Ponds do-it-yourself today equip many summer residents. It is necessary to begin such work with the choice of the style of the pond, in addition, you have to choose a place to bookmark this exterior element. Only after that you can proceed to the technical part.
Selection of style solutions
It is important not only to properly equip the pond, but also to make it harmonious in the garden. It is necessary to build on the architectural design of the main building and the layout of the garden. If there is a desire to make the pond even more picturesque, then it can be supplemented with a decorative stream, some masters even equip small waterfalls. Be sure to take care of the design of the coastline. In addition, we have to work on the blind area, which implies the need to comply with one key style decision with the concept of the landscape of the garden plot.
Equipping ponds with their own hands, it is necessary to focus on the smoothness and availability of plants. Design in some cases is performed in the Japanese style, then it involves the presence of boulders, which may have different dimensions. You can use conifers, but it is preferable to refuse multicolored herbs in this case. If you prefer the splendor and brightness of flowers, then you should choose a pond in the Chinese style. In this case, the emphasis is on variegated foliage. You can bring a curved bridge into the exterior. The pond can be made in the style of "natur garden", which provides for the use of exclusively local plants that grow in a particular region, and you will have to abandon exotic vegetation.
Shape selection
Do-it-yourself ponds can be made in different forms. So, the most concise of all is strict rectangular. Similar configurations will look great next to the building, emphasizing its shape. A perfectly rectangular pond looks in the space of the patio, which is especially true for nearby flower beds of regular shapes. If you want to get an unusual flavor, it is preferable to supplement the artificial pond with a path that will cross the water surface. It can be a bridge. It is recommended to lay out an artificial path, using stones for this. Quite often, tracks are laid using a terrace board.
Before you make a pond in the country with your own hands, it is worth considering that there may be more than one pond. If you use a whole cascade of oversized ponds, it is best to use the technique of flowing water from one bowl to another. If you want to place the pond in the front zone of the site, then for this part of the territory it is recommended to use round ponds. They will look great also in the case when there is a group of spreading trees nearby. It is round ponds that are most simple to implement, for this you will only have to use ready-made reinforced concrete rings that are perfectly capable of replacing wooden tubs, if possible, it is recommended to use plastic containers, and a completely budget option will allow you to use car tires in the process of creating.
Choosing the best place for the pond
Before you make a pond in the country with your own hands, you need to think about its location. It is necessary to be guided here by several factors. First of all, the place should not be constantly exposed to the sun, otherwise seasonal “blooming” cannot be avoided. For some period of the day, the pond should be located in the shade, this will eliminate the overly intensive reproduction of algae. But do not be zealous when choosing a shady place, since in this case the plants around the reservoir will not develop as required. It is important to consider that the water should be exposed to the sun for about five hours a day, in addition, the pond should be open from the south-west. You should not choose a place under the crowns of trees, as in the fall foliage will cause clogging of the surface of the water.
When doing water with your own hands, remember that surface area is important. Thus, the pond should not exceed 3% of the total area of the site. In favor of a smaller option, one can also say that for the arrangement in this case a smaller amount of materials will be spent, in addition, the labor costs will not be so impressive.
Features of underwater equipment
It is worth paying attention to the fact that the depth of the reservoir should preferably be divided into three steps, the first is a zone for planting coastal plants, the second will act as a shallow area for the nymphaea. This plant is a water lily. As for the third zone, it will be buried, it is necessary for wintering fish, if they are supposed to be bred. It is not necessary to make the pond excessively deep, it will only be necessary to prepare a pit, the depth of which is approximately 150-180 cm, which will overcome the freezing line of the soil. Thus, it will occupy approximately 1/5 of the reservoir.
Material selection
Before you begin to equip a pond on the site with your own hands, you need to think about the choice of materials. They should allow to make the design simple and in a short time. If you want the pond to last a long time, then you should choose concrete as the material that will form the basis. However, this technology will be the most expensive. In this case, it is not only to prepare the reinforcing cage, but also to install the formwork. The pond will turn out not so expensive if you use a plastic container purchased at the store. In order to ensure the circulation of water, a pump is mounted at the bottom of the structure, from which the liquid goes to the treatment filter and flows back.
