How to make an artificial pond in the country. Creative task: make an artificial pond in the country with your own hands

Recreation in the country is an opportunity to dedicate yourself to nature, relax, forgetting at least for a while about city everyday life, and this is best done on the shore of your own pond. It all depends on your imagination and the size of the suburban area. Is it possible to make a pond in the country with your own hands? Of course. Follow the instructions below and you'll be fine.

Man-made pond in the country

Of course, I want to spend time in a well-equipped dacha, on the territory of which landscaping and complete landscaping are done - after all, resting in a dacha, which is a rickety house with a small courtyard overgrown with weeds and thistles, will definitely not contribute to peace of mind.

At the same time, a green, well-groomed lawn and neat trees, flower beds and artificial reservoirs will turn the territory of the cottage into a real earthly paradise. And ornamental ponds will take not the last place in it. Own pond in the country can be of almost any size - from a couple of square meters to a pond of a large area.

First of all, you need to understand the very purpose of an ornamental pond: unlike pools, the water in which must be subjected to special treatment (chlorination, ozonation, etc.), a garden pond will require the creation of a certain biological balance. Otherwise, the water in it will bloom and become cloudy, the plants will wither and they will take a fancy to it, except that midges and frogs are a dubious pleasure for the owner of the pond.

Types of garden ponds

Garden ponds having a geometrically regular shape - rectangular, round, diamond-shaped, etc. - look especially good in suburban areas, landscaped in the correct geometry (smooth lines, ideal shapes). As a rule, such decorative reservoirs are edged along the edges with tiled stone (artificial or natural), they are arranged near buildings, thereby emphasizing straight lines.

Ponds with the correct geometry can be made above ground level: this type of pond minimizes earthwork during their construction, simplifies their care, and reduces the risk of small children falling into it. The sides of such a pond protruding above the ground are suitable for a flower garden, you can install seats on them, and arrange a fountain in the pond itself.

Artificial ponds imitating natural reservoirs - they are characterized by rounded shapes and a coastline of arbitrary shape. Plants that are natural for marsh flora are planted along their banks. A gentle slope under water, covered with medium-sized cobblestones or pebbles - landscape designers usually place this type of ponds in the far part of the garden, near the lawn. Such natural ponds are especially successful in arbitrary garden improvement.

Choosing the size and location of the garden pond

Of course, the size of an artificial pond directly depends on the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe summer cottage. If we talk about building a pond ecosystem, then large ponds are more convenient for this. Balancing vegetation and aquatic life in a large body of water is easier than in a small one, and larger ponds are easier to maintain. The smaller the artificial reservoir, the more often it will have to be cleaned - the lack of space for the inhabitants of the reservoir will not allow establishing a full-fledged ecological balance.

The place for the future pond is chosen from the point of view of aesthetics, the placement of an artificial reservoir near the main building is especially successful - it will be possible to observe the water surface from the windows or sitting in an armchair on the terrace.

The best place for a pond would be an open space that is not subject to strong winds - a strong wind will prevent the development of tall plants on the shore of the reservoir. It is necessary to calculate the illumination of the pond: the direct rays of the sun should not illuminate the reservoir for more than 10 hours (6 hours of illumination is optimal). With greater illumination in stagnant water conditions, the active development of aquatic bacteria and green algae (for example, mud) will begin. At the same time, in those parts of the pond where the illumination is insufficient (shading), the growth and development of aquatic plants will slow down.

The proximity of an artificial reservoir to the crowns of trees will lead to its pollution during seasonal leaf fall, in addition, the root system of trees can damage the pond bed, breaking through the underlying film or displacing the edges of the bath.

Owners who are planning to illuminate a pond at night, or a pump for a waterfall cascade or fountain, should consider the location of the pond from the standpoint of power supply.

Artificial Pond - Materials

A man-made reservoir can be made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or butyl rubber film, use a ready-made container made of reinforced plastic or fiberglass, or create a reinforced concrete pond bowl.

In terms of the speed of creation, the first place is occupied by purchased containers made of fiberglass - all that is required is to dig a deep enough pit for them and place the container in it on a prepared and compacted sand cushion (it resembles a plastic basin of large size and, often, a bizarre shape).

True, it will not be possible to arrange a large fiberglass pond - serial production tanks, as a rule, have a small quadrature (usually an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 4 m 2, depth - 500-800 mm). Larger fiberglass tanks are intended more for swimming pools (above 10 m2) and are therefore more expensive. However, a small pond made of plastic or fiberglass for small suburban areas is quite suitable. The cost depends on the volume, shape and color.

A large pond and a “free” (i.e., not tied to any standard forms) layout can be arranged using a film (PVC or butyl rubber) - the film is needed to waterproof the reservoir. The cost of such material is low, in retail outlets it is widely represented both in terms of quality and manufacturers.

Do not use ordinary polyethylene in creating an artificial reservoir, it will serve you for a maximum of 2 years, then its density will be broken under the influence of physical and temperature influences.

PVC film or butyl rubber is suitable for creating a garden pond. The first material has sufficient strength and elasticity, has a high-quality structure - the reservoir formed by it will last at least 15 years. However, the undoubted leader in the field of waterproofing materials for artificial ponds is butyl rubber - it has high resistance to sunlight, high and low temperatures, and is not prone to cracking. Among other materials, butyl rubber has only one drawback - it is not cheap, but its service life exceeds 50 years.

If we are talking about complete reliability and durability, then there is only one material left - reinforced concrete. Unlike pond bowls formed by film or cast materials, you can walk along the bottom of a concrete reservoir without fear - it is difficult to damage such a bottom. However, it is more difficult to work with concrete, full compliance with the technology (welding of reinforcement, manufacturing of formwork), double waterproofing (on both sides of the concrete casting, both outside and inside) will be required - to protect against groundwater, i.e. the cost of such work will be the highest. It is possible to use special grade concrete that is not exposed to water, but it will cost even more and its use will require strict adherence to casting technologies.

Let's summarize the characteristics of materials for artificial ponds

The main advantages of film waterproofing: the ability to form the required shape, change the shape of the reservoir bowl in the future, ease of repair (if the film breaks). Minus: in winter, water from the reservoir will have to be poured out, if it freezes and expands, it will inevitably tear the film.

Advantages of reinforced concrete: high reliability, independence from external climatic factors (subject to the concreting technology), resistance to physical influences (stone falling, rodents, etc.). Cons: high labor intensity, extremely difficult rework. As a rule, the creation of artificial ponds from concrete is not popular, since the film is much easier to use. But if it is planned to build bridges over a reservoir and sculptural compositions on its banks, reinforced concrete would be the best choice.

