How to make a pond in the garden with your hands. Do-it-yourself pond in the country (51 photos): choosing a style, place, size and suitable building materials
Are you constantly haunted by the feeling that something is missing in your dacha? Take a look around you! Yes, there are flower beds, a gazebo, a playground too. Do you have a small pond in which lilies float or a fountain gurgles on your site? If not, then building a decorative pond with your own hands is completely easy.
Key points for arranging a pond
If you have made such a decision, do not immediately grab a shovel. First of all, decide on the following questions:
- the location of the pond on the site;
- the size of the pond and its shape;
- materials for the arrangement of the pond;
- vegetation for the pond, its decoration.
Don't let difficulties scare you, they are all easily overcome. A small financial outlay, a few days of work, and the “crystal” dream of any summer resident will appear on your site - the quiet expanse of a pond or a babbling fountain sparkling in the sun with a multi-colored rainbow.
Choosing a place for an ornamental pond: it is important not to make a mistake
When choosing a place for a pond, keep in mind that the pond will not be a place for breeding fish or swimming, it will only serve as a decorative function. However, it is very important that a natural ecological system be built for it, otherwise, instead of decoration, after a while, a “charming” swamp may turn out.
Carefully choose a place for an artificial reservoir so that over time it does not turn into a “charming” swamp
The illumination of the site is very important for the placement of the pond. On the one hand, coastal and aquatic plants need the sun, on the other hand, its excess is detrimental to the entire ecosystem.
When the summer is hot, in small ponds the water heats up so much that it becomes impossible to control the reproduction of algae, as a result, the inhabitants of such reservoirs die.
The ideal option is considered to be when the sun's rays warm up the pond only in the first or second half of the day. It is desirable that in the afternoon it was in the shade.
It is advisable to arrange the pond so that the sun's rays warm it up only in the first or second half of the day.
It is not difficult to determine the illumination of a future reservoir. It is enough to mark the contours of the future pond with a rope or white sand and follow during the day which part of it will be illuminated by the sun.
Determine the level of illumination of the place allotted for the pond
If there is no house or garden structures near the place allotted for the pond, a tree or bush can shade it. Trees with a weeping crown shape look very beautiful near the pond, but in this case, you will have to regularly clean the water from fallen leaves.
Building a pond with your own hands is easiest if you fit it into the existing landscape, using the lowest and wettest places in the garden. It can drain water from the site through the drainage system.
If the summer cottage is flat, you can choose a place for a pond on the border of the garden, marked by trees or bushes. You can allocate a place next to the livestock. But then it is necessary to make a smooth transition between the water reach of the pond and the plantations - a strip of perennials or ornamental grasses.
Do not surround the pond with a solid wall. Plant plants of different heights on the shore
The pond among the lawn does not look the best. If there are no other options, plant plants of different heights on the shore, but not in a solid wall - your gaze should slide over the mirror of the water.
A decorative pond next to an alpine slide or rockery looks spectacular and stylish. By decorating a hill and a pond with the same forms of stones, you can link them into a single compositional whole.
A decorative pond will look especially impressive next to an alpine slide or rockery
The use of height differences and natural hills makes it possible to enter a stream into such a composition, which will flow over the stones into the pond. In the future, such a composition can be supplemented with a decorative bridge.
The shape and style of the reservoir
A pond, as an element of landscape design, must correspond to a certain style. Round ponds are a favorite form of the English landscape.
Round ponds are widely used in English landscapes.
Precise geometric shapes are best for a regular style. Irregularly shaped ponds that follow the shape of natural water bodies are popular in classical Chinese and Japanese gardens.
An irregularly shaped pond is an ideal addition to a Chinese or Japanese style garden.
Today, it is not at all necessary to strive for a do-it-yourself constructed pond in the country house to have a natural or strict geometric shape. The main thing is that it should fit perfectly into the landscape of the garden.
The main thing is not form and decor, but harmonious unity with the surrounding landscape
With special care, materials are selected for the design of the coast and the coastal zone.
Materials for the design of the shores of the reservoir are selected very carefully. Clinker, natural stone, wood or concrete must be in harmony with the facade of the house, path or retaining walls.
Materials for an artificial reservoir
To equip the pond in the country with their own hands, they use different waterproofing materials. Their choice depends on the shape and size of the pond. If the area of \u200b\u200bthe reservoir does not exceed 5 sq.m, ready-made plastic bowls are mainly used.
It is convenient to use ready-made plastic bowls for arranging reservoirs with an area of \u200b\u200bno more than 5 sq.m.
They are very easy to install, and they will serve for decades. The disadvantage of plastic molds is that they have a strictly defined shape and small volume.
Those who wish to create a reservoir on an individual project should use a waterproofing film. It is very elastic and easily deformed to the desired shape. There are three types of this material.
The most commonly used black PVC film (polyvinyl chloride). It lends itself perfectly to repair with glue. Therefore, if the need arises, it can be repaired.
Polyethylene film is cheaper than PVC, but it does not have the same elasticity and durability. If the polyethylene leaks, you can “treat” it with a self-adhesive tape.
Butyl rubber is considered the best film. The thickness of this film is chosen depending on the depth of the pond and the water pressure. For a reservoir whose depth does not exceed 80 cm, a film 0.8 mm thick is sufficient. If the depth is greater, the film thickness should be 1.2 - 1.5 mm.
