One of the most popular landscape design ideas is the arrangement of an ornamental pond. An artificial pond creates an atmosphere of calmness and tranquility on the site and serves as an excellent decoration for the territory adjacent to the house.
Creating a miniature lake may require significant costs if specialists are involved in the work. However, this is not a reason to give up your desires, because all the work can be done with your own hands. How to do it? We will answer this and many related questions in our article.
Types of decorative ponds
An artificial pond in the country or near a private house can be done in several ways. They differ from each other in the type of material used to equip the bottom. It could be:
- plastic container of standard shape and volume;
- plastic film;
- rubber materials.
The last option is considered the most durable and durable, but special training is needed to work with rubber sheets. They need to be skillfully docked and smeared with bituminous mastic. In some cases, a specialwelding. Only professionals can do this kind of work.
We will not pay attention to complex options and consider two simpler, no less reliable and especially popular ways to arrange an ornamental pond with your own hands.
Plastic mold pond
The variant with the use of the finished form is considered the simplest. It is used by those homeowners who do not want to spend a lot of time and money to create a reservoir on their site. To make a plastic pond, you need to purchase a ready-made mold of the right size in a specialized store.
Such containers are made of frost-resistant fiberglass and serve for more than 15 years. The range of ready-made containers for the pond is quite diverse. You can choose a product of rectangular, oval and irregular shape (with smooth or winding edges).
When choosing a base for a decorative pond, you need to take into account that the finished composition will visually look smaller than an empty container. It is also important to take into account the size of the plot: it must have an empty space of the appropriate area.
The appearance of a pond with a plastic bottom will not differ much from a real pond, the main thing is to arrange it correctly.
Film-bottomed pond
In addition to plastic molds, special PVC films are used to create a decorative garden pond. They have different thickness and color. Each variety is used for reservoirs of a certain depth.
If the pond is deepened into the ground by1.5 meters, then for its arrangement you need to choose the most dense options, having a thickness of 1.5 mm. For shallow ponds, you can purchase the most economical varieties.
The final appearance of the pond depends on the color of the film. When using materials of dark tones, it is possible to create the look of natural bottom soil as accurately as possible. If you need to make a decorative pond with fish, then it is better to use a white or beige film. In this case, the inhabitants of the reservoir will be clearly visible through the water.
A bottom in light blue tones will not create a feeling of naturalness, but will provide the necessary contrast both on the site itself and under water.
Helpful Pond Design Tips
Are you ready to go shopping for the necessary supplies? We advise you not to rush, but to make sure that you have chosen the right place for arranging an ornamental pond. It is on this decision that the durability of the reservoir and its external condition depend.
To determine the optimal area, use the following recommendations:
- The size of the pond should be chosen depending on the size of the site. It should not exceed 1/10 of the total available area.
- The depth of the reservoir with ornamental plants may not exceed 0.5-0.6 meters, and for the life of fish and natural plants, it is recommended to make a deepening of 1.5 meters.
- The presence of groundwater on the site is of great importance. If they are in close proximity to the bottom of the pond, there is a possibility of itshallowing. This is due to the freezing liquid, which is able to lift the bottom of the reservoir.
- In order for a do-it-yourself pond not to cause great difficulties, it must be located near sources of water and electricity.
- It is not recommended to equip ponds under trees. Their branches and dry foliage will quickly clog water, and sprouted roots can damage the film bottom or tilt the mold.
If the pond is under the scorching sun during the day, you need to be prepared for the fact that the water will quickly evaporate. It is better that in the afternoon there is a shadow on the territory of the selected site.
Equipment and tools for the operation and care of the reservoir
Before you make a pond, you need to think through all the details on which its functioning depends. There are not so many of them, but it will be very difficult to do without some.
You will definitely need:
- water pump;
- radio sockets;
- hoses for connection to the water supply system and pump;
- lighting fixtures;
- filter technology (for ponds with live fish).
Management of a pond may require a variety of nets and skimmers. To clean the bottom, you can purchase a special vacuum cleaner, tongs, scissors and other devices of a similar nature.
If you plan to install filtration equipment, then you need to prepare all the necessary hoses, valves and consumables.
If funds allow, you can install a fountain for an ornamental pond. Hewill fill the yard with a pleasant natural murmur and emphasize the refined taste of the owner of the yard. The decor can be made in the form of an old sculpture, or it can be represented by an ordinary stream of water directed upwards.
Technology for creating a reservoir with a plastic bottom
When the place is chosen and all the materials are waiting in the wings, it's time to figure out how to make a pond. First, we will analyze the technology for creating a reservoir with a plastic bottom. To equip it, you need to do the following:
- On the selected piece of land, you need to install the acquired form and mark its boundaries. This is done with thin pegs and rope. Ordinary sand and gravel can also be used.
- You need to retreat about 20 centimeters from the contour of the plastic bottom. This distance is necessary for further installation of the tank and pouring soil or sand.
- Next, a hole is being dug. Please note that the plastic pond (its bottom) is made in the form of steps. In the same way, you need to dig a hole. First, the soil is removed according to the dimensions of the first level. Then a hole is gradually dug for the remaining planes.
- The earth under each step and all the edges of the pit is carefully compacted.