When creating garden ponds, it is necessary to make sure that the materials chosen are completely non-toxic, otherwise the fish and plants in the pond will not survive.

Pond in the garden based on a finished (rigid) container

When choosing a rigid container for creating a pond with a total area of ​​​​up to 4 m 2, it is worth stopping at a fiberglass or plastic bath. The minimum depth of such a tank should be about 800 mm - the water in such a pond will warm up evenly in summer, and in winter it will not freeze to the bottom.

A ready-made container as a basis for a garden pond will allow you not to engage in cutting and fixing (activities performed when installing the film base of the pond), there is no need to build a general configuration - everything has already been done, the container is equipped with terraces for planting aquatic plants. The choice should be taken carefully - it will not be possible to change it.

Ready-made bathtubs for the pond are sufficiently durable, they are not afraid of winter frosts. And yet, when transporting the pond tank to the site, it must be handled carefully and not stepped on. The wall thickness of such a tank is 3 mm, and in case of mechanical damage, cracks will appear, which will be difficult to seal.

Cheap plastic bathtubs have the shortest service life - they are gradually destroyed by sunlight, and the surface of such containers cracks when bent. Unlike them, tanks made of reinforced plastic are more resistant to ultraviolet radiation, have a greater margin of safety (they are more plastic) - the service life of such tanks for ponds is up to 20 years.

The best and therefore the most expensive are fiberglass tanks with a rubber backing. A reservoir based on them will last more than 30 years and, unlike plastic containers, they can be repaired without compromising general characteristics. Fiberglass is the most resistant to low / high temperatures and exposure to sunlight, it has high environmental performance and is completely safe for the flora and fauna of an artificial reservoir.

In addition to quality characteristics, fiberglass containers also have an aesthetic appeal: they can be of three colors - black, brown and green; a decorative coating imitating natural materials is applied to their edges, which makes it easier to give the artificial pond a natural look.

Fiberglass bathtubs are made not only for ponds, but also for streams. Containers for imitating a stream have an outwardly “stone” texture and easily fit into the overall landscape, and a multi-stage shape allows you to conveniently plant aquatic plants. The bed of such a stream is fenced on the sides with protrusions that protect the roots of plants from washing out.

Artificial reservoir with film waterproofing

The laying of flexible coatings is carried out both in a prepared pit and between erected walls raised above ground level. Such a decision in creating a pond in the country is justified if the estimated size of the future reservoir is larger than the parameters of the rigid shells offered by specialized stores. The film coating is also used when creating reservoirs of complex shape - the use of a waterproofing film will greatly facilitate this task.

To create a reservoir, you can use polyethylene (thickness 500 microns), laid in two layers, among other film coatings, its cost is the lowest. Although the characteristics of polyethylene are more than minimal: it is easy to tear (by sharp stones, claws of animals, etc.), becomes brittle under the influence of the sun, and when damaged, it is practically impossible to repair. Polyethylene coating will provide waterproofing of the reservoir for no more than 5 years (on average - 3 years). This is rather a temporary solution for those summer residents who do not like constancy - after three years there is an excellent reason to change the place of the pond.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coating will cost more than polyethylene, but it will also last longer - on average, about 8-10 years. Manufacturers offer two types of PVC coating: the usual two-layer and reinforced, in which a woven mesh is laid between the layers of the film (for strength). In general, such a coating has all the disadvantages of polyethylene. Solar ultraviolet damages the strength of the PVC film, it is easy to perforate. But, unlike polyethylene film, damage to PVC film can be repaired using a special repair kit. In addition, this film stretches better - after filling the reservoir with water, most of the folds will stretch and even out.

The best pond film is made from butyl rubber - this material is durable (service life of about 50 years), strong and indestructible by ultraviolet light. Butyl rubber film comes in three colors: black, stone-like and charcoal-like. If the soil in your area contains a large number of stones, or the construction of a reservoir with a high load on the base (great depth and considerable width of the pond) is planned, choose a butyl rubber coating and you will not be mistaken.

Characteristics of butyl rubber coating: high plasticity, ease of installation, regardless of the season and air temperature. Low temperatures do not affect this coating, so it is not necessary to drain water from the reservoir for the winter.

Film for the pond - which color is better

The color of the film will seriously affect the overall appearance of the reservoir. The black bottom will turn the reservoir into a kind of mirror, reflections of the sky and clouds, plants planted along the coastline will be clearly visible in it. A film of black or brown color will serve as a good imitation of natural bottom soil. A cream or blue bottom will look unnatural, but colorful fish look great against such a background. If you choose a grayish or bluish tint, the pond will look like a swimming pool. Choose the color of the film depending on the functions of the reservoir: if it is a pond - black or brown, if the pool - white or blue.

Create a decorative pond using a film

We draw the contour of the future pond at the selected place and determine the required film size. The calculation of the film coating is done as follows: the width and length of the canvas will be equal to the sum consisting of the size of the width (in the second case, the length) of the future reservoir, twice the size of the depth and 600 mm allowance for fixing the film along the edges of the pond.

It must be taken into account that the standard parameters of a roll of butyl rubber film are as follows: width from 4.5 to 15.25 m (more precisely, then 4.5; 6.1; 9.15; 12.20 and 15.25 m) , length - 20-25 linear meters. Sometimes it is easier to make adjustments to the parameters of the future pond than to glue pieces of film together. If there is a need to glue a film for a pond, this is quite possible, only special adhesives and adhesive tape produced by the same manufacturer as the selected film will be required. To obtain a high-quality seam when gluing a butyl rubber film, use mastic followed by hot vulcanization.

In addition to the waterproofing film, when forming the bowl of the reservoir, geotextiles will be required (optimal density - 350 g / m 2) - for the insulating coating, it will act as a protective layer (from the roots of trees, teeth and claws of animals, sharp stones, etc.).

To create a reservoir with your own hands, you will need: sand (for the underlying layer), spirit level (building level), a coil of cord (or twine for marking), wooden pegs, a garden hose, shovels.

We create a pit of a reservoir

First of all, evaluate the future shape of the reservoir, for this with a hose of sufficient length and pegs - change the position of the hose fragments until the shape of the reservoir bowl suits you. When planning a free-form pond, try to get rounded lines without sharp corners - such a pond will look better. In the process of planning the pond, mark out terraces for pond plants along its edges, they are performed at a depth of 300 mm.

Having decided on the shape of the reservoir and completing the markup, proceed to work on the pit. First, three-hundred-millimeter terraces come off (after filling the reservoir, the distance from the terrace to the water level will be about 200 mm). The banks of the future pond should have a slope of approximately 45o. In the process of creating a pit, try to remove all plant roots and stones that come across to you. Having completed work on the terraces, check the horizontality of the banks using a board with a spirit level laid on it.