The best option for an artificial pond is butyl rubber film. The free ends of the film can be masked with stones
On the shore of a reservoir, the bottom of which is made of film, the stones should hang slightly above the water. This way you can mask the free ends of the film.
Another option for arranging a reservoir is a monolithic concrete pit. For ponds with regular geometric shapes, this is the most convenient manufacturing method. Although, in order to build such a pond, one must have the skills to work with concrete, be able to install formwork and reinforcement. In addition, it is necessary to plan the location of the reservoir very accurately, all its parameters, since then it is almost impossible to fix anything.
The optimal solution for ponds with regular geometric shapes will be a monolithic concrete pit
The most difficult thing in the construction of a concrete pit is the pouring of beveled walls with smooth transitions between terraces of different heights. In addition to concrete, in the construction of a monolithic pond bowl, a reinforcing steel mesh is used, and the inner surfaces of the pit are also covered with a protective layer of fine-grained sand, which must be renewed at least once every two years.
Master class: creating a pond based on a rigid tank
Rigid containers are good because they are easy and quick to install. You can easily install such a container yourself, spending only 1-2 days.
Installing a rigid container is not difficult. By choosing a bowl with natural stone edges, you do not have to be puzzled by disguise
If you manage to purchase a plastic bowl with edges designed to look like natural stone, the process will go even faster, because the problem of giving the coast a natural look will disappear.
Operating procedure
1. Install the finished container in the place reserved for the pond. So that she does not bend over, put her on the bricks. Circle the edges of the container with light sand or lime. In order for the pit to correspond to the relief of the tank, it is necessary to accurately mark out zones of different heights.
2. It is necessary to dig a pit very carefully according to the markings, expanding and deepening them by 10 cm.
3. Install the bowl of the reservoir in the pit, using the level, make sure that the bowl is horizontal. Adjust the depth of the pit if necessary.
4. Fill the container with water a third and start filling the cracks with sand, periodically pouring water over it.
Master class: creating a reservoir on a film basis
Using a waterproofing film, you can create a reservoir of any, even the most bizarre shape. Having decided on a place for a reservoir, we proceed to its construction.
1. Mark the contours of the pond banks with light sand or dry lime. Dig a ditch around the perimeter on a spade bayonet. Collect the removed sod and fertile soil separately.
2. Again with sand or lime, draw contours for different depths. The deepest place should be in the center of the reservoir. Gradually remove the soil from a less deep zone, and only then from the deepest.
3. Using a tape measure and string, calculate the required film size. To strengthen the banks, add another 50 cm to each side.
4. A layer of sand should be poured at the bottom of the pit, geotextiles or interlining should be placed on top. This will protect the film from contact with sharp stones and roots. Now you can cover the film.
5. Fill the reservoir with water gradually, pressing down the bottom and terraces with stones. The film should settle gradually.
6. After a few days, proceed to the design of the coastal zone. The edges of the film are well seasoned and laid stones and slabs. The gaps between them are covered with pebbles and sand.
A quick way to create a pond mine from improvised means
I will not talk about old bathtubs, buckets, barrels and basins, adapted and converted into garden ponds. It's very simple and primitive.
But I’ll still introduce you to one interesting way to create a pond out of uselessness. I stumbled upon these photos while surfing the endless expanses of the Internet.
We make a decorative pond from an old car tire
The form for the pond is an ordinary car tire. You can get hold of this "good" at a landfill, at a tire fitting, or at your husband's garage.
The larger the diameter of the tire, the larger the pond will turn out. Tires from the wheels of KAMAZ, BELAZ or the Belarus tractor will allow you to build a decent-sized pond. Cut off the top part of the tire.
Having folded the film in two layers, we line the bottom and sides of the tire. We bend the edges of the film under the sides.
We fill the pond with water and decorate the banks with stones and plants.
Choosing plants for the pond and coastal zone
In the balance of the ecosystem of a reservoir, even a very small one, a special role is given to plants - those that grow on the shore and those that live in the water. Therefore, they must be selected very carefully.
Decoration of the coastal zone
Lovers of natural style, as a rule, prefer large bodies of water. Their shores impress with lush vegetation, which belongs to the local flora: willow loosestrife, monetized loosestrife, marsh iris. There are also such tall plants as reeds and darmer.
Artificial pond in natural style impresses with lush vegetation
For reservoirs in a regular style, strict symmetry is characteristic. Plants on the shore are planted in a certain order. Large rectangular slabs are laid around the pond. Wooden flooring and "embankments" look stylish.
A special atmosphere of tranquility and unique charm is created by Japanese-style ponds. This is facilitated by the harmony of stone with skillfully selected plants, decorative bridges and other accessories.
Japanese-style ponds give the beholder a sense of harmony and tranquility
If there is enough space on the shore, tall perennials can be planted.
For ornamental ponds, which are most often found in our dachas, the main thing is a spectacular appearance. If there is enough space on the shore, tall perennials are planted: gunner, rogers, host, bergenia, marsh iris, astilba. Between the stones, closer to the water, you can plant tenacity, stonecrops, forget-me-nots.
