|
 Constructing
a Garden Pond Using a Pre-formed Shell
It would probably be a good
idea to read Deciding
to Make a Garden Pond first, where you can read about
the different kinds and materials available.
Because a raised pond is
more a building than gardening project, I will only deal
with a sunken pond that is eventually intended to look like
a natural feature in the garden.
Once you have decided where
it should go, ensuring it is not shaded or likely to get
lots of leaves dropped into it from surrounding trees, you
then have to decide how big it should be.
Pre-Formed Shells
You will also have to make a decision on the liner. Will
you buy a pre-formed fibreglass shell or flexible
sheet lining which will adapt to any shape or size?
If it is the former, buy it first and then experiment with
where you think it looks best. Then level the ground.
- For a symetrical shell,
put it upside down on the place you want it and mark the
outline with a string or sand. For an asymetrical shape,
this won't work. Instead, place it on bricks or other
objects to raise it off the ground. Push canes into the
ground at frequent intervals (perhaps 18 to 24inches apart)
all the way round so that they are touching the shell.
Use a rope lying on the ground to join the canes so that
you have the exact outline of the shell.
- Now dig down to the depth
of the shelf inside the pond shell (you will see what
I mean when you look at shells). Keep topsoil and subsoil
separate, don't mix them under any circumstances. Put
the shell in the hole and press it down firmly so that
you can see the shape of the base in the soil.
- Dig out the deeper part
of the pond now impressed into the soil to the depth of
the deepest part of the shell plus an extra 2 - 3 inches.
- Remove stones, roots and
anything else that might damage the shell. Firm the earth
over the entire dug area. Now line it with 2 - 3 inches
of sand, fibreglass insulation or even old carpet. This
is to protect the shell.
- Put the shell back in
the hole and make sure it is level. Now run water into
it but only to a depth of about 4 or 5 inches. This extra
weight will make it settle it and you can see that no
part of your hole has subsided and caused the shell to
tilt unevenly. If it has, you will have to empty it and
fix the problem area.
- Once it is level with
4 to 5 inches of water, backfill any gaps around the edges
with sieved subsoil. Continue to fill the pond, checking
that it remains level and backfill any gaps that appear
between the shell and surrounding soil.
- When your pond is filled
and you are happy that it is level, you can now mask the
edges. Do this with paving stones set in mortar or with
garden turf.
You are now ready to start
populating your pond with plants and, if you choose, fish.
You can also landscape around it to encourage wildlife.
Home
|
