I am collecting a whole lot of ideas and tips of what to do and not to do from you all - please keep posting your pictures and experiences, they are so helpful not only to me but other pond owners too. So far we are just at the planning stage, so we are trying to visit as many ponds as possible, it would also be good to see them in the winter when some of the plants die down, how bare are they. One gardener had cemented every pebble together so that they didn't slip into the pond - great if you have the time and I must admit they did look very natural making a lovely beach in the shallow end.
That's a lovely picture wildflowers, do you have a shallow end to your pond too? Do you know how deep the pond water should be to allow creatures to survive in freezing conditions? That's what I call proper snow doghouse - how long did it last? We don't often have heavy snowfalls, sometime we wish we did - rather than the freezing cold easterly wind we get in the winter.
This is my small pond, well two seperate ponds with a fake 'bridge' - the right handside (in 1st pic) was an afterthought.
It's liner and spread out around the pond under the soil as a fake bog. I put aquatic compost in the bottom of each side and covered the whole liner with rocks/pebbles. To keep the slope it meant I couldn't go very deep though.
I would have liked to have a bigger pond but didn't want to lose anymore garden...if I ever move I will make a pond in the same way I think.
Yes-We have a big slope on one side to let frogs and stuff swim/get out and a stretch of (sadly too deep) shelves on one long edge (about 2-3 ft deep which is a problem for marginals, should've gone shallower/1ft). The middle is deepest, we went for about 4 to 4.5 ft there. Go as deep as you can in the middle, we only went to 3ft on our last pond which I think is the typical minimum for wildlife but we tended to lose a fish or two in the winter. Doesn't happen now, unless the heron eats them before I see them....!
We also put a few old roof ridge tiles in the middle to give the wildlife somewhere extra to shelter.
We leave the fountain in all year to keep a spot in the middle ice free too.
That's interesting 8000, we may only go down to 3 foot at the deepest, it really depends what we find down there when we start excavating - I fear that it may be solid granite although I hope not! I am no expert but have read through a couple of books in the past few days and hope that we will get it right first time - in fact you have given me quite a few pointers, there seems to be so much to remember - and I am taking on board all your tips, ideas and experiences.
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I am collecting a whole lot of ideas and tips of what to do and not to do from you all - please keep posting your pictures and experiences, they are so helpful not only to me but other pond owners too. So far we are just at the planning stage, so we are trying to visit as many ponds as possible, it would also be good to see them in the winter when some of the plants die down, how bare are they. One gardener had cemented every pebble together so that they didn't slip into the pond - great if you have the time and I must admit they did look very natural making a lovely beach in the shallow end.
Hi Guernsey, here's mine in Jan
I love winter pics
In the sticks near Peterborough
that's quite a lot of snow
In the sticks near Peterborough
That's a lovely picture wildflowers, do you have a shallow end to your pond too? Do you know how deep the pond water should be to allow creatures to survive in freezing conditions? That's what I call proper snow doghouse - how long did it last? We don't often have heavy snowfalls, sometime we wish we did - rather than the freezing cold easterly wind we get in the winter.
This is my small pond, well two seperate ponds with a fake 'bridge' - the right handside (in 1st pic) was an afterthought.
It's liner and spread out around the pond under the soil as a fake bog. I put aquatic compost in the bottom of each side and covered the whole liner with rocks/pebbles. To keep the slope it meant I couldn't go very deep though.
I would have liked to have a bigger pond but didn't want to lose anymore garden...if I ever move I will make a pond in the same way I think.
This is it currently...not visible...
I'm sure the wildlife still knows where to find it, VS...
That's nice Vic. and I love the brick path
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hi Guernsey
Yes-We have a big slope on one side to let frogs and stuff swim/get out and a stretch of (sadly too deep) shelves on one long edge (about 2-3 ft deep which is a problem for marginals, should've gone shallower/1ft). The middle is deepest, we went for about 4 to 4.5 ft there. Go as deep as you can in the middle, we only went to 3ft on our last pond which I think is the typical minimum for wildlife but we tended to lose a fish or two in the winter. Doesn't happen now, unless the heron eats them before I see them....!
We also put a few old roof ridge tiles in the middle to give the wildlife somewhere extra to shelter.
We leave the fountain in all year to keep a spot in the middle ice free too.
That's interesting 8000, we may only go down to 3 foot at the deepest, it really depends what we find down there when we start excavating - I fear that it may be solid granite although I hope not! I am no expert but have read through a couple of books in the past few days and hope that we will get it right first time - in fact you have given me quite a few pointers, there seems to be so much to remember - and I am taking on board all your tips, ideas and experiences.