What I'd like to know re a small pond is how do you stop it freezing solid in winter? I have found dead frogs before now in small amounts of thawed out water.
However, with advice given I am now thinking about using a liner; think it might actually work out easier and not too expensive. I can then make it deeper and a bit bigger with a nice shallow side so the wildlife can access it safely and easily.
Treehugger, I love the idea of a stream and am going to look at the possibilities. Unfortunately OH is not as enthusiastic about developing the garden as me and therefore the budget is very limited, (he would be perfectly happy with tarmac). Every project has to be completed with as little inconvenience to him as possible, both physically and fiscally!
Think I might have to get down to the library to look for some step by step guides.
Thanks all, loads to think about.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
And easier to get round any awkward bits in the ground too! I had to negotiate various lumps and bumps doing my little pond DD but it's almost two feet deep at the left hand end with a little beached edge at the other where there is a small dead tree stump. I used a piece of shaped polystyrene in a previous pond to prevent freezing. If you can imagine a block of it with a half sphere removed on one side. I sat it upside down on the water creating a little air pocket which never froze. I tied it on to a shrub at the side to stop it blowing away. Worked a treat
You can use old blankets or something similar as underlay for the liner too. A small liner won't be expensive, and Verd's right - 30 cm is very shallow and will heat up and get a bit manky in summer, and freeze more readily in winter. Even a small area at a good depth will help.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thwarted at first attempt at the library - doesn't open until 14:00.
We have a whole pile of removal mens blankets left over from the move, do you think they will be useful underneath? Was also going to use sand to line the hole, previous owners left a builders sack of it.
Have heard about floating a ball on top but then wasn't sure how the air would get past the ball.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
Just thought I would pop a couple of pics on of my 'before' pond.
Might be a while until I post an 'after', have to build a rockery around it first, still chasing up the man supposed to be bringing some landfil for the hole (for the rockery not the pond if you can follow). This will be the rockery bit with the pond going in the left corner at the bottom of the highest point (hoping for a mini stream but will have to see how that works out.
Pond will be in this corner with a little beach up to the grass for easy access (see I have been taking notes).
I will be so peased if in 6 months it looks anything like the image in my head! Thanks again for all advice and pointers.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
Posts
if you're building a rockery and want a small pump how about incorporating a small stream/trickle thru the rockery into the pond?
What I'd like to know re a small pond is how do you stop it freezing solid in winter? I have found dead frogs before now in small amounts of thawed out water.
"If not, you could physically remove them to safer winter quarters."
Frog-march them?
However, with advice given I am now thinking about using a liner; think it might actually work out easier and not too expensive. I can then make it deeper and a bit bigger with a nice shallow side so the wildlife can access it safely and easily.
Treehugger, I love the idea of a stream and am going to look at the possibilities. Unfortunately OH is not as enthusiastic about developing the garden as me and therefore the budget is very limited, (he would be perfectly happy with tarmac). Every project has to be completed with as little inconvenience to him as possible, both physically and fiscally!
Think I might have to get down to the library to look for some step by step guides.
Thanks all, loads to think about.
And you can shift liners and adapt them until you're happy with the overall effect and hide the edges far more easily.
And easier to get round any awkward bits in the ground too! I had to negotiate various lumps and bumps doing my little pond DD but it's almost two feet deep at the left hand end with a little beached edge at the other where there is a small dead tree stump. I used a piece of shaped polystyrene in a previous pond to prevent freezing. If you can imagine a block of it with a half sphere removed on one side. I sat it upside down on the water creating a little air pocket which never froze. I tied it on to a shrub at the side to stop it blowing away. Worked a treat
You can use old blankets or something similar as underlay for the liner too. A small liner won't be expensive, and Verd's right - 30 cm is very shallow and will heat up and get a bit manky in summer, and freeze more readily in winter. Even a small area at a good depth will help.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thwarted at first attempt at the library - doesn't open until 14:00.
We have a whole pile of removal mens blankets left over from the move, do you think they will be useful underneath? Was also going to use sand to line the hole, previous owners left a builders sack of it.
Have heard about floating a ball on top but then wasn't sure how the air would get past the ball.
Just thought I would pop a couple of pics on of my 'before' pond.
Might be a while until I post an 'after', have to build a rockery around it first, still chasing up the man supposed to be bringing some landfil for the hole (for the rockery not the pond if you can follow). This will be the rockery bit with the pond going in the left corner at the bottom of the highest point (hoping for a mini stream but will have to see how that works out.
Pond will be in this corner with a little beach up to the grass for easy access (see I have been taking notes).
I will be so peased if in 6 months it looks anything like the image in my head! Thanks again for all advice and pointers.