Aquatic plants for ponds
Particular attention should be paid to the selection of aquatic plants for a small pond.
For small ponds, it is very important to choose the right plants that will float on the surface of the water. There shouldn't be many of them. Dwarf water lilies, water hyacinth, water ranunculus, duckweed not only decorate a small pond, they saturate it with oxygen, thereby supporting its vital activity.
When choosing aquatic plants, be sure to find out how quickly they grow. Otherwise, it may happen that over the summer your decorative pond will be covered with wild thickets, due to which the water will not be visible at all.
To control the development of fast-growing plants, it is better to plant them not in the ground, but in special containers or "pockets" made of jute, which are attached to coastal stones. In containers, heat-loving specimens will find their place, which, with the onset of cold weather, are moved to a trough with water and transferred to the cellar.
It is very important to know how deep to plant aquatic plants. In garden ponds, five zones of different depths are conditionally distinguished.
The coastal zone is considered to be up to 10 cm deep; it forms a swamp or a wet meadow. Here marsh iris, plakun and marigold feel great.
Shallow water (depth from 10 to 40 cm). Plants with tubular stems feel good here - reeds, calamus, whorled urt.
The deep-water zone starts at 40 cm. This is the habitat of plants with floating leaves - nymphaeum, as well as aponogeton bicuspid, arrowhead, elodea - plants that hide under water.
So that in winter the reservoir does not freeze and the plants in it are preserved, its depth must be at least 80 cm.
Filters and pumps for ornamental pond
In order for the pond to be always clean and the water fresh, experts recommend equipping it with a filter and a pump for pumping water. Small pumps look like containers. They can easily be hidden under rocks. The right choice of pump for the pond will help a specialist. After all, the power of the pump is determined by the volume of water.
Having chosen a place for the pump, and placing it on a concrete slab or brick, it is necessary to mark the line for laying the water pipe and the electrical cable. The cable is placed in a special reinforced tube and, together with the water pipe, is masked with small stones and pebbles. The pump is connected to the electrical circuit through a circuit breaker. The water filter must be changed regularly.
On the shore of a self-created reservoir, you can organize a cozy recreation area
All these simple tips that you have read will allow you to complete the creative task perfectly, and the place by the reservoir will become not only a habitat for dragonflies and butterflies, but also a favorite vacation spot for the whole family.
I really want to relax after the summer heat and physical labor near a picturesque place. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is water. Unfortunately, not all land owners are lucky to have a pond in their country house. Therefore, many summer residents equip a mini pond in the country with their own hands. We will talk about this in this article.
Perhaps at first you will have questions: how to do it? what material? where to place? But believe me, you can build a pond with your own hands. Moreover, we are talking about a small pond in the country - mini copies of reservoirs from 0.5 to 1.5 m3.
Design of the future pond
Thanks to today's technologies, the owner can build a pond of any complexity. For example, there are three possible options for a small pond: wrap a hole in the ground with foil and fill it with water; use a ready-made container that may be right at hand; fill the walls of the recess in the ground with concrete and fill with water.
Option 1
To get started, create a project for the future pond on paper. Consider the width, depth, and sills for planting. Start drawing contours on the ground. This can be done with paint or sand.
If several tiers are planned in the pond, then mark them out and dig them out one by one Purchase a film for your pond with a calculation of +0.5 m on the sides on the sides of the pit bowl. More purchases will be needed: geofabric is a material that is laid on the bottom and walls of the bowl to protect the film from damage. Although you can use something from the bins: unnecessary carpet, old linoleum.
Geofabric for reservoirs You can fix the film with rubble, laying it in trenches dug along the edges of the thresholds. Fill the pond with water gradually, taking breaks. Lay out the shore line with stones and cover the bottom of the pond with small pebbles.
Option 2
First, decide on the shape of the container in which the water will be. Then dig a pit under it, retreating 30 cm from the sides. Tamp the bottom so that it is even. If you have chosen a multi-tiered plastic form, then pour water gradually, and fill the space between the form and the pit bowl with sand.
There are many more options for a small pond in the country. Can be used:
- Unnecessary bath. Mark the area with the dimensions of the bathroom, adding 10 cm on the sides. Dig the pit 20 cm deeper. Under the drain hole of the bathtub, make a drain with stones for draining. Pour crushed stone with sand at the bottom of the pit and tamp it down.
- Taz. We take the path of least resistance and use the most budgetary option, because even a leaky basin can be used by covering the hole with a film. Leave the edges of the basin above the ground. Under the bottom and between the walls of the basin and the pit, lay a layer of a solution of clay and sand. Fill the bottom of the basin with soil to plant the duckweed and bury it, or whatever you choose. Such a pond will be miniature and beautiful.
Bathroom pond And more tires, a barrel, a boat or even an old cabinet! It is convenient that some of these containers can be brought into the house for the winter. Indeed, making a pond with your own hands is not difficult!
How to make a pond from the bathroom (video tutorial)
Option 3
I think many will agree that to build a pond according to the third option, some, at least basic builder skills are needed. But at the same time, do not let this scare you, because any summer resident or owner of a plot in the private sector is already a bit of a builder. And as a reward for your work, you will have an almost eternal piece of paradise in your yard.
