Errors in constructing my pond


Now that I've watched the pond develop over the winter I have had time to reflect on the errors I made during construction. It is now February and the rain which started in October has not abated long enough for me to do any more work which is really frustrating. The winter weather has cleared the water and I can see the outline of the shape which I dug. It doesn't look good. Another time I would have dug the pond at one level with a planting shelf around the edge. Hopefully, by next winter the plants will hide the underwater shelving and make it look better. The top planting shelf was a big disappointment. I had planned to dig a trough into which I would be able to plant directly into the pond, but I had a brainstorm and forgot to dig it out. Planting has become a nightmare as I hate those plastic baskets which are ok for lilies and other deep water plants, but look unsightly around the edge. See the plants section to see how I worked around this problem, but the jury's still out on whether it will be a great success. I have become used to the shape now, and with some plants around the edge I hope it will soften it. The Waterfall I am having a spot of trouble designing the waterfall. Having built the drops in the shape of two brick walls I have removed the top one and built a top pond with one fall into the middle area then a trickle into the main pond over stones. I will put in a stepping stone to give access to the far side of the pond. The wood I used for leveling has now come out and been replaced to fit in with the change of plan. I was advised to use a 1 inch hose with a 5000 lph pump. A one and a quarter inch hose allows the pump to run much more efficiently with a much greater throughput of water.
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Now that I've watched the pond develop over the winter I have had time to reflect on the errors I made during construction. It is now February and the rain which started in October has not abated long enough for me to do any more work which is really frustrating.

The winter weather has cleared the water and I can see the outline of the shape which I dug. It doesn't look good. Another time I would have dug the pond at one level with a planting shelf around the edge. Hopefully, by next winter the plants will hide the underwater shelving and make it look better.

The top planting shelf was a big disappointment. I had planned to dig a trough into which I would be able to plant directly into the pond, but I had a brainstorm and forgot to dig it out. Planting has become a nightmare as I hate those plastic baskets which are ok for lilies and other deep water plants, but look unsightly around the edge. See the plants section to see how I worked around this problem, but the jury's still out on whether it will be a great success.

I have become used to the shape now, and with some plants around the edge I hope it will soften it.

The Waterfall

I am having a spot of trouble designing the waterfall. Having built the drops in the shape of two brick walls I have removed the top one and built a top pond with one fall into the middle area then a trickle into the main pond over stones. I will put in a stepping stone to give access to the far side of the pond.

The wood I used for leveling has now come out and been replaced to fit in with the change of plan.

I was advised to use a 1 inch hose with a 5000 lph pump. A one and a quarter inch hose allows the pump to run much more efficiently with a much greater throughput of water.

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