Put in a pond?

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

well, i may just like the thought of a pond because i've kept a few for years. i still maintain my parents' small (3 ponds @125 gal each) ponds that i put in starting in 1996. we had a small one at our last house and i have a huge liner that i've had for the past 6 years that i want to put in this year. but i keep telling my dh i want ducks too! i better just keep fish in mine when i finally get it in the ground.

 

[so lucky]

I put bricks down at ground level so that I can mow around my beds by running the wheels of my push behind mower right over the bricks. Maybe you could do that at the bottom of your pond? I HATE, HATE, HATE the 5 minutes of work/55 minutes of repair using string trimmers!!!

Me too on the trimming/repair!

 

[thistlebloom]

@Carol Dee, that's a really pretty pond. Great pictures! My favorites are your dh and grandson, that's such a sweet one, and the toad is cool too.

 

[Nyboy]

Carol nice pond, i love frogs. Right now the spring peepers are singing all night.

 

[Lavender2]

I don't find my small pond -- just big enough for my son's dog -- to be much of a problem or much work. Although, I do intend to redo the whole thing later this summer to make keeping the weeds down easier by making the edges mow-able.
View attachment 2293
Mini-papyrus, curly reeds, and two water lilies sit in the water along with a dozen-ish goldfish, an increasing number of different frogs, and lots of toad tadpoles. Occasionally a passing bird will bring in fish eggs that hatch or (once) a blood sucker that faired well until it latched onto me.

Leaves in the fall is my biggest problem -- that and no electricity. . . . yet. . and I do know how to address that if I choose. Of course, I bring the fish inside for the winter. That could be a bit more work if I didn't have the sunroom to winter them in.

Even with your husband's patio taking up part of the space, there is NOTHING so relaxing as the sound of falling water. I love watching the variety of birds attracted to my pond by day and love watching the bats swooping down to get a drink or to catch an insect attracted to the (solar) lights. It is a whole new learning environment for the little ones.

Hopefully, once the pond is redone, we can keep DS's great Dane from jumping in for a dip.

Nice pond! Thanks for the photo and the tips. I love the natural look of the flagstone, I can see how trimming would be an issue. We have a riverrock/drain tile area that was around three sides of the pool. It may be good to leave it and just modify to plant something (?) ... good point, thanks!

I really look forward to learning about water plants! Fish, I had not considered yet, but yeah, I'm sure I will! We do have a leaf problem, but I'm hoping not as big an issue as it was with the pool, a lot less water anyway... best hang on to that pool net.

Silly dog... the grandkids have already asked if they can swim in it. ...

 

[Lavender2]

I love my ponds have small one in city and very large natural one in country. Can be a lot of work in begning, if you want fish more work. Once pond has been up and runing only few mintues a week. unlike a garden, the bigger you go the easlier it is to keep. The smaller the pond the less forgiving it is.

I have heard pond owners keep going bigger, I thought it was just an addiction thing. The preformed pond I have is about 4 by 5 feet, 18" deep center section, natural shape. Looking at the liners out there I'm thinking around 90 to 100 gallons. Would you start bigger?, expand later? ... oh I know where this is going ...

 

[Lavender2]

Since you have most of the big items to get started I say go for it. As for wintering the fish over we put them in a stock tank in the unheated lean to on the garage with a stock tank heater just warm enough that ice does not form.
Our Koi pond is not real big. Rectangular with a small upper pool that flows over a rock ledge into the lower part. It is filtered and sent up onto the deck where is runs out of an antique hand pump into a 1/2 whiskey barrel that then empties into the upper pool. I will try to get a good photo of the set up. It is home to about 6 med/lg Koi and assortment of frogs/toads. Several water lilies and a cattail.
Like Red said it is so relaxing to sit and listen to the water and critters. Although having it right outside the BR the toads do court LOUDLY!

Thanks for the photo and tips! Your pond is beautiful! The sound of the water is one of the biggest reasons why I like the idea of a pond. We're quite use to the pond music from the natural pond next to our property. The one thing I'm a bit worried about with fish is dealing with raccoons. I love the half whiskey barrel idea... and I have a couple of those... hmm ... it could also go up by my deck and flow down to a bigger pond ... I won't be discussing this with DH, yet! Yes, I would love to see more of your set-up! Thanks!

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

We put in a pond at our last place. I bought some WalMart gold fish, and rescued some gold fish out of someone's old pool. When we had to sell our place, one fish was 8" long and they were so friendly. I loved that pond, and will have one again someday. Oh and hubby did all the work himself.

 

[Nyboy]

Raccoons like fish almost as much as chicken. I had a heron visit, it didn't leave till it ate every fish.Even if you don't want fish you should get a few,for mosquito controll. Most petshop have what are called feeder goldfish, for about 25 cents. There is a mosquito fish, my city was giving them out for free last year.

 

[happy acres]

No one has mentioned this yet, but ponds are really good for the environment too! Small animals, birds, and insects (think beneficial ones like bees) all use it as a water source. If you have a fountain /waterfall you have soothing sounds as well. Add plants, now you have a feast for eyes and nose. And the cooling effects of the water help tremendously to help combat the heat of summer. Added benefit? You don't have to mow it! In case you didn't get it, I vote pond!