Small Pond

[grandad1]

Hi am just a greenhorn awaiting tips on my pond development it is only 1 meter sq. and18 inches deep I dont intend using a pump as no power nearby.

[owlfield]

Hello from another new member.
I have a barrel pond even smaller than your pond. It is an old beer barrel (wooden) sunk into the ground and has been there for about 20 years. I put oxygenating weed in it and have tried a few pond plants with varying degrees of success. Rushes grow well and provide cover for frogs, tadpoles etc. but eventually get too big, yellow flag irises look lovely but are definitely too big.
I have frogs resident most of the time. It is worthwhile doing even a small pond I think.
Good luck.

[grandad1]

Many thanks as I said greenhorn but willing to listen to advice and learn I live very near to the coast up here in northern scotland and to say it will be interesting is putting it mildly but my grandson and I will have a good try.

[Dorts]

My advice with 'small ponds' is to make them as big as possible!!
The trouble with a 'small pond' is, as Owlfield has rightly said, that almost as soon as you plant it, those plants will be too big and you will lose any open water, which is good to have if only to see what's in you pond.

Try and seek out non invasive plants or ones that are easy to control. There is a great temptation to fill it with far too many plants. I would also suggest, unless safety is a consideration, that you make it at least a metre deep. This will offer protection to many species in very cold weather, it also helps with it not 'silting-up' to quickly, which can often happen.
Lastly, take advice from anyone who has a well maintained pond and who has overcome many of the problems of pond maintenance.
Dorts.

[slimrbp]

Hi,

the ideal depth for a pond is something that seems to be a point of contention.

In our garden we have a pond (or hole in the ground really)that was inherited when we moved in last year and was 45cm deep and frogs successfully overwintered in it. I guess it depends how cold your winters are but is was pretty nippy in Kent!

My new pond is 2m x 1.5m with a section that is about 50-60cm deep and then goes to edges which vary from 20 - 5cm deep and a sloping beach section to allow access.

This is a pic of it when it sufferred a duckweed overdose it looks much better now!. .


The plants are a mixture of Marsh Marigold, Water forget-me-not, water mint, spearmint, lesser water plantain, water plantain (not bought it just turned up!), Frogbit (also not bought!), flowering rush, Brooklime, Pendulous sedge, Water crowfoot, Lesser spearwort and Hornwort to act as an underwater oxygenator.
Probably too many as I got carried away but so far there is still open water but with plenty of cover at the edges.

[Dorts]

Richard, your pond looks great, good clear water, albeit beneath that pest,the duckweed. It has obviously settled and is well 'balanced'.
I notice the Sneezewort in the foreground, did that find its way there?
Dorts.

[slimrbp]

Thanks, it was a great project I dug it in late April this year and I was amazed now quickly we got visitors We have had damselflies and mayflies and now have some larvae nipping around! Also a frog from the 'old' pond seems to have moved in, he/she spends a lot of time hiding at the edge under the long grass.

Well spotted on the Sneezewort! That was part of the 'landscaping' around the edges, mostly I just put turf up to the edges and the grass has now grown well over most parts (the harsh hot spring didn't help!) giving some more cover at the edges. I put some plants in around the pond Sneezewort, Ragged Robin, Marsh Avens and some Birds Foot (a couple of plants of each).

[grandad1]

Cannot wait til I get organised you have all given me some ideas about planting and types of plants will post a pic or two soon......hopefully weather permitting.

[RobinP]

This is my new pond (work still in progress!), about 2m x 1.5 at the widest point. The small white object to the left is a solar powered oxygenator with two 'stones' (cost £25). The rigid liner is a 'damselfly' and cost about £90. My only occupants so far are two pond skaters and four snails but I am trying to attract newts, I don't intend to put any fish in it. I've also planted another couple of marginals since this picture was taken.



Hope you like it.

Robin