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Pond reconstruction more or less complete
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Posted by polshampark Devon, UK (My Page) on Thu, Apr 7, 05 at 18:23
| The link below shows photos of my old small pond at its lushest last year and the reconstruction work that has been carried out over the past month or so.
I'm still trying to find a solution as to how to hide the filter and I've been adding plants to the ledges and amongst the rocks today - no photos as it began to rain and I quit for the day.
As can be seen, the shape and size of the pond was restricted by the 'given' area in the centre of the patterned concrete. It was planted with evergreen shrubs when I bought the property five years ago.
There are now 14 goldfish and shubunkins enjoying their new home - including one very pregnant silver coloured goldfish and a new male (he's very fat, but I was assured it is a 'he' nevertheless!) So hopefully I shall soon be seeing some fry before the other fish gobble them up!
Tricia |
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pond reconstruction more or less complete
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Hi Tricia. I think it looks really nice. I love the paving and the shape you had to work to. I can see the problem you have with the filter. I can't think of a solution for you at the minute. I was very lucky with mine due to the way we made the pond, from most angles the filter box is hidden. You have to go right near the bottom of the pond towards the fencing to see mine which is half buried in the soil and the rest is hidden by the walling of the pond. Anyway I am sure that all the fish love the extra space with this new pond. Very well done.
Alison |
RE: Pond reconstruction more or less complete
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| do i detect a fishmate pressure filter? does it work for you? ours didnt ho hum. only way i can immediatly see of hiding it is to extend the waterfall rockpile - poss to the rear and hide it in that? with maybe a large flatish stone over the top to give access? or you could construct a filter house of sorts adjacent to the waterfall and rock clad it? o/ |
RE: Pond reconstruction more or less complete
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| Looks nice! Really like the rocks too--if you need some more you know where to find them! |
RE: Pond reconstruction more or less complete
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| Tricia... your pond is so pretty. Heaven knows what to do with the filter! What an unusual house brick... I love the plants. |
RE: Pond reconstruction more or less complete
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The pond is very nice and I bet its was a 'delightful experience' trying to get the liner folds neat
What about a imitation rock cover for the filter. I have recently seen some VERY good plastic ones in a local garden centre, I didnt look closely at them until I saw a customer carrying one, at arms length, to his Mrs. With regard to the back of the fall what are you doing with that, would the filter fit 'in' there? A brick 'soil' retaining wall might work as a back to the fall etc etc. I am curious is the pond liner on top of the blue 'liner'? If so is there anything between the two as underlay and is the blue liner water proof. I was going to put plastic under the wildlife pond's liner but suddenly had the idea that if sand grains or gravel were to get trapped between the 2 the outer liner acts as a relatively hard surface and makes that sand or gravel a greater puncture risk to the proper liner. Also if the outer liner was water tight I could have been setting myself up for liner ballooning problems if water got between the two liners plus that water is likely to turn horrendously foul. I took the outer liner out. |
RE: Pond reconstruction more or less complete
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| Nice job on the pond! It looks great! About the filter, well, I like LOTS of plants around the pond as well as in it, so if it was me I'd build a BIG raised planter all around the waterfall (but open where it faces the pond so the planting area merges into the rockery that's already there). Then fill it with rocks and soil so the filter is mostly buried, surround whatever is still visible of the filter with rocks and plants, and scatter more rocks and plants in the remaining area so looks like an extension of the rockery only with more plants. maybe a few "creeping" or "overhanging foliage" plants around the edges of the planter. I'd also put put some stones and plants in the waterfall itself and put lots of small alpine plants in the pockets between the rocks. I'd probably remove a few sections of rockery around the pond edges too, and replace with raised flagstones... just because I like to get up close and personal with the pond wildlife etc. Well, just some ideas :-) |
RE: Pond reconstruction more or less complete
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| Thanks everyone for the kind words and advice - I'm going to have a think about planting tall marginals in the area, but at the moment it doesn't look feasible as the ledge where the filter sits is a tad too short to offer any secure footing for a plant pot. The filter can't be moved either as it would then have to sit on the concrete paving and since the waterfall takes up such a lot of room (but no room behind it for the filter) it would make the whole patio courtyard area look more like a pile of rocks than it does already! - We did make a frame over the filter, covered it with pond liner and have a large shallow bowl-type planter with trailing plants which should eventually act as camouflage sitting on it, but it looks more than ugly right now. Hey ho, I'm sure a better solution will be found sooner or later. I'll post pictures when I feel happy with the results. I already have alpines planted among the rocks which should soften the outline somewhat given time. It's early days yet and I know the pond will evolve and be changed within its limits as time goes on. Tricia |
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