Okay, now I started my pond...now a few questions

[6_Time_Momma]

Okay, we dug and placed our pond. It is one of the "bathtub" pre-formed type, about 5' by 3' and about 2' deep. I left it a little more than 6" above the ground. I plan on building a wall around the pond with either retaining wall bricks or the flat, irregular garden stones. I will leave a space between the pond and the wall of about 9" to give me an area around the pond to plant.

At the head of the pond, I plan on putting our Virgin Mary statue with a continuation of the wall going up behind her (a grotto type thing). Then, I plan on planting bleeding hearts behind the Mary statue.

Now, the questions.

Does that sound workable (with the planting wall around the pond)?

What type of plants would be best around the pond?

We have a pump that came with the pond (used), but do we also need a filter or is the little ring of thick "mesh" around it work as a filter?

How strong does the pump need to be? We see the water moving very slightly, but does it need to move the water quite a bit to be effective?

I'm sure I'll come up with more later!

 

[DebºoºS]

Congratulations on your new pond
The hard part is over. All that digging whew! Now the fun part planting
Everything grows well around my ponds. Even some of my "pond plant irises" have taken up root outside the pond. Around the ponds I've planted a variety of beach grasses, lilitrope(sp?) butterfly bushes, russian sage, weeping willow, spring bulbs, summer bulbs, roses and on and on. Go wild and plant whatever you would like to see. One of the mistakes I made was planting too close to the pond in some places. I planted a few inches back and the plants grew in and sometimes over. It can get messy when the leaves fall in from the butterfly bush. Also place some large flat stones around the edge of the pond that you can stand or kneel on when the soil is wet.
As far as your pump, the one you have sounds about right. If you don't have pond plants or fish in the pond then you shouldn't have to rinse the filter too often.
The grotto and wall sounds beautiful. Please take some pics, we'd love to see it!

 

[poohlover]

I've been thinking for a few years of doing this in our yard. What about the upkeep of the pond?? Is there a lot of it?? We have 3 Newfs & I am having to think VERY hard about where to put it...otherwise it will just become a "dog bath"!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

My best wishes to you!

My pond had been a joy to me for about 5 years, but last year and this year so far, the water isn't clear, and I don't think it's a fish problem. Our next solution to try is "buy a new filter."

At any rate, problem or not, I love having a pond. It's relaxing to look at, and a source of water for the birds I feed.

Bobbi

 

[DebºoºS]

We have 3 Newfs & I am having to think VERY hard about where to put it...otherwise it will just become a "dog bath"!!

Oh yea! Our new furbaby "Einstein" thinks it's his water bowl and the plants are snack. It's been very difficult to keep him out of it. Ridley(the Scottie) hasn't bothered with it. You might want to put it where they can't get in easily.

We enjoy the ponds even though they do take some maintenance. The sounds of the water and watching the fish is very very relaxing. If you're a perfectionist it might be frustrating for you. The water quality is always a challenge especially with fish and plants. Even with all the work it's well worth it!