable to end a marriage!
Good luck and keep us posted 😊
Had to buy a sonic fox repellent though, as one of the younger ones was coming in at night, hauling the planting baskets out of the pond and eating the plants! Lost one lily, hope it comes back...and the pillwort got nibbled badly. Who’d have thought...