The next stage of work is the formation of the main bowl of the reservoir, its deep part. Remember: the minimum required depth of the reservoir is 600 mm. Such a reservoir will not freeze completely in winter, and in summer pond fish will be able to find shelter at such a depth from the scorching rays of the sun. Then, along the coastline, it is necessary to dig a ledge with a depth of 60-70 mm, for the subsequent laying of a blind area of ​​tiles, bricks, natural stone or laying turf.

We form a drainage layer and waterproofing

Having completed work on the pit, it is necessary to pour washed sand over its entire area with a layer of 30-50 mm - the sand is placed on the bottom, banks and terraces, carefully rammed. After making sure that the sand drainage is done well enough (there are no bumps), place a geotextile on top to isolate the film coating from damage.

The next step will be laying the prepared sheet of film. Do not try to align the film along the contours of the reservoir - let it sag over it - lay it loosely. Align the sheet of film along the banks, securing the edges with a sufficient number of bricks (stones).

Connect a garden hose to a water source and feed it in the center of the film laid over the pit - it will gradually sit down, taking the shape of a reservoir. Watch for drawdown by moving holding stones along the banks. After the artificial reservoir is completely filled, you need to wait a day, then cut off the excess film, leaving a margin of 250-300 mm along its edges (a blind area will be laid on them). Secure the edges around the perimeter of the pond using wooden wedges or wire arcs.

The next step is laying the blind area. Its width must be at least 600 mm, it is made of tiles, bricks or natural stone. The blind area must be laid on a cement mortar - if it is laid only on a pillow of sand, a person who steps on the tile can move down into the pond with it.

Summer residents planning a waterfall or fountain in an artificial reservoir need to lay and close the blind area with a hose for water supply before laying the tiles on the cement mortar. The same should be done if there is a need for power supply to the pond (underwater floodlights, water pumps), passing a plastic or copper tube for the subsequent pulling of an electric cable.

Creation of a reservoir raised above ground level

For such a reservoir, at least one retaining wall is required. The foundation for such a reservoir is required, otherwise the pond bowl may be distorted.

The construction of a reservoir above ground level is carried out in the same way as the construction of an ordinary garden wall: the place and parameters of the future pond are determined, trenches are dug out for laying the foundation. After casting, the foundation must harden within two full days.

When creating a body of water that is half buried in the ground, dig a pit in the deepest part, then form terraces for planting (roughly at the level of the concrete foundation). Then carefully remove all the stones and lay a pillow of sand on the bottom of the pit.

Build retaining walls around the perimeter of the pond, carefully tracking the position of each row. Before laying the waterproofing film, wait 48 hours - the wall mortar must completely harden.

Lay the film in such a way that its edges protrude evenly from all sides of the supporting wall. If your future pond is rectangular or square, form folds from the film in the form of a neat accordion at the inner corners. The film panel must be temporarily pressed on top of the supporting walls with bricks.

Gradually fill the film hanging over the pond with water by moving or removing the pressing stones on the supporting walls, aligning the corner folds. After the reservoir is completely filled, cut off the excess film along the edges, keeping the indentation at half the size of the supporting wall (it will be covered with stones when forming the ridge). Remove water from the reservoir. To protect the edges of the film, we install ridge stones. The pond is ready - fill it with water, place plants and fish.

Decorating a country pond

In itself, a garden pond is not bad - you can put a gazebo near the water and relax on a hot afternoon in the shade and coolness, watching the game of fish in its depths. But you can turn it into something enchanting and colorful - fountains created by a system of pumps and underwater lighting will help here.

Pond pumps are produced in two versions: surface and underwater. Let's say you want a two-meter jet of water to come out of the pond - you need an underwater pump. If a two-meter fountain is not enough, choose a surface pump and you will be provided with a really high column of water.

The underwater pump is mounted at the bottom of the pond: first, a stone plinth is placed, the pump is placed on it and closed on top with a ceramic casing made to look like natural stone. A complete set (pump, plinth and casing) can be purchased from one retailer.

How an underwater pump works: it draws water from the bottom of the reservoir and sweeps it over the water surface with the help of special nozzles. If a fountain or waterfall is installed separately from a reservoir, water is supplied through supply pipes. Some models of pumps can supply water for both a waterfall and a fountain at the same time. The pump is powered by an electrical cable with waterproof insulation.

The surface pump is installed in a disguised brick chamber on the shore of a reservoir, not far from a fountain or waterfall. Water is supplied to the pump from the reservoir through a pipe with a mandatory filter at the inlet. The surface pump needs more technical equipment than the underwater pump - a drain system, filters (on the suction pipe), a suction system. Otherwise it will overheat.

The greatest effect from the work of fountains is achieved in reservoirs of the correct form. Fountains are placed in the center of the reservoir in such a way that the water thrown out by them does not fall on coastal plants.

The type of fountain and the height of the jet ejection depend on the type of nozzle installed on the submersible pump. The jet of water itself, depending on the installed nozzle, may have the shape of, say, a bell or a beating key. A boring fountain tube can be decorated with fiberglass, stone, bronze or ceramic cladding. If a cladding is used, then the water nozzle is attached to the brass connector with which the cladding is equipped. The cladding body is exposed either to the bottom of the reservoir, or to a special stand.

Lighting will help create a magical atmosphere in the evening and at night. Lighting equipment for private reservoirs is designed for power supply at 12 V. The power of halogen lamps in lamps can be from 5 to 75 W - it is enough for bright lighting, because the luminous flux of such lamps is 3 times higher than household ones.

Mini spotlights are installed on a special support or on a fountain nozzle, highlighting the scattered spray of water. There are floating lanterns, they consist of a light bulb placed in a sealed ball of glass. They can be lowered to a certain depth in a reservoir, suspended on a load, or installed at the bottom. Thanks to the equipping of the spotlights with colored light filters and rotary devices, the night pond will take on a simply stunning look.

How to take care of the pond

The natural balance of the reservoir will be formed quite quickly. To maintain it, it is necessary to remove all wind-blown debris and fallen leaves before this mass falls to the bottom and begins to decompose. It is possible that the bottom of the reservoir will have to be cleaned with a net every autumn, eliminating bottom debris.

To protect the water area of ​​the pond from falling leaves, you can use a fine-mesh net - it should be stretched over the mirror of the pond before autumn leaf fall and removed closer to winter. Or use a skimmer - a special pump for collecting floating debris.

To clean the bottom, a bottom vacuum cleaner is useful - its design resembles a regular one, but there is no filter in it. Water from the bottom of the pond is sucked into the device, as the chamber fills up, the device automatically turns off and the container with mud must be emptied into the drainage system.