Stages of construction of a reservoir in the country (video)
Seriously approach the choice of the location of the pond, because it will be impossible to move it. Now you can start.
If you decide to make a reservoir without thresholds, then this will greatly simplify the task. Dig a pit with slopes at 45 degrees. Tamp the hole and fill it with sand.
Lay a PET or PVC film on the bottom, without pulling it hard. Start pouring concrete from the walls, and then go to the bottom.
Try to do this part of the work in one day to avoid cracks at the joints.
Press in reinforced mesh. Pour the second layer of concrete as soon as the first one dries. Constantly check the level of the horizon. Pour in water when the concrete is completely cured.
concrete pond Before deciding on the option of building a pond, decide which design idea will look particularly organic on your site. If the house, paths and flower beds are designed in a strict style, feel free to break a clear-cut pond. If you like everything natural, then any free form will do.
Decide on a place
How to make all the inhabitants of the pond feel comfortable? If you have a large plot of land, then carefully study the area so as not to make a mistake with the choice. There are several secrets that we will share with you.
- The roots of old trees can interfere with the work, and over time, even the walls of the reservoir. Also, falling leaves and fruits will make you clean your pond often.
- Choose a place with the expectation that the pond will be in the shade for some time so that algae and microorganisms do not develop too actively in it.
- At the same time, the sun is needed for plants along the bank. So you have to look for the best option, given these nuances.
- If your pond is small but deep, then make sure that it is always in sight when children play nearby. And why hide such beauty from the eyes?
- Best of all, the reservoir will look in the hollow. They almost always go down to the lake, river, sea.
Mini pond for a summer residence Consider a possible ecosystem
If you want fish to live in your pond and flowers to bloom, then a few rules from this section will help you.
Plant selection
Decorative flowers in the pond do not suffer from temperature changes and can even tolerate frost (of course, except for the southern varieties of plants that will need to be hidden for the winter). But still, make sure that the water in the pond will be heated by the sun for at least five hours during the day.
The less light, the faster the mini pond in the country will turn into a small swamp. Then it will look completely unattractive, a characteristic smell and flowering will appear.
In nature, an amazing process of self-purification has been launched, and at home, the owner should take care of the cleanliness of the reservoir.
As in a natural pond, plants in a home pond are divided into the following types:
- those that grow on the shore;
- those that grow in a humid zone on the border with water;
- floating on the surface;
- shallow and those that grow at depth.
Although the air humidity will be higher on the shore along the pond than in other places, simple garden plants will be able to take root there. But still, consider that they do not look ridiculous or casual next to other inhabitants of the pond. Begonias, aquilegia, balsam and many other perennial plants that are used to decorate landscapes will harmoniously combine.
A zone with constant humidity, but without stagnant water, is the best place for moisture-loving perennials. Among such stars are meadowsweet (meadowsweet), lysichiton, darmer, iris and many others.
Irises also successfully get along in shallow water. They compete with susak, pontederia, tail A water lily can rightfully be called a deep-sea queen. She copes well with harsh winters. Water lilies are not only beautiful, but also useful. It is they who can create the shadow necessary for the pond. Among other deep-sea beauties, the lotus (although it needs to be dug up for the winter, because in most of the territory of the former USSR the water does not warm up for almost 8 months, as it is necessary for the flowering of such varieties), water paint, oronium, water chestnut and many other bizarre inhabitants of the depths.
Rivals of deep-sea plants are algae, which saturate pond water with oxygen and support the vital activity of other organisms. Among them are the swamp, hornwort, etc.
Animal inhabitants
Insects, microorganisms and protozoa will start up in your pond on their own. You will have to take care of the fish yourself.
Fish in the pond in the country But don't think that you can't get them. In fact, there is nothing supernatural here. Check the depth of your pond - it should be at least 90 cm deep. This is necessary for the fish, because this way they can overwinter. And in summer the water does not warm up too much. Smaller ponds are suitable only for growing ornamental plants.
By the way, in ponds with fish, a third of the surface of the water should be covered with greenery.
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An artificial pond in the country can be a great place to relax on a hot summer day. Those people who have country houses on the banks of a lake or river are very lucky. Well, the rest will need to roll up their sleeves and equip the pond in the country with their own hands.
We draw up a project
It is best to take a place for a future artificial reservoir still at the stage of designing a suburban area. In this case, the reservoir must:
- do not fall under prolonged exposure to direct sunlight - heated water provokes the growth of algae and the development of microorganisms. The water in the reservoir quickly becomes cloudy and will have a musty unpleasant odor;
- be in an open area - branches and foliage from trees will quickly pollute the water, and the root system can damage the bottom of an artificial reservoir;
- be located so that later it would be possible to expand the size of the water surface, if you want to remake the pond, for example, into a full-fledged complex - with a fountain, a bridge, etc.
Professional builders it is advised to make the artificial reservoir shallow - as it will be mainly used as a beautiful element of the surrounding landscape in the garden. In addition, you immediately need to think about how you will take care of the reservoir on the site - there should be a convenient approach to it. Naturally, not through the alpine slides or the garden.
The water in the artificial pond will need to be changed by hand, as it will not be cleaned naturally, unlike natural reservoirs. Therefore, you need to make sure that the well with water in the country is located near your pond.
The choice of material for construction
Before you make a pond with your own hands, you need determine its basis. In this case, there are several solutions. Let's consider what an artificial reservoir can be made of.
Reinforced concrete
The most durable pond in the garden can be made using reinforced concrete. The bottom and coastal zone, reinforced with reinforcement and filled with concrete, will be able to withstand various additional loads - the installation of sculptural compositions, a fountain, etc.
The labor intensity of construction makes this technology of organizing small ponds in the country inappropriate. The disadvantages of this solution include a significant cost. Need to rent equipment, use a lot of building materials, and it will be possible to dismantle the installed reservoir only with great labor costs.
PVC film
A budget solution for the construction of an artificial reservoir in the country. The depth and shape of this reservoir can be easily changed, reduced or increased in size. A pond on a plot with a film base can even be made seasonal - for example, fall asleep with the advent of winter and equip it again in the summer.
The disadvantages of this solution include the fragility and fragility of the PVC coating - the film can be easily damaged, and if the integrity of the bowl is violated, the water will easily go into the ground. Therefore, swimming in these home reservoirs is not recommended - they made small in size and used for garden decoration.
Store-bought artificial bowls
This is the golden mean for people who want to have their own pond in their garden and not have to worry about building materials for organizing it. Shop bowls for decorative reservoirs are made of durable and strong materials - fiberglass or polyvinyl chloride.
The first option is much more expensive. However, the cost of a fiberglass bowl is fully compensated by the excellent performance of this material. This bowl can be easily placed with your own hands, without involving outside help in this process. The disadvantage can be considered the acquisition of ready-made standard forms - that is, the pit must be made to fit the shape of the bowl, and not vice versa.
Moreover, the possibility of building uneven terrain bottom to design natural coastlines. In addition, this method of organizing a pond in the garden will cost much more than a pond made from improvised materials or film.
improvised materials
A rather interesting option is the use of different improvised containers or materials. Old troughs, cast-iron baths are quite suitable for construction.
The advantages of this method is that it is not necessary to build bulky reinforced concrete structures or acquire standard forms. The disadvantages include the low decorativeness of old containers - you will need to show imagination so that from the old bath make a work of art.
For example, for people who have catastrophically little space in the country, experts advise using a convenient and simple tire pond. Old tires are dug in, a film is laid inside, and the banks are decorated.
The resulting pond can surprise even professional designers - the finished pond will be an exclusive element of the landscape interior.
foundation pit
Then, when they decided on the material for construction, it is necessary to dig a foundation pit. This work is best done in the summer, when groundwater leave as much as possible. The depth of the pit is determined based on the type of material from which they decided to make the bowl. If this is an old bathroom or other finished form, we dig a hole 25-30 cm deeper than the dimensions of the form.
If you decide to make a pond out of PVC film, then you will need to dig to a depth of about 70-90 cm - a shallow pond will completely freeze in winter, dry quickly and heat up in summer. For reservoirs made of reinforced concrete, it will be necessary to dig a pit with a depth of more than 1.5 meters - here one cannot do without special equipment.
Consider the stages of work for the construction of a pond in the country with your own hands for various types of selected materials.
PVC film pond
When the pit is ready, it remains to clean its bottom and dig on the sides of the future mini-pond small terraces. The depth of these terraces is approximately 30 cm, and the width is about 25 cm. The bottom of the pit is compacted, pebbles, rubble, stones and other foreign objects are removed. The cleaned bottom is sprinkled with sand and covered with a geotextile. This preparation of the bottom will significantly improve the strength of the base coat as well as extend the life of the film.
The next step is the laying of the film coating. The size of the film can be calculated as follows: take the total length of the reservoir and add twice the depth of the pit. The film sheet is fixed on the terraces with a margin of approximately 30 cm. The laid sheet is laid with stones or bricks - this must be done to maintain its laying shape.
Then you need to fill the pond with water, check the integrity of the film and proceed to the design of the coastal zone. Don't need it right away cut off the remaining film under bricks, as it can shrink over time.
Pond from the bath
To build a pond from an old bathtub or other unnecessary container, you will need:
- crushed stone;
- a piece of chain-link mesh;
- sand and cement;
- coil of steel or aluminum wire;
- beautiful stones for decoration.
After the pit is dug, it is necessary to make its edges. Why around the entire perimeter of the future pond we remove the top a layer of earth about 45-50 cm wide. This perimeter is deepened so that it is level with the shape of the reservoir. The drain hole in the bathroom is closed, then it is installed at the bottom of the pit.
To extend the life of the future mini-pond, it is necessary to protect the enamel on the inner surface of the bowl. Why the sides and bottom of the bathroom can be treated with tile adhesive. After that, the bath is allowed to dry thoroughly. As a rule, this takes at least a few days.
Then, a chain-link mesh is laid around the entire perimeter of the bowl. It is required to reinforce the bottom and sides of the reservoir. We apply a cement-sand mixture or concrete mortar to the grid and let it dry. Then comes the turn of the final design of the coast.
Pond from the finished form
A pit dug for a mold cleared of debris, branches and other items. The walls and bottom of the pit are rammed. When the country house is very loose soil - it needs to be strengthened. For the finished form, a perfectly flat plane of the sides and bottom of the pit is required. The surface can be leveled using the building level.
Then the bottom must be covered with sifted sand, which also needs to be compacted. The sandy layer is an excellent fuse that will ensure the integrity of the finished bowl.
After that, the bowl is installed in the pit and water is poured. The resulting voids between the ground and the sides of the form are covered with sand, this must be done gradually. First, 20-25 cm of sand is poured, which is wetted with water. After spreading the sand, this process needs repeat until the voids are completely filled between the walls of the pit and the mold.
This must be done without fail, since the pond mold is very fragile and easily deformed. Uniform pressure on the surfaces of the bowl will not allow it to warp.
A day later, the gap between the ground and the sides of the bowl is checked. If there are voids, add sand. We pour water from the mini-pond, finally clean it and pour clean water.
Plant selection
Small plants are planted on the shore of the pond. A picturesque picture on the shore of the pond can be created by hostas, with green ones prefer partial shade, and blue ones prefer shade.
Also, sedge grows well in the shade with narrow leaves, which sometimes grow up to 80 cm. In partial shade, the unpretentious loosestrife with attractive purple inflorescences. Lightning can be planted in a sunny area.
A fern will perfectly decorate the shore of a reservoir located in partial shade. It grows well in moist soil. The same conditions apply to astilba. For planting near the pond, its undersized varieties are suitable.
If the reservoir is quite large, plant a darmer (peltiphyllum) on the shore - a perennial plant in the form of bushes up to 1 m high and up to 0.5 m in diameter with notched round leaves.
At the second level, water lilies are traditionally placed in the reservoir. Hybrid nymphs are characterized by a variety of flower colors. There is no need to overload the pond with a large number of specimens, they grow and only interfere with each other.
Sunshine is great place for air. In a small reservoir, a low calamus grass looks organically, and in a large one - marsh. Some varieties of irises also prefer low water.
The hardy calla is a fairly popular home pond plant. At the beginning of summer, a cob-shaped flower appears on it, and after - red berries. It must be remembered that they are poisonous.
Water hawthorn, smelling of vanilla, grows well in water, reaching a diameter of 50 cm. It is a deep-sea plant. It looks original floating on the surface, miniature, covering the reservoir with a green carpet of azolla. However, it will need to be fought with, periodically catching bushes.
How to make a pond in the country - this thought at least once occurred to every owner of a country house. After all, it’s nice to sit by the water on a summer evening, relax after a busy day, dream about the future. We are no exception either. As soon as a plot with a house in the countryside was purchased, this idea was firmly planted in our heads. As Zarathustra says, thoughts are material, if you dream about something for a long time, it will surely come true. Therefore, having read books on landscape design and studied dozens of sites, we decided to make our dream come true. How to make a pond in the country and what we got from it, you will learn by reading this article.
CHOOSE A PLACE FOR A POND
You can arrange an artificial reservoir anywhere in the suburban area. You need to figure out in your mind in which corner of the garden you imagine it. But, it is desirable that there are no large trees nearby, as their root system can damage the film with which we will cover the bottom, and the leaves will constantly fall into the water. It is also necessary to provide a system of paths leading to the reservoir, and a recreation area near it. We chose a place in front of the house, next to the flower garden, so that the expanse of water, beauty and smell would restore our strength and cheer up.
POND DEVICE
Having decided on the location of the pond in the country, we proceed to its device. We decided to make a small pond, 3 by 2 meters in size.. First of all, let's draw a line on the ground depicting an irregular circle resembling a grain of beans. We will drive a garden cart to the place of the future pond, pick up a shovel and start excavation.
The depth at the lowest point of the pit is 80 cm. Our pond will be in the country, so this size is enough, but if you plan to run it into a pond, then the depth must be at least 1 meter. The slope from the coast must be made smooth, otherwise there will be nowhere to put stones for. In our pond, we made a small notch in the form of a step along the shoreline, just for the location of the stones.
During excavation, you need to cut off all the roots of trees that stick out of the ground so that they do not break through the film.
Having made a foundation pit for a pond in the country, we will fill it with sand
Now it's time to lay down the film. It is desirable that this be a butyl rubber material. It has increased strength and long service life, more than 30 years. Not all ponds in the country live so long. But if we couldn't find geotextiles, we didn't even think about butyl rubber. In general, this article should have been called "How to make a pond in a country house far from Moscow from improvised means." This would be a more accurate name. Therefore, we used those materials that are available in provincial stores and markets.
The compacted sand was first covered with an ordinary transparent film for gardening.
So, unwind the film from the roll and lay it out at the bottom of the pit. It is necessary to work carefully, without tearing the coating and not staining it with dirt from the shoes. Let's make sure that everything settles down evenly, and there is enough material left around the edges. Now we will try to remove the wrinkles by stretching it on both sides. do not rush the edges, wait until the material sits under the water column. After the transparent one, we put black polyethylene, also spreading it along the bottom of the pit.
Our reservoir along the coast line will be lined with natural stones that we have collected on the streets of the village. Before laying the stone to the pond, it must be washed under the pressure of water so that the appearance is better and the dirt from the stone does not get into the pond.
Since we did, we had no problems filling the pond with water. They threw the hose into the pit and waited.
