Stage 3: Construction.
We chose to dig to a depth of about 18'', although we actually ended up going a bit deeper. The reason being that fish and most plants need a minimum of 18'' to do well, and we wanted that option open to us in the future.
To make it easier later on, we tried to pile the excavated dirt close to where we would be constructing the stream bed later on.
Next, we laid out the PVC liner to let it warm up and become more pliable. This happened very quickly and it was ready to be installed.
We lined the hole with newspaper about 1'' thick to provide a bit of an abrasion barrier between the liner and the rocks, sticks etc. that we were unable to remove from the bottom and sides of the hole.
After the newspaper was in place, we took the warm, pliable liner and placed it in the hole, making sure to have a foot of overlap (or more) around the pond. We pleated the liner where it was especially bunched-up, but all in all, this step required very little work.
To make it easier later on, we tried to pile the excavated dirt close to where we would be constructing the stream bed later on.
Next, we laid out the PVC liner to let it warm up and become more pliable. This happened very quickly and it was ready to be installed.
We lined the hole with newspaper about 1'' thick to provide a bit of an abrasion barrier between the liner and the rocks, sticks etc. that we were unable to remove from the bottom and sides of the hole.
After the newspaper was in place, we took the warm, pliable liner and placed it in the hole, making sure to have a foot of overlap (or more) around the pond. We pleated the liner where it was especially bunched-up, but all in all, this step required very little work.
The next step is to fill the pond from the hose, and sit down for a short break!
While we were taking a break, the woodpecker showed up for a visit - we took it as a sign that Nature approved...
Once the pond was filled with water, we placed some cheap pavers over the liner edge to hold it down. You could skip this step and go straight to using decorative pavers if you wanted.
Once it was weighted down, we cut off a strip of the liner to line the stream later on.
We used landscape fabric, tucked under the paving stones, to combat possible erosion issues down the line.
With the main pond basically finished, we shaped the excavated dirt and sod into the stream bed, and carved out a channel - make sure it runs downhill!
Its a good idea to pause at this point and take a look at how the stream will connect to the main pond, and make any adjustments. For the stream especially, make use of the landscape! We were lucky to have a natural place to have it curve into, thus making it much more aesthetically pleasing.
Once you're happy with the layout, place the liner piece that you cut off earlier in the stream bed, add a few rocks to hold it down, plug in the pump, cross your fingers... and plug it in.
After about 7 hours of work, this is where we were at.
At this stage we had a working pond and stream - but it definitely wasn't finished yet.
Stage 4: Landscaping.
The next stage is to landscape your pond. I didn't have a cohesive plan for landscaping, so we went to the local garden center to get some ideas. I ended up getting some great suggestions from the very knowledgeable manager at the Home Hardware Garden Center that I went to, and with her advice and some ideas of my own, I came away with some great plants. Also, because of the inorganic nature of the excavated dirt, I purchased some topsoil and mushroom manure to use on top of the fill to plant in.
In addition to plants, I wanted to use rocks to lend the area around the plants a bit of an ornamental/river-bed look. For this I went to a landscape supply place and bought some bags of gravel and small rocks.
Landscaping left me here - looking a lot better but still not where I wanted it to be.
Stage 4a: Making adjustments:
A good idea at this point would be to have some friends over for a few drinks and ask for feedback. One of my buddies suggested lights, and another suggested getting some more decorative pavers. Knowing that I wasn't entirely happy with the final product yet, I went the next day to the stone supply place and picked up some off-cuts at 20cents/lb. The stones really tied the whole look together. Leading us to...
The Pond!
Of course, this is a project that is never really finished. I'm planning on adding water plants and fish, for starters - which will be a whole new Stage. This is a project that can seem overwhelming, but you shouldn't be discouraged. Once you have that initial spark of an idea, the rest flows (punny, isn't it?) pretty easily!
With the main pond basically finished, we shaped the excavated dirt and sod into the stream bed, and carved out a channel - make sure it runs downhill!
Its a good idea to pause at this point and take a look at how the stream will connect to the main pond, and make any adjustments. For the stream especially, make use of the landscape! We were lucky to have a natural place to have it curve into, thus making it much more aesthetically pleasing.
Once you're happy with the layout, place the liner piece that you cut off earlier in the stream bed, add a few rocks to hold it down, plug in the pump, cross your fingers... and plug it in.
After about 7 hours of work, this is where we were at.
At this stage we had a working pond and stream - but it definitely wasn't finished yet.
Stage 4: Landscaping.
The next stage is to landscape your pond. I didn't have a cohesive plan for landscaping, so we went to the local garden center to get some ideas. I ended up getting some great suggestions from the very knowledgeable manager at the Home Hardware Garden Center that I went to, and with her advice and some ideas of my own, I came away with some great plants. Also, because of the inorganic nature of the excavated dirt, I purchased some topsoil and mushroom manure to use on top of the fill to plant in.
In addition to plants, I wanted to use rocks to lend the area around the plants a bit of an ornamental/river-bed look. For this I went to a landscape supply place and bought some bags of gravel and small rocks.
Landscaping left me here - looking a lot better but still not where I wanted it to be.
Stage 4a: Making adjustments:
A good idea at this point would be to have some friends over for a few drinks and ask for feedback. One of my buddies suggested lights, and another suggested getting some more decorative pavers. Knowing that I wasn't entirely happy with the final product yet, I went the next day to the stone supply place and picked up some off-cuts at 20cents/lb. The stones really tied the whole look together. Leading us to...
The Pond!
Of course, this is a project that is never really finished. I'm planning on adding water plants and fish, for starters - which will be a whole new Stage. This is a project that can seem overwhelming, but you shouldn't be discouraged. Once you have that initial spark of an idea, the rest flows (punny, isn't it?) pretty easily!