A do-it-yourself pond on a site is most often equipped using a dense film. This option will allow you to work with the lowest possible cost.
Preparatory procedures for the arrangement of the pond
Getting started is worth creating a plan. Here it is important to think about what will act as an accent in the composition of the pond, some unusual stone, sculpture and even a tree can play its role. Next, it is necessary to transfer the contours of the reservoir to the soil surface in the territory where the work is supposed to be done. Sand is recommended for this. It is necessary to check whether the shores of the lake are on the same level. After that, you can begin to dig, involving the thorough preparation of the pit, which is dug out according to the outline of the future design. In the process, from time to time to measure the level of the coast. It is necessary to use a long level for this, but if there is no such master in the arsenal, then you should take a long board, putting on it a fifty-centimeter level.
Earthworks
If you decide to equip a pond in the country with your own hands, step by step it is necessary to think over what stages to be overcome. So, at the next stage, you need to prepare a pit, tearing it to the depth of the coastal tier. The next step will be marking, which will determine the place where the pond is buried at the next mark. As soon as the master manages to form a second tier, you can begin to lay a line for digging the buried part of the pond. Only after that you can save the necessary space from the last portion of the earth. It is very difficult to do such work, therefore it is preferable to use the services of specialists working on a mini-excavator.
If you decide to dig a pit yourself, then you need to be prepared for the fact that water will accumulate at its bottom. You can deal with this by using a pump. After it was possible to prepare the pit, with the help of a fishing line it is possible to measure its dimensions, taking into account the depth, to which allowances should be added on the sides of the bowl, equal to fifty centimeters. This will be needed in order to determine the dimensions of the film for purchase.
Pond lining
If you intend to equip a pond in the country with your own hands, step by step you need to think over what work should be done. At the next stage, the bottom of the bowl should be prepared, for this it is covered with a film. In order for the main film not to be damaged by the roots of plants, as well as stones, before laying it, it is necessary to lay a layer of geotextiles. To do this, you can use the old linoleum, and some use roofing material. Preparation may include backfilling of sand, which is then carefully rammed.
The film will become more elastic if it is laid in bright sunshine.
Edge trim
When making a pond with your own hands, a photo of which is presented in the article, you will have to work on the edge. Why, along the perimeter, it is necessary to prepare an auxiliary trench, this will first turn up and then fix the film. After the edges of the film are laid in a trench, they need to be sprinkled with rubble. The edge is firmly fixed with stone blocks, you can use pipes that are nailed to pegs. Further, the edge is decorated with stone and boulders. Now you can place the plants in containers and install them on curtains. The bottom should be lined with stones and rubble.
Water fill
Making small ponds with your own hands, the next step is to think about how to fill the water. In order to avoid stagnation of the liquid, it is preferable to use a stream. For this, the source of the stream needs to be raised above the level of the reservoir, and water will be supplied from the bowl by using a submersible pump.
Pump connection
Before you make a pond with your own hands, you must definitely consider the choice of equipment. After the pump is installed at the bottom, it is necessary to stretch the pipes to the source of the stream so that it is possible to connect to the filter. The cleaning filter must be pressure head.
Conclusion
Equipping a pond in the garden with your own hands (photos of examples are presented in the article), it is important to remember that during operation the lake will need to be prevented. Special tools will help prevent the occurrence and further spread of algae. Before the onset of winter, you need to pick up plants in a cool place at home. It is not worth using pellets that have the same diameter when decorating the shores of the coast, as this causes a boring view of the lake. Large stones should be stacked with small ones.
Before you make a pond with your own hands, a photo of which is worth considering even before starting work, you need to consider that if the pond is very deep, then the walls must be made vertical. It is not recommended to make the pond too deep if it is not intended to breed fish in it, as this will be more expensive, and will not affect the appearance in any way. If you decide to start working on the lake in your area, then you should not immediately begin to equip a large reservoir. It is preferable to first make a mini-pond. This will eliminate some errors. A pond, a pond with your own hands can be performed without outside help, but it will be difficult to do this. Well, if the budget includes funds for the use of special heavy equipment, this will greatly simplify the work of the home foreman.