If you have settled fish in your decorative pond, then they will need oxygen. If it is lacking, use aerator pumps - they resemble aquarium ones, only larger and more powerful.

The main problem facing the owners of reservoirs with the beginning of the warm season is that the water in it turns green, which is caused by the active reproduction of protozoan algae. Most often, this problem is faced by owners of small reservoirs with a shallow depth and therefore quickly warmed up by the sun's rays. Water overheating can be prevented by using aquatic plants with large floating leaves (water lilies and capsules), as well as by planting oxygen generators - plants that fill pond water with oxygen (Canadian elodea, hornwort, swamp).

In early spring, when the plants have not yet had time to develop sufficiently, the use of chemical control agents (algicides) is required. However, these drugs are harmful to both humans and aquatic life, so they should only be used as a last resort.

The danger for fish in the pond can be birds and cats, for them the fish is a subject of hunting. To protect pond fish from birds (for example, herons), you need to tighten the space above the shallow areas of the pond with a net or black threads (the latter solution is especially successful - black threads are practically invisible against the background of the water surface). An obstacle for cats will be a decorative wire fence (at least 150 mm high), usually used to fence flower beds.

The main threat to aquatic life in areas prone to frequent frosts is ice. The ice shell, which steadily covers the reservoir for more than a day, will lead to the accumulation of poisonous gases formed by the decaying remains of vegetation and, as a result, the partial or complete death of fish. It is necessary that part of the pond is always free of ice, a special small heater is the best solution. You should not try to break the ice using force - hitting the ice shell can stun and even kill the fish.

If your artificial reservoir has a great depth, use a pump to bring warm water from the depth to the water surface - this measure will prevent the formation of ice. As a last resort, in the absence of other methods and means, arrange an exhaust hole in the ice shell - with wormwood, for this, put a pot of boiling water on the ice (after the formation of the wormwood, do not forget to remove the pan!).

How to green up a pond

Aquatic plants perform an important task - they are a kind of water filters. The biological balance will be established when at least a third of the artificial reservoir is devoted to plants. Moreover, each type of aquatic plants requires planting at a certain depth.

So, the reservoir is finished, filled with water - it needs to be allowed to settle for 10 days and only then proceed to planting. The best time to plant aquatic plants is early summer.

You can plant plants in the laid soil at the bottom of the reservoir, but it is best to place them in mesh baskets, setting the latter to the bottom. It is easier to take care of plants in baskets - move them to a warm room for wintering and reproduce. The soil in the baskets is ordinary soil from the garden, its enrichment with manure, fertilizers or peat is not required. To keep the soil layer in the baskets from being washed away by water, a clean burlap or other coarse fabric laid on top will help. Place medium-sized gravel over the cloth to protect the roots from pond fish.

Before planting, remove especially long roots and old leaves from plants. After planting, compact the soil around the stem of the plant so that the distance between the soil and the edge of the basket is 40 mm.

Some types of pond plants do not require planting - they float freely on the surface of the reservoir, keeping themselves afloat. Representatives of such plants are water lilies and lotus. Such plants need to be closely monitored, because in favorable conditions they will multiply quickly and occupy the entire pond - periodically some of them must be removed. The main plant problem for any closed reservoir is duckweed, which reproduces rapidly and tends to capture the entire area of ​​​​the reservoir - do not plant it on purpose!

When buying aquatic plants, be sure to ask the seller at what depth they should be planted. When planting, stick to the measure - plants need light, and dense thickets on the water surface do not look attractive.

During the winter season, aquatic plants, whose natural habitat is a temperate climate, remain in the reservoir. If you have planted exotic plants from warm countries in the pond, then they should spend the winter outside the pond. Take them out and place them in a body of water indoors - an aquarium or a bath, before doing this, pruning especially overgrown plants.

An important point: when transferring plants for wintering indoors, do not forget to provide them with sufficient lighting.

Pond fish care

For the full existence of fish in a country pond, its depth should be no less than 1200 mm. At shallower depths, fish need to spend the winter outside the pond, otherwise they will die. Just bought fish should not be placed in the pond, give it time to acclimatize - it should get used to the temperature of the water in the reservoir. Let the container with the fish swim in the pond - this measure will avoid the shock state of the fish.

If you did not purchase fish from specialized stores, then you should not immediately release them into a garden pond. Place them in an aquarium by filling it with pond water. The time of such quarantine should be at least seven days - so you find out if the fish is sick.

Now about fish nutrition. In principle, there should be enough food for them in the pond: duckweed, algae, mosquito larvae and other insects living at the bottom of the reservoir. However, if there is not enough food or the number of fish increases, it needs to be fed. Purchase fish food in specialized stores - it contains everything necessary for pond fauna, in addition, such food is enriched with oxygen and will not become a source of pollution for the pond, it will float on the surface for some time. Give the fish as much food as they will eat in 10 minutes, otherwise it will still sink and rot.

A special need for vitamins occurs in fish in the spring, during this season increase the number of feedings. In autumn, when the temperature in the reservoir drops below 10 ° C, stop the feed supply completely.

Constantly monitor the condition of the fish, do not overfeed them, control their numbers (optimally: for 50 liters of water - one fish 100-150 mm long. Keep in mind that the fish is growing!).

A sick fish can be identified by its behavior: as a rule, it swims in circles and at the same time “staggers”, rubs its sides against objects in the reservoir, lies on its side on the surface. The presence of diseases is evidenced by “glued” fins, white coating on the eyes, snout, fins or gills. Having found a sick individual, immediately isolate it from the rest and place it in an aquarium. Then visit the pet store, describe the signs of the disease to the specialist and buy the necessary medicines.

How pleasant it is to spend time on the shores of a picturesque forest lake on a fine summer day, enjoying the coolness and beautiful views of aquatic vegetation. Knowing how to make a pond in the country with your own hands, you can equip a similar corner on your own land. It is enough just to decide on the design and clearly follow all the stages of work that the instructions below contain.

Preparatory stage

Pond Style Selection

Before proceeding directly to the construction, you should choose the design of the pond in the country - by going through a lot of standard sketches and samples with your own hands, you can create a unique pond, adding personality to it with the help of minor design changes or using additional decor.

Of course, the simplest option is a mini-pond made of tires, which, in spite of everything, will look great in a small summer cottage.

However, if you have enough space, and you are not embarrassed by the cost of materials and the cost of designing a pond, you can make an excellent decorative concrete pond, which will act as a central element of the landscape design of the entire site.

Advice!
Country houses from block containers used as temporary housing after the construction of a permanent structure can be converted into a bathhouse, for example.
In this regard, it is advisable to locate the reservoir not far from them, in order to subsequently organize a recreation area with them there, organically completing the entire ensemble.

When choosing a style for a reservoir, first of all, you need to take into account the architectural design that was used when building a house and laying out a garden.

It's good when a small pond in the country - designed and built with your own hands - is combined with the following elements:

• coastline;
• design of garden paths;
• appearance of small garden forms and so on.

A gazebo or terrace looks most appropriate near the pond, sitting on which you can comfortably contemplate the calm water surface.

Let's dwell on some points in more detail:

1. Stylistics. The features of the Japanese reservoir are stones of various sizes and shapes and conifers. This style does not accept the presence of a large number of multi-colored herbs. The Chinese pond is decorated with brighter and more lush vegetation. Trees and a classic convex bridge must be present here. You can also plant a pond with local plants, without various exotic specimens. This style is called "ethno-garden".

1. geometric shape. A strict rectangular or square pond looks good next to a residential building, perfectly combined with its strict forms. In addition, this form is often used in the arrangement of a reservoir in the patio. Flowerbeds of the same shape and strict concrete paths organically complement the ensemble.

Advice!
Garden paths, regardless of the material used to make them, go well with ponds.
A decking board looks organic, from which a bridge is made across the water surface or concrete slabs, as if hovering above the surface.

Round ponds are suitable for decorating grassy lawns and neat ones. In this case, an additional element will be a pergola covered with ivy, as well as a separate group of low-growing trees.

It should be noted that it is easiest to build a round small pond in the country with your own hands. To do this, you can use many ready-made forms: from concrete rings for a well to the car tire already mentioned above.

Selection of location, size and material

The correct choice of the site where the reservoir will be located is the key to its normal functioning throughout the year. Otherwise, you may encounter the so-called bloom - the rapid reproduction of microscopic green algae, covering the water surface with an unaesthetic brown film.

• too long illumination leads to excessive development of harmful microorganisms in the water;
• being in the shade negatively affects the growth of ornamental aquatic plants and the behavior of fish living in the pond.

The best option is lighting for 5-6 hours. The water surface should be open from the south. It is also impractical to equip a pond in the shade of massive trees. Falling leaves from them will constantly clog the reservoir.

The ideal size for this hydraulic structure is 3% of the land area. However, not every summer resident is ready to donate such an amount of land for him. In addition, you need to remember that making a small country pond with your own hands is easier and cheaper than a vast lake.

As for depth, a three-stage system is most often used:

• coastal zone - for aquatic plants;
• shallow water zone - for growing water lilies and water lilies;
• deep zone - for the wintering of aquatic inhabitants (if their breeding is supposed).

The maximum required depth is 180 cm. Below this level, the ground does not freeze through, which guarantees the presence of water under the ice layer in winter.

Note!
The deepest zone can occupy no more than 1/5 of the entire pond area.
This will be quite enough for the wintering of fish, and its increase will negatively affect the cost of works on the arrangement of the reservoir.

Once you have decided on the size and shape, it's time to move on to choosing materials. The most expensive and reliable option is casting a concrete bowl reinforced with metal rods or mesh. A little less expensive is the use of a ready-made plastic container, which can be purchased at a building supermarket.

However, the best and cheapest way is to make a pond using a special film, which is lined with the bottom of the future pond.

Self-manufacturing

The sequence of actions for the design of a decorative hydraulic structure in a summer cottage is as follows:

1. As with any other construction, first of all, you should create a sketch of the future structure. When drawing, you must observe the selected scale. Reflect the size of the pond, its depth, the width of the shelves on which coastal plants will be planted, as well as the pattern of future landscaping. With this approach, you can avoid rework and changes during the construction process.
   It is also advisable to provide an accent detail - a tree, a stone, a bridge, a sculpture or an island, which will become the highlight of the landscape design element being developed.

1. The contour of the pond is best chosen on the ground. To outline it, you can use twine, a garden hose or sand. Remember that the opposite edges of the reservoir should be at the same level with each other.
   The bottom also needs to be level. Measurements can be made using a special laser tool or an ordinary long board on which the building level is placed.

1. Roem a pit.
   Work should be done in the following sequence:

• • the soil is removed to the first depth mark;
  • a new line is marked for deepening;
  • digging the pit continues to the next level;
  • marking is done again;
  • a small depression is dug, necessary for the wintering of fish.

Earthwork is a rather laborious task, especially if the size of the future pond is large. It is best to hire an excavator for this purpose. Otherwise, be prepared that at a certain stage of digging, groundwater will accumulate in the bottom area, and therefore you will have to work in semi-liquid mud.

To avoid this, you can use a water pump designed for pumping slurries. Dirt is dumped into an auxiliary pit.

Advice!
If there is no electricity in the backyard, renting a diesel generator for a summer residence will help you.
This unit will provide the necessary electricity not only for the pump, but also for many other tools that make it easier to create a pond.

1. As soon as the digging is completed, its dimensions are measured with the help of a towline, taking into account the resulting depth.. To this value is added about 1 meter for allowances. The resulting value is necessary to purchase a film of a suitable size.

Many are wondering where to remove the soil that was taken out during the digging of the pit.

In this regard, the following can be recommended:

• raise the level of the site, evenly distributing the earth throughout the garden;
• form an alpine hill out of it;
• make the basis for the ledges along which the stream will flow.

1. Then the entire bowl of the pond is carefully lined with a waterproof film.. In order not to tear the coating, it is recommended to pre-cover the pit with an additional layer of geotextile. Then the pebbles and roots will not be able to tear the film after pouring water. Cheaper options are old linoleum or a compacted layer of fine-grained sand.

Work should be done on a warm, sunny day. Such weather makes the film more flexible, it stretches easily and repeats all the irregularities and decorative curves of the pond.

1. To fix the film, a small trench is dug along the edge of the pond.. The edges of the material fall into it and are covered with rubble. You can't think of a safer way.
2. In order to strengthen the edge of the reservoir and prevent soil shedding, the edges of the reservoir should be reinforced with concrete blocks or plastic pipes fixed on pegs.. As a decor, wild natural stone is great.

1. The bottom of the pond is made out of rubble or boulders. Plants are planted in special plastic boxes, which are installed in the right places of the reservoir and next to it.

1. Further water is poured. The readings of the water meter should be recorded before and after this process. This will allow you to calculate the volume of liquid in the cavity, which will be useful later when purchasing equipment and chemicals for maintaining the pond.
   
2. It is best to make a pond with circulation. In this case, the water in it will be constantly updated and not bloom. To do this, an embankment is made near the reservoir, from which the stream will drain. Water is supplied to the top by a submersible pump equipped with a cleaning system. Decorating all elements is up to you.

Conclusion

After carefully reading the above material, you should not have any questions about how to build a pond in the country with your own hands. You can learn more about the process of building artificial reservoirs from the video in this article.

