I've got an odd space in my garden and I'd like to put a pond there.
– Red: fence is not mine
– orange: fence is mine
– blue: stone beach to provide wildlife exit
– black: labrador photo bomb
How can I get a pond in this space. I can't touch red fence and obviously cannot submerge it in water. What could I use to build a wall to protect the fences. Would like something easy as I dont fancy laying a brick wall. Not fussed on its final look as it'll be covered with plants. Anybody got any advice or previous experience?
by jtp_9888
16 Comments
Sorry but that’s way too small, by the time you have built walls you will have like a 2 inch wide pond?
Just find another, more suitable, use for the space. If it’s shady fill it with nice evergreen ferns
A small trough or shallow bucket of water might work. Surround with plants to hide the edges? Could look like a pond from a distance!
You could put one of those half barrel patio ponds there instead?
You have a couple of options IMO.
You could have a sunken pond using pond liner sheet (along with underlay). Allow the lip to be an inch lower than the bottom of the wooden part of the neighbour’s fence. even so you might get complaints that your pond is rotting the fence, but the wooden bits shouldn’t have been buried in the first place. He should have used base board.
Or you could buy one or two plastic/ stainless steel containers that are designed to hold water and not perish in the sun, and are just large enough to slot into the awkward space. Place them as partially raised ponds. Decorate or cover the sides so they look nice. Ensure there’s an inch or more of empty space between them and the fencing, so the air can circulate and keep the damp out.
My advice is don’t for more than one reason. If you want a water feature there is will need to be something along these lines,
https://preview.redd.it/v5qvgrzuncjf1.png?width=550&format=png&auto=webp&s=379ddd7d87b5f94532b611559cff749114f52755
I think it’s too small. Maybe a raised pond (any waterproof container would do ) or a water Feature. r/ wildlifeponds would give more advice/ ideas
Cut down your grey painted woodwork to make that space a little wider, with just enough room for the gate to still open enough, and put a deep old weathered stone trough in there.
Yeah, don’t. You’ll get mosquitos in your house it will have zero ecological benefit. Fish might eat the mosquitos, but they will probably die and leave you with a water butt, with mosquitos.
hi yes easy. you buy a 50 – 90cm window box (without holes) with a nice wide brim and partially sink it. push the ‘ramp’ up to the lip at that end. pretty alpine plants along the fence in tiny pots if you like. small solar pump fountain if you like. dwarf water lily, frogbit, and other dwarf plants. large stones in the end with the ramp to create an underwater ramp. done.
Definitely possible in a trough or old sink head to /r/wildlifeponds for some inspