Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
solsort1_dk

My very first pond - many pictures

solsort1_dk
14 years ago

Hi everyone.

I have never posted on this forum before. But Ive just looked at all your posts with pictures of your gorgeous ponds over the last few days, so I wanted to pay something back by showing you my new and very first pond.

We buildt it last week and I just finished planting it up yesterday.

I am in Denmark, Europe, so very far from all of you, but I think we gardeners/ponderers are very alike all over the world.

My pond is only very small, a premade 132 gallon (500 L)

I know I havent done a very good job of hiding the edges. Ive planted lots of plants around the edge, so Im hoping they will hide the black edges over time.

Sorry that many of the plants look very droopy still, but I dug them up from all over my garden and divided them to cover the ground fast.

Im also not so happy with my stream. Ive used a liner with pebbles glued on, but it looks a bit artificial. Ive tried to place more pebbles on it, but they get washed down :-D Im leaving it like this for now maybe till I find some bigger pebbles.

I have a pump and a pressure filter with UV-filter and Im hoping along with all the plants it will keep my water nice. Ive been told its more or less impossible to not have string-algea so I will just have to clear those out by hand.

I donÂt have any fish in it. I have 4 bunnies and two doggies, so for now I have enough pets, but who knows. Im really hoping to have frogs along the way. And my wild birds already love it. The blackbirds bath by the low end beneath the stream, and Ive had up to 5 sparrows bathing in the stream at once.

I appreciate any critisism, good or bad, as all this is very new to me and very exciting. I see myself with a bigger pond in some years. This was all the space I had available at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

Take care,

Hanne in Denmark

{{gwi:180347}}

{{gwi:180358}}

{{gwi:180360}}

{{gwi:180361}}

{{gwi:180362}}

{{gwi:180364}}

{{gwi:180368}}

{{gwi:180373}}

{{gwi:180374}}

{{gwi:180378}}

{{gwi:180380}}

{{gwi:180381}}

{{gwi:180386}}

Comments (8)

  • solsort1_dk
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Hi again.

    I just wanted to add that the bare path-like bit to the right of the front of the pond edged with rocks is there on purpose, so the dogs can drink from the pond.

    And the piece of wood on the top of the stream is for the birdies to sit on.

    And lastly, I havent tried to hide my filter yet, as Im not so familiar with cleaning it yet, and I wanted it with easy access. Im thinking Ill maybe put a willow basket upside down on it to hide it.

    Take care,
    Hanne in Denmark

  • annedickinson
    14 years ago

    Hanne,

    I think you've done a wonderful job. I like the transition from stream to pond.

    I can see what you mean about the pebble liner for the stream. I'm sure you'll figure out a way to make it look more natural.

    I love your curly rush. Mine survived the winter, but just barely and has just a few tiny sprigs sticking out.

    Keep us posted.
    Anne

  • hardin
    14 years ago

    I think it looks great. Like many ponders, myself included, it will always be a work in progress. Beautiful flowers too.

  • clarke
    14 years ago

    I think you are off to a great start. Your yard is beautiful.

  • sheepco
    14 years ago

    What a lovely pond AND gardens! Pat yourself on the back! And don't worry, you'll be thinning plants out of there in no time - they grow so fast you won't be able to see the water.

    S

  • Calamity_J
    14 years ago

    Good job, and you thought of everyones enjoyment!!! Thanks for posting your lovely yard and pond!!!

  • koijoyii
    14 years ago

    Hi Hanne.

    Welcome to the forum. I love your little pond, especially the stream. I like how you glued the pebbles to the liner. It gives it a natural look. How in the world did you get them to stick to the liner? I think you did an excellent job. Keep up the good work.

    Jenny

  • solsort1_dk
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Hi everyone.

    Thanks SO much for all your nice comments :-) Im blushing here in Denmark.

    Jenny, the liner is premade with the tiny peebles glued on... what a job it would have been to glue them on :-D

    I thought it was such a good idea. But it only came in a very narrow measure, so Ive had leaks constantly since I put it in.

    Also after about a week it stained completely dark where the water runs, and it looked so yuck and dirty as the part above the waterstream stayed nice and fresh.

    So in the end I filled the stream up completely with little stones. And it actually got to look really nice.

    {{gwi:180393}}

    Then I placed some wooden edging behind the stream, cuz the sides of that little mountain were just too steep, as soil and peebles kept getting washed down with the rain.

    {{gwi:180400}}

    I still had the problem with the leaking stream though, and soil being washed down into the pond at the front of the mountain.

    And I didnt really build this to get more flowerbeds, as I have lots already... and I already thought my new pond was too small... giggle. So I eyed a nice size upper pond in this raised bed.

    So I took it all apart... not the pond, just the upper part :-D

    Im not sure how this works, but I guess I better start a new post right, so this doesnt get too heavy on pics?

    Take care,
    Hanne in Denmark