- The form itself is installed and filled with water (1/3 part) on the prepared place. In the intervals between its bottom and the base, earth or sand is poured. The correct installation of the tank is checked by the building level.
- In order for the form to fit well into place, the sand around it must be spilled with water. In addition, within 2-3 days, the soil around the pond may sag. In itperiod it also needs to be watered and tamped. If necessary, you can add more earth.
At this stage, the pond is almost ready. It remains to fill it with water and decorate the edges. For this purpose, pebbles of any size, plastushka and other types of natural stone are excellent.
You can complement the composition with a variety of figurines, plants in massive pots or live algae. Near the pond, you can arrange a recreation area. For this, portable swings, sunbeds and chairs decorated in the appropriate style are suitable.
Materials for making a polyethylene bottom pond
The process of building a reservoir with a film bottom is a little harder than the previous option, but it also has its advantages. One of them is the opportunity to show imagination. Forms of an ornamental pond can be very diverse and complex. The reservoir can be equipped on the slopes and hills.
In the process of work you will need:
- geotextile or rubber sheet;
- bottom lining film;
- adhesive tape (for connecting and repairing roll materials);
- scissors;
- materials for marking the excavation.
Making a decorative pond with a film bottom is best done in the warm season. At negative temperatures, PVC is less elastic and more prone to damage.
It is better to start work when the thermometer is stable at the level of 20 degrees. With suchindicators, the material is as pliable as possible and fits well on the base of the most complex shapes.
Technology for making a pond from a film with your own hands
It is better to start building an ornamental pond by checking the material. Make sure that the purchased film is exactly enough to equip the reservoir of the desired size.
You can immediately stock up on containers for planting live algae and various decorations.
If a submersible pump is involved in the operation of the reservoir, purchase a special bottom plate for it. It will be needed when installing equipment. When everything is ready, you can get down to business.
The work is done in the following order:
- The future pit is being marked on the selected area. For this, twine and wooden or metal pegs are used. At this time, the oilcloth should be laid out in direct sunlight to warm up.
- A hole is dug along the outlined contours. Here you need to alternate indents and descents. This approach makes the shores more sustainable. The minimum width of terraces is 30 cm. The angle of inclination of each slope should not exceed 45 degrees.
- The depth of the pit should be 15 cm higher than the planned depth of the pond itself. This distance is compensated while compacting the pit with crushed stone and sand.
- The finished recess in the ground must be cleared of roots and stones. After that, cover the bottom of the future pond with geotextile material. Its strips should overlap.
- Next, you can proceed tolaying heated film for the bottom. If the size of the canvas is not enough to cover the entire surface, the oilcloth can be glued with a special moisture-resistant adhesive. The canvas is laid as evenly as possible, with a minimum number of folds.
Now you can start filling with water. First, the pond is filled by one third. After 3-4 hours, water can be poured to the brim. Gradual filling is necessary to evenly stretch the bottom material.
Decoration and lighting
Decoration of a decorative pond can be carried out immediately after it is filled with water. First you need to cut off the excess edges of the film. The rest of its parts can be rolled into a thin roller or hidden under the decorations.
As for the previous version of the pond, here you can use any decorative elements of the river theme. Small river pebbles, rubble, pebbles, sand will come in handy. You can use a special sand-coated film that perfectly imitates a natural river bank.
A decorative fountain can be placed in the center of the reservoir. If the pond is located on a hill, it is decorated with an artificial waterfall. For these purposes, today there are various pumps on sale that continuously pump water.
Pond lighting plays an important role. Properly installed lighting can increase the attractiveness of the entire composition several times. On sale today you can find fixtures that meet the most sophisticated requirements: ground, underwater, floating. Their limitless design allows you to performonly a lighting function, but also be an excellent decorative decoration.
Underwater lights are installed on the mounting plate. Their wires are hidden under a layer of pebbles or sand. An excellent effect can be achieved by combining several underwater lights installed at different angles.
Floating appliances will be a wonderful decoration. Most often they are made in the form of water lilies or luminous balls. In the evening, this decoration looks very impressive.
How to keep a pond in good condition
A pond in the country can become a chic decoration and the pride of the owners, but over time it may lose its presentability. Often from the owners of such reservoirs you can hear about the flowering of water. This is indeed the most urgent problem, but it is quite solvable.
The easiest way to deal with flowering is to install a quality filtration system. Its presence can completely relieve the owner of the pond from the hassle. All she needs is periodic cleaning and replacement of consumables.
Installing filtration equipment is far from affordable for everyone. Most summer residents cannot afford such a luxury. Another way to purify water is suitable for them - using a bag of high-moor peat. It just needs to be placed at the bottom of the reservoir.
From time to time, part of the water from the pond should be drained and replaced with clean water. From the surface of the water you need to systematically remove debris and fallen leaves. ATin the autumn, it is better to cover the reservoir with a special mesh that prevents debris from entering the water. The small ponds should be completely drained for the winter.
Liquid in large bodies of water, when frozen, can damage the plastic mold and film. To prevent this from happening, empty plastic bottles with a closed lid should be left in the water. They will compensate for the pressure of the ice and prevent the destruction of the bottom.
As you can see, making a pond on your own is not so difficult, but how spectacular the result will be depends on your imagination.