Contemplation is the way to restore your inner strength and step back from the hustle and bustle. Admiring nature in any of its manifestations - be it a leaf, a blade of grass or even a small pebble, we fall into a kind of trance, delving into our "I" without being tied to current events. Perhaps that is why there is a massive “flight” of citizens away from noisy habitats, closer to mother nature, where on their own, even a very tiny piece of land, you can relax and rest your soul. How to create a relaxing atmosphere in your garden? There is nothing easier! Instead of a couple of beds with potatoes and tomatoes, break a small pond at your dacha - now you will have more time to relax and contemplate the water surface - and this, as you know, is the best cure for stress and loss of strength. Do you think that such a complex hydraulic structure is beyond your power? With our recommendations, you will become “knee-deep sea”, not to mention a small pond, the laying of which you can quite master on your own.

So, you realized that your life is no longer conceivable without a nice little lake, designed to please your eyes and calm your nerves. How to create a pond in the country with your own hands, so that it harmoniously complements the landscape of the garden and lasts long enough, and does not become a problem area that requires tireless care?

An original feature of a small pond decorated with boulders can be an unusual path made of flat stones.

Let's start by choosing the style of the pond and choosing a place to lay it. Then, we will tell you how to technologically correctly make a pond and equip it. Selected in the right style and laid out with all the subtleties, an artificial pond will become a real gem of your garden and a great place to relax.

A small digression into history

A special charm to the landscape pond is given by its smooth outlines and decorative vegetation that adorns the water surface.

A landscape pond with natural outlines will always be appropriate in the depths of the garden next to the gazebo or not far from the terrace of the house - after all, you should be able to sit comfortably to watch the water surface.

The design of the reservoir can be more restrained according to the Japanese principle - boulders of various sizes, conifers, the absence of multi-colored herbs. Or in the Chinese style - more lush and bright, with an obligatory accent in the form of a tree with variegated foliage and a curved bridge. A landscape pond can also be created in the “nature garden” style, which involves planting only local plants characteristic of the region, and the absence of any plant exotics.

The most concise in form is a formal pond with rectangular outlines.

A formal pond with a geometric shape - square or rectangular - looks great next to the house, emphasizing its vertical and horizontal lines. Not bad such a pond is combined with a patio or patio, especially if rectilinear flower beds are laid out nearby or linear paths are laid.

An unusual flavor to the pond can be given by a path passing above its surface - either in the form of a bridge, or with individual stones or slabs.

An interesting technique that is widely used in modern landscape design is the laying of paths lined with terraced boards and thrown in the form of a bridge over a pond of a broken geometric shape. A similar path through the pond may also take the form of a concrete path or individual square slabs, as if hovering above the water. Cascades of small ponds of different sizes look original, where water flows from one bowl to another through small waterfalls.

The system of cascading ponds in the country house will not only make its landscape unusual, but also fill the garden with a pleasant murmur

Formal round ponds will decorate the patio or front group of your summer cottage

Round ponds, along with rectangular shapes, also belong to formal ponds and can decorate a lawn or open lawn, stylistically complement a garden area with a pergola, or be located near a picturesque group of trees. Round-shaped mini ponds in the garden can be made with your own hands much easier than any other configuration, using ready-made concrete rings, wooden tubs, plastic containers and even car tires.

Choose a location, size, material

The right place for the reservoir will be the key to its long-term functioning without seasonal “blooming” in spring and summer, when green algae are activated under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. For a certain period of daylight hours, the pond must be in the shade so that the algae do not multiply so intensively. On the other hand, placing a reservoir in a completely shady zone will delay the development of ornamental plants. It is important to observe the golden mean here.

By placing a recreation area with a barbecue in close proximity to the pond, you can always admire the beauty of the water surface.

It is important to know that the pond should be exposed to the sun for about 5 hours a day and be open from the southwest. It is undesirable to place a reservoir under shady trees - falling autumn leaves will pollute it.

As for the size of the pond, ideally the pond should occupy 3% of the area of ​​​​the site. When the garden is small - with a standard area of ​​​​6 acres, not every summer resident is ready to allocate 18 m2 for a pond. Of course, the smaller the dimensions, the easier it is to make a pond with your own hands - and not so many materials will be required, and labor costs will be minimal. Therefore, when determining the width and length of an artificial reservoir, take into account your physical capabilities and the harmony of the perception of the pond as a compositional spot on your site - that is, how its dimensions are combined with other elements of the country landscape.

The ascetic solution in the design of the reservoir using only stones is a specific feature of the Celtic-style pond.

The design of a pond with a waterfall flowing down from a small beige sandstone wall will fit perfectly into the landscape style of the garden

In terms of depth, the pond is recommended to be divided into three stages: a zone for coastal plants, a shallow zone for the queen of the pond Nymphaeum - winter-hardy water lilies and a deepening for wintering fish - if you intend to breed them.

It is not necessary to make the pond too deep, just dig a winter hole for fish about 150-180 cm deep (below the freezing mark), so that it occupies about 1/5 of the pond area.

A cute rectangular-shaped pond can be arranged in a small summer cottage, and the edging of a terraced board will give an unusual look to the pond

The highlight of an avant-garde pond can be an extravagant wooden installation resembling an exotic animal or plant.

A continuous supply of water to the pond can be equipped with an old column or a group of brightly colored glass bottles.

When you have decided on the location and approximate dimensions of the reservoir, it's time to think about what materials to use in order to make the pond as easy and fast as possible. The most capital and expensive option for arranging a pond is a concrete base, which requires the construction of formwork and reinforcement. A less expensive way to lay a reservoir is to use a ready-made plastic container.

The pit under the pond is formed by characteristic ledges - curtains for planting plants

To ensure the circulation of water in the pond, a pump is installed at its bottom, from which water enters the cleaning filter and returns to the pond

And, finally, the most convenient and budgetary way to make an artificial pond with your own hands is to use a special moisture-resistant film that lays out the pond bowl. We took this method of laying the pond as the basis for a detailed description.

Step-by-step technology for creating a pond using film

1. Initially, it is necessary to sketch out a plan of the future artificial pond on a scale indicating the depths and width of curtains (shelves for planting plants), and it is also desirable to draw an approximate sketch of the decoration of the reservoir. This approach will help to avoid various alterations during the construction of the pond and at the planting stage. At this stage, consider what will serve as an accent in the composition of your lake - it can be an original stone, tree or sculpture.

Before starting the laying of a pond in your summer cottage, draw a plan of the reservoir indicating the depths and the placement of the main elements of the arrangement

2. Using a regular water hose or spreading sand along the perimeter of the reservoir in the form of a line, outline the intended contour of the pond. Be sure to check that the shores of your future lake are at the same level.

Having marked the outlines of the pond with a hose, dig a pit according to the drawn plan.

Periodically measure the level of the banks of the pond during the formation of the pit. If you do not have a water level of the required length, you can adapt an ordinary long board and set a small 50 cm level on it.

3. We start earthworks - we dig a pit to the depth of the coastal tier and mark the line from which the pond deepens to the next mark. Having received the second tier, we lay a line for digging the deepest part of the pond and take out the last portion of the earth.

The process of digging a pond is quite difficult, so it is better to resort to the services of earthmoving professionals, accompanied by a mini excavator. However, if you still decide to do this time-consuming part yourself, be prepared for the fact that water can accumulate at the bottom of the pit and you will have to mess around in dirty slurry. A pump specially adapted for pumping water with impurities and solids will help you remove water from the bottom of the pit. Nearby, you can dig an auxiliary hole and dump water into it.

4. After the pit is completely dug, we measure its dimensions with a cord, taking into account the depth, adding allowances of about 50 cm on the sides of the bowl - this is necessary to purchase a film of the desired size.

The problem that you will inevitably encounter in the process of earthworks is where to put the earth taken out of the pit under the pond? A good solution to this problem is to raise the level of the site, evenly distributing the soil over the garden. You can also use the earth of the pit as an embankment for a stream or as a base for an alpine slide.

5. The bowl of the pond is lined with a durable moisture-resistant film. As a rule, in order to protect the main film from damage by stones and plant roots, an additional layer of geotextile is laid under it. For this purpose, old linoleum or roofing material is also suitable, or you can simply fill the hole with sand and tamp it down.

When the pit is formed, lay a layer of geotextile, and then a film, tucking the edges of the panels into a specially dug trench along the perimeter of the reservoir

To make the film for the pond more elastic, it is better to choose a sunny day for its installation - then it will heat up a little and it will stretch better, easily bending around all the ledges of the pit.

6. To equip the edge of the pond, an auxiliary trench breaks out along its perimeter - to tuck and fix the film. Laying the edges of the film in the trench, sprinkle it with rubble - so it will be securely fixed.

7. Strengthen the edge of the pond with stone blocks or plastic pipes nailed to pegs - this way you will prevent the earth from falling from the coastal zone into the pond bowl. Line the edge with natural stone and decorate with a beautiful single block or group of boulders.

8. Place the prepared plants in special plastic containers and place them on curtains, line the bottom of the pond with stones and rubble.

9. Now you can pour water into the reservoir. To make it more convenient to choose pumping equipment and volumes of hydrochemistry for the care of the pond in the future, do not be too lazy to take readings from the water meter before and after filling the reservoir.

10. So that the water in the pond does not stagnate, it is better to equip the pond with a stream - it will ensure a constant circulation of water. To do this, the source of the stream rises above the level of the pond, and water will be supplied to it from the pond bowl using a submersible pump. Be sure to think about how to decorate the mouth of the stream - use stones, planting, clay or glass containers.

Fill the pond with water, equip the stream, install and connect a pump with a filter, plant aquatic plants

11. Install a submersible pump at the bottom of the pond, extend the pipes to the source of the stream and connect them to the water filter. It is better to take a cleaning filter with a pressure filter (with a reverse cleaning system) - it is more efficient than a flow filter.

Material about the device of an artificial stream in the country will also be useful:

Your pond is ready, now you just need to diligently take care of it - clean it of pollution, sometimes use preventive measures to revitalize the water and prevent the spread of algae, and take the plants to the basement for the winter.

The main mistakes in the arrangement of ponds

Creating something with your own hands is not easy to avoid some mistakes, especially compositional ones, so in order to make your pond right, consider some of the standard mistakes inherent in our gardeners:

1. Making the banks of the pond with pellets of the same diameter, which makes the pond look somewhat boring. It is better to combine large stones with smaller ones, but do not fill up the entire coastal zone of the reservoir with them.
2. Ponds are dug very deep, have sheer walls and resemble a kind of stone bag. A little investigation showed that it is profitable for earthmoving companies to dig deep ponds, as they are paid for the number of cubes of excavated earth. Pay attention to the depth of your pond - do not make it too deep, especially if you do not intend to breed fish.
3. Craving for container gardening, which interferes with the normal development of plants, and fear of filling the pond with earth for planting. On the one hand, container planting allows you to quickly change the plant design of the pond by rearranging and rearranging plants. Probably gardeners are also afraid of the prospect of a dirty look of the pond after backfilling the earth, but there is nothing to be afraid of - the soil for aquatic plants is a heavy mixture with a high clay content, which is not washed out by water, and will eventually harden by the root system of plants.

Having thought about creating a pond with your own hands, do not forget that it is not easy - practice first by forming a miniature pond at home.

If the dimensions of your site do not allow you to equip a pond in the country, create a miniature pond in the most ordinary cup

If possible, feel free to proceed with a large-scale project to lay a full-fledged pond in a summer cottage. We are sure you can do it!

It is better to locate the pond away from the trees - in the fall you will only do what to pull the leaves out of the water, in addition, the roots of plants can damage the bottom cover of the pond. The ideal place for a home reservoir is considered to be a quiet place, inaccessible to the winds, without slopes, with medium illumination. Before you build a natural pond, keep in mind that in a large pond it will be much easier to equip the ecosystem, arrange plants and care for the inhabitants.

First of all, when creating a pond in a country house and a personal plot with your own hands, you must understand that the water in it will not need to be chlorinated or subjected to another type of treatment - on the contrary, you will need to strive to create a biological balance between water, plants and living creatures, if it is you will. That is, the water should be as self-cleaning as possible, and on your part, in this case, you will only need a rare cleaning of bottom debris. The smaller the pond, the more difficult it is to establish a balance in it.

Reservoirs can be both strict geometric shapes and those imitating natural reservoirs - the first case is suitable for classic landscape design, clipped gardens and straight paths, while the second fits into a landscape that imitates wildlife. If you are planning to make a pond with lighting or fountains, when choosing a place, consider the proximity of the power supply.

So that water does not leak - materials

Whatever materials you choose, you still have to dig! The only exceptions are raised reservoirs, which are fenced with a stone border. There are a lot of options for bottom coating - this is both PVC and butyl rubber film, as well as ready-made containers made of reinforced plastic or fiberglass. Immediately it is worth sweeping aside ordinary polyethylene - its service life is not more than 1-2 years.

PVC coating will last all 15 years, and butyl rubber - more than 50! True, the cost of the latter type of coverage will not be small. Another durable, expensive and labor-intensive method is a reinforced concrete pond bowl. The fastest way to get what you want is to buy a ready-made container made of fiberglass or plastic. True, in most cases these are small containers, about 4 m 2 with a depth of up to a meter. Larger containers are already intended for pools, so they will not be cheap.

