My neighbour had a full size swimming pool an has turned it into a fab pond to house his Koi, plus other fish which have since bred and are all doing well.
We helped him line it with pond liner and although he has restocked some of his stock from another garden pond - I guess you could do it reasonably inexpensively.
It seems rather boring just to fill it in and plant in it. There's a lot of effort involved to dig out a swimming pool it just seems a shame to waste it. That's my personal preference coming out though, I'd love to have a Koi pond (or the space for one), depends what the OP wants.
I'm not sure leaks are that hard to find, DR, if it drains to the same level every time then you know what height it is at. The worst bit is getting in in! It's a slightly odd looking filter but if it already has one, no additional work is required to convert it to use on a pond (which doesn't need anywhere near the same level of filtration, if any).
Maybe Suz3 has the best idea; a formal pond, with a flexible liner, goldfish if you like but maybe not koi, and some lovely water lilies. It's deeper than most garden ponds so lilies could do well. If you wanted marginal plants you'd need to construct some sort of a shelf, before the liner went in maybe... that could be done cheaply with breeze blocks, I would think, covered with underlay to prevent them puncturing the liner. The only problem with a lined pond would be if the swimming pool, which presumably leaks, is currently never dry. That would indicate that the water table is higher than the base of the pool, and the liner would float somewhere above the base.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
could you convert it to one of those " natural swimming pools" with plants for filters?. There was a wonderful example at Hampton Court Flower Show a few years ago.
My neighbour with the old full size pool also had a frame made by a local firm to put plants on. You know the kind of thing that hooks onto your bath that you put your loofah and soap on?
Well they replicated that on a grand scale and he has all sorts on it. In addition he has lilies and other floating plants.
There is a huge filter, plus waterfall to keep the water moving - as well as air stones.
I'd go with the others suggestions of a bog garden. Fill it up with rubble and bits and bobs, until there is a safe level for both planting and a sloped end for small critters to crawl out if they fall in. Drop in some aquatic pots of irises and lilies, and a few goldfish, if you fancy. The fish, frogs, toads, and newts will care for themselves.
There is the pond maintenance though, as you have realized.
The other idea is to fill it with rubble up until about ten inches from the top, then fill the rest with quality compost and soil. Make yourself a nice veg garden.
A pond can be low maintenance once set up if you are sensible. Goldfish are very self sufficient and the planting would be beautiful. You would need to line it with a pond liner, but that would not be too expensive. If you went for a wild style with just a few fish you could skip the filter. I would want a few fish to eat the mossies larva.
Filling in would be a lot of work but it could look great.
Can I recommend a great uk forum called pond life where you would be able to get some low maintenance pond suggestions?
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My neighbour had a full size swimming pool an has turned it into a fab pond to house his Koi, plus other fish which have since bred and are all doing well.
We helped him line it with pond liner and although he has restocked some of his stock from another garden pond - I guess you could do it reasonably inexpensively.
It seems rather boring just to fill it in and plant in it. There's a lot of effort involved to dig out a swimming pool it just seems a shame to waste it. That's my personal preference coming out though, I'd love to have a Koi pond (or the space for one), depends what the OP wants.
I'm not sure leaks are that hard to find, DR, if it drains to the same level every time then you know what height it is at. The worst bit is getting in in! It's a slightly odd looking filter but if it already has one, no additional work is required to convert it to use on a pond (which doesn't need anywhere near the same level of filtration, if any).
Maybe Suz3 has the best idea; a formal pond, with a flexible liner, goldfish if you like but maybe not koi, and some lovely water lilies. It's deeper than most garden ponds so lilies could do well. If you wanted marginal plants you'd need to construct some sort of a shelf, before the liner went in maybe... that could be done cheaply with breeze blocks, I would think, covered with underlay to prevent them puncturing the liner. The only problem with a lined pond would be if the swimming pool, which presumably leaks, is currently never dry. That would indicate that the water table is higher than the base of the pool, and the liner would float somewhere above the base.
could you convert it to one of those " natural swimming pools" with plants for filters?. There was a wonderful example at Hampton Court Flower Show a few years ago.
My neighbour with the old full size pool also had a frame made by a local firm to put plants on. You know the kind of thing that hooks onto your bath that you put your loofah and soap on?
Well they replicated that on a grand scale and he has all sorts on it. In addition he has lilies and other floating plants.
There is a huge filter, plus waterfall to keep the water moving - as well as air stones.
Polytunnel over the top.
What are the actual dimensions of the pool? It will help when trying to work out the options.
If you're on a hillside I don't think the water table is likely to be a problem, unless you are actually in a dip in the hillside.
approx. 10' x 24'
shallow end c. 3' - deep end c. 5'3
I still like the sunken garden picture but mine is a lot more oblong - not sure how to adapt
Must be low maintenance - no fish - no frogs - no toads - no newts please
I like water lilies but I am no Spring chicken so they are a no-no
Love reading the ideas
I'd go with the others suggestions of a bog garden. Fill it up with rubble and bits and bobs, until there is a safe level for both planting and a sloped end for small critters to crawl out if they fall in. Drop in some aquatic pots of irises and lilies, and a few goldfish, if you fancy. The fish, frogs, toads, and newts will care for themselves.
There is the pond maintenance though, as you have realized.
The other idea is to fill it with rubble up until about ten inches from the top, then fill the rest with quality compost and soil. Make yourself a nice veg garden.
A pond can be low maintenance once set up if you are sensible. Goldfish are very self sufficient and the planting would be beautiful. You would need to line it with a pond liner, but that would not be too expensive. If you went for a wild style with just a few fish you could skip the filter. I would want a few fish to eat the mossies larva.
Filling in would be a lot of work but it could look great.
Can I recommend a great uk forum called pond life where you would be able to get some low maintenance pond suggestions?