DECORATION OF THE POND IN THE COTTAGE
To make the pond look interesting and unusual, it needs to be decorated. Along the banks, next to the stones, we installed figurines of frogs that sit on snags.
We covered one side of the reservoir with gravel. First they brought some sand, compacted it. Then ordinary gravel, pouring it directly onto the sand.
In one book, we found information that if you put a canvas bag with charcoal in an artificial pond in the country, the water in it will not bloom. We do not know how true this statement is, but we are used to trusting people. Therefore, taking the charcoal on which we fry, we poured it, but not into a bag, but into an earthenware jug.
If leaves from trees fall into the pond or the wind brings some garbage, we take it out with a net that we made ourselves, screwing it onto a rake handle.
INSTALLING THE FOUNTAIN IN THE POND
In a specialized store selling equipment for swimming pools and artificial reservoirs, we bought a small fountain for our pond by chance. The country of origin is China, the price is $50. The kit includes 2 nozzles for spraying water. The assortment of the store also includes models of European manufacturers, but their cost is much higher.
At home, having studied the design, they welded small stand from metal profiles, left over from the installation, to which the fountain body was screwed. The legs of the stand must be well sanded so that there are no burrs that can damage the film on the bottom of the pond.
The design of the fountain allows you to connect a hose to it and put water, for example, into a jug. We made a hole in it, put a hose through it, which we connected to the fountain and it so that it was not visible. It turned out a small waterfall from a jug.
In the near future, we have plans to build a bridge around the pond in the country, so that you can look at the water from it.
Among artificial reservoirs, ornamental ponds are most widely used. This is far from a luxury, and absolutely everyone can afford a decorative pond in the country. Of course, certain financial investments will be required, but your desire and hard work come first.
There are no strict requirements for a decorative pond. As in nature, it can be round, rectangular or even irregular in shape. Plants are planted along the perimeter, which become an excellent addition to landscape design.
General principles of pond construction
Surely, you are already ready to pick up a shovel and get to work! Do not hurry. Before you make a decorative pond, it is important to decide where it will be located, choose the optimal shape and size, and buy the right materials. At the last stage of arrangement, vegetation is planted.
Once again, we focus your attention on the fact that difficulties in construction should not scare you. In fact, all of them are easily overcome. The costs will be small, it will take 5-7 days of free time. The result - what every summer resident dreams of will appear on the plot. This is a quiet water surface that will sparkle in the sun with all the colors of the rainbow!
Choosing a place for a pond
Do-it-yourself decorative pond in the country is not a place for breaststroke swims. He is . At the same time, it is important to take care of the proper organization of the natural environment. Otherwise, instead of a charming picture, you will get a "magic" swamp. Hence the conclusion - the place of construction of a pond for a summer residence should be chosen with special care.
The illumination of the site plays a big role. Any plants need ultraviolet light, but its excess can quickly destroy the entire ecosystem.
If the summer turned out to be sultry, there is a rapid reproduction of algae. Ideally, the sun's rays should warm up the ornamental pond only before or after lunch. Even before the start of construction, you can mark the contours of the future pond with twine or sand, and then follow how the lighting changes during the day.
The main thing is to choose in advance a place for a reservoir The source of the shadow is not only the house, but also the crowns of trees. Trees that have a weeping shape will look especially beautiful. The only drawback is that decorative ponds will need to be regularly cleaned of foliage.
- Choose the lowest and, accordingly, the wettest areas of the cottage.
- If the plot is flat, pay attention to the border of the garden, which is indicated by bushes.
- A good option would be a platform near the livestock. But in this case, a transition from perennial plants is made between the reach and plantations.
- A spectacular solution is to build a decorative pond with your own hands next to the alpine slide. Linking them into one composition is easy if you use stones of the same shape.
A pond with an alpine slide is a great combination Decide on form and style
Every summer resident will agree with the statement that the design of the pond should match the style of the site. For example, if you are with you, the option of building a round reservoir will be the most successful. Irregularly shaped ponds look great on oriental-style areas.
By the way, it is not at all necessary to strive to ensure that the design of the pond has some clear geometric shapes. The main thing is that the reservoir fits into the overall landscape of the garden.
Dimensions directly depend on the area of the garden plot. But remember that the larger the pond, the easier it will be for you to create a stable, sustainable ecosystem in it. It can be concluded that it is much easier to care for a large reservoir than for a small one.
What materials to use?
For the arrangement of ponds, a variety of waterproofing materials are used.
- Plastic. If the area is small (up to 5 square meters), plastic containers will come in handy. They are easy to install, and the service life is calculated in tens of years.
- Film. For those who plan to build a reservoir according to an individual project, it is best to use a waterproofing film. The material itself is very elastic, easily deformed. Depending on the composition, there is a film for creating a pond made of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and butyl rubber.
- PVC, polyvinyl chloride. In most cases, a black film is used. If damage occurs, they are easily smeared with glue.
- Polyethylene. Although it is cheaper, it does not have durability. The easiest way to "cure" it is with self-adhesive tape.
- Butyl rubber. Of all the types of film, this is considered the best. The thickness is selected depending on the depth of the pond. When planning a shallow pond (up to 80 cm), use a material with a thickness of 0.8 mm. For a deeper pond, it is better to take a film up to 1.5 mm.