Ready-made containers are strong enough, in winter they are not afraid of frost, but it’s better not to step on the bottom with your feet, and be careful during transportation to avoid cracks. Plastic bathtubs last the least - up to 10 years, reinforced plastic tanks will last up to 20 years, and fiberglass products - all 30! The disadvantage of such ponds is that they will only be of the form that the manufacturer has set. Film coatings allow you to experiment with shapes to your heart's content.

How to arrange a pond - step by step

To begin with, outline the contours of the future pit - if the pond is constructed on the site using a film, then the contours will be arbitrary, but if you bought a ready-made container, then put it in the place of your choice and circle it with a shovel. Then take this same shovel and dig! The depth of the pit should be 4 cm more than the depth of the tank itself, since you will still need to lay a layer of sand for drainage. When the pit is ready, the drainage is backfilled and rammed, put the bath in place and cover the reservoir with a film.

Try to avoid voids between the walls of the tank and the soil, since in winter frosts they can cause cracks.

After installing the tank, its edges should be overlaid with brick, artificial or natural stone. It is much more difficult to work with large fiberglass bathtubs - just in their case, the slightest voids between the walls will cause an almost mandatory crack in winter. Therefore, it is best to entrust their installation to specialists.

How to arrange a natural pond on the site with your own hands - dig it right!

Independent creation of a reservoir from 5 m 2 is possible only with flexible film coatings. Follow the pattern - the larger your pond, the thicker the bottom cover should be. Pay attention to the color of the film you want to use for your work. The black film forms a real mirror from the pond, in which the clouds and the blue sky will be reflected. If you are looking for a natural color, choose brown. Cream or blue shades are best used if fish will live in the water - against this background they will be much better distinguishable.

Now about how to ennoble a reservoir - for this there is a huge range of plants that are not afraid of constant humidity. Water lilies will look especially impressive on the water surface. These plants are planted on a special fabric that better holds them at the bottom of the reservoir. Decorate your pond and a small murmuring, for example, from natural stone.

Many summer residents want to somehow diversify their summer housing. They create beautiful ponds in the yard. A pond is an artificially created body of water for fish breeding or irrigation. A do-it-yourself pond in the garden is an art.

How to make a small pond in the country with your own hands

How to create a small pond in the country? First you need to choose a place for the future reservoir. The right place for the future pond will save you from all sorts of problems. A suitable site for a pond should look like this:

• there will be no trees on it, as the leaves fall off, and the roots sprout so that it will be possible to damage the bottom;
• a large amount of sun should fall on the surface, and for quite a long time, as this contributes to the development of plants;
• there should be additional space, because over time it can be expanded, so it is better to consider this option in advance;
• the surface needs to be flat.

And, most importantly, remember that a pond cannot and should not occupy more than 3% of the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe dacha! From various sources, we found out that feng shui experts suggest the best way to place a pond in front of the house so that you can admire it from the window. In order for the plants to feel good, it is necessary to make the bottom steps.

Water lilies are planted in shallow water, and fish hibernate at the lower level of the pond. Also, do not make a hole more than 2 meters deep. The size of a small pond is about 3 square meters. A small pond is a good solution. It will take less materials and forces to create such a masterpiece.

By the way, a small pond will have to be cleaned much more often, since there is not enough room for the inhabitants to clean it.

How to make a big pond in the country with your own hands

How to create a large reservoir on the site? The location of the pond will be the same as for the small one, in this they do not differ. If the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe site is small, then you should not make the pond large. When choosing the size of the water area, it is important to correlate the following: your own desires or opportunities.

If, nevertheless, the reservoir turned out to be huge for the site, then a small island will help to get out of this situation - it looks very nice and interesting. We will also consider the following criterion, the site is large and a composition from a small number of reservoirs that can be connected by a stream will look better on it. You can also finish the masterpiece with a bridge, throw it over a pond and decorate with flowers.

How to make a decorative pond in the country with your own hands

How to make a decorative pond? Such ponds are deeper than others. They are decorated in an amazing way with the help of fountains, bridges. Decorative ponds are usually created near the house, terrace or gazebo. In this case, they become a recreation area. The great saying of Jerome K. Jerome: "A man can look at the water for as long as he likes."

The depth of the pond determines the intensity of the water bloom. Plants that cause this process breed in shallow water. The bottom of the pond can be of different shapes. You should know that the planting zone for shallow-water (25-50 cm) and deep-water, more than 50 cm deep plants. The depth of the pond determines the slope of the underwater shore. A slope less than 30° is considered natural.

Types and ideas for the pond

The next step in creating a pond on the site will be choosing the style of the pond. Landscape pond looks very natural. With the correct creation of such a reservoir, it seems that it has been here for a long time. It is important to remember the following: if the pond is small, then the coastline should be smooth. If, on the contrary, it is large, then you can fantasize in every possible way with its borders.

Such ponds are best located away from prying eyes, in silence and alone with nature. Such a pond is designed in different ways: you can decorate it with boulders, plant shrubs, or place it under some kind of lush tree. The advantages of such reservoirs: budget and especially earthworks are not required. A formal pond is a body of water with a strict geometry. It can be a circle or a square, as your fantasy plays out. If there are flower beds of the same shape near the house, then feel free to place it nearby.

Just do not overdo it with the size - the borders should be visible in their entirety.

If you decide to make a round pond, then its soft lines will look very advantageous near the gazebo. Such a reservoir will make the composition softer and more tender. A regular pond is ideal for a small area. The cascade pond is also not inferior in its beauty and originality. A raised pond is a very interesting landscape design element. Rising above the ground, it becomes predominant. Caring for such a reservoir is simple and pleasant. This option is suitable for people who are no longer young.

Note to gardeners- height should not exceed 30-40 centimeters. An elevated pond has several advantages: it is not necessary to dig a pit to create it; easy to clean it, you just need to drain the water, it is less dangerous for children. However, there are also disadvantages: a large pond looks bulky; The water gets very hot in summer and vice versa in winter.

If mother nature creates natural reservoirs, then artificial ones have to be done by ourselves. First you need to dig a pit, the shape of which will depend on what kind of pond you want to create; create stepped or stronger walls of the reservoir; when creating it is better to avoid straight lines; summer residents also use ready-made forms. Such bowls have a lot of advantages: availability, quick installation, long service life, easy reconstruction option, simple operation. There are also several disadvantages in using such materials:

• you can't change the shape any more;
• dependence on the weather;
• easy to damage, as the product is made of plastic;
• it is difficult to breed fish in such containers;
• prices for forms bite, the larger it is, the more expensive.