You can use stones to hide the loose edges of the film. Lay them so that the edges hang slightly above the water.
Attracts the correct geometric shape for the pond? A concrete pit is exactly what you need! Of course, construction is fraught with certain difficulties. You are waiting for the pouring of the walls with the transition between the terraces.
How to create a beautiful pond based on a rigid container?
What is good about plastic containers is the ease and speed of installation. Self-installation will not raise questions even for a beginner, and you can do it in just 1-2 days. And if the form for the pond is framed as a natural stone, you can forget about disguise.
plastic pond tank The order of work will be as follows:
- The finished container is installed in a pre-designated place. You can put some bricks on it to avoid tilting. The edges are lined with sand to mark the boundaries. To achieve full compliance with the relief of the tank, it is important to mark out zones of different heights.
- The pit is dug according to the markings, which expand and deepen by 10 centimeters.
- The bowl of the reservoir is installed in the pit. The level will make sure that the structure is installed strictly horizontally. If necessary, the depth of the pit can always be adjusted.
- The container is filled with water about a third. The cracks are filled with sand. It is periodically watered.
Master class on creating a reservoir from a film
A waterproofing film is a great way to create a reservoir of absolutely any, even the most unusual shape. As soon as a place for construction is chosen, we get to work.
Creating a Pond with Film - Using dry lime or ordinary sand, mark the contours of the pond.
- Dig a ditch along the contours, but not deep - about a shovel bayonet. Soil and turf are not thrown away.
- Take dry lime again and mark the contours. The bottom of the reservoir in the center should be the deepest.
- How to calculate the correct film size? A rope and a tape measure will help you with this. Add 50 cm on each side for better fixation of the banks.
- Pour a layer of sand on the bottom, the next layer will be interlining or geotextile. The material is good in that it protects the film from contact with roots, stones. Film can be applied.
- Pressing the bottom with stones, slowly fill the pond with water. Make sure that the settling of the film is gradual.
- After 2-3 days, you can begin to design the coastal zone. To do this, you need to fill the edges of the film, lay the slabs and stones. The resulting gaps are carefully filled with sand.
Pond plan Even if you've built a pond before, some mistakes are hard to avoid. Below we will tell you about a few of the most common mistakes.
Every plant has its place
Mistake number one - you want to plant a plant in a completely different place where it should grow. The fern will never grow in shallow water, but in the coastal zone.
- Coastline: fluffy, marigold, snake mountaineer, forget-me-not option is allowed.
- Coastal zone: elder and ferns, lilies of the valley, conifers.
- Shallow water (depth up to 20 cm): susak, arrowhead, reeds.
- Depth over 30 cm: capsule and water lily.
- The surface of the water (exclusively for decoration): duckweed (where without the classics!), Vodokras.
Plants for the pond The earth can be poured safely
Container gardening has its pros and cons. Among the shortcomings is poor growth, since plants develop worse in a plastic container. Many gardeners think that if you fill up the earth in a country pond, it will always be muddy. This is not true. The soil used for aquatic plants contains clay that strengthens the roots. It doesn't wash out with water.
It's better to forget about stones of the same size
Identical stones... It's so boring and banal! Why don't you decorate the shore with completely different cobblestones? Combine small stones with large ones, do not forget about medium ones. Of course, in this case, it is also recommended not to "go too far". And then fill up the entire site with them - it will also look ridiculous.
Get creative with your choice of stones Do not chase great depth
Let's just say - a deep pond in the country house resembles a bag of stone. Recent studies have shown that excavation companies prefer to dig deep water bodies. Just because it's better for them. If you do not plan, deep water is completely useless.
About filters and pumps
Do you want your reservoir to always be clean, and the water in it fresh and clear? In this case, do not spare the money and buy a special filter, as well as a pump. Small pumps are somewhat reminiscent of containers. They easily hide under rocks. It is better to choose a pump with a specialist, since the power of the device is determined by the volume of water.
Pond filter system Having decided on a place, a specific model, place it on a concrete slab or brick. Then mark the line along which the water pipe and electric wire will be laid. The cable is placed in a reinforced pipe, masked with pebbles and stones along with the pipe. You then connect the pump to the electrical circuit using a breaker. Don't forget to change the filter.
Creating a pond (video)
How to care for a DIY pond
Creating a reservoir in a summer cottage is half the battle. He needs care, and without a caring master's hand, he will quickly turn into a swamp. You don't want this, do you? To keep the pond colorful for a long time, follow these rules:
- In early March, as soon as the first ice melted, carefully inspect the reservoir. Are the shores in place, what is the condition of the fish, are the pumps with filters working.
- The integrity of the bottom is also carefully checked. For example, if a leak appears, it is closed as soon as possible, and the fish are resettled.
- Also in early spring, new plants are purchased or old ones are planted. Rotting foliage, which the wind has swept since autumn, is removed.
- In summer, you monitor the water level, pump water if necessary. You can create an additional shadow and connect compressors to saturate the water with oxygen.
- With the onset of autumn, pond care comes down to the periodic removal of debris, cutting plants on the shore. By the way, you can hang a fine mesh over the pond. This will prevent the leaves from falling into the water.
Construction of a country reservoir and care of it are simple and clear. Each person can build a pond on their own, take care of it and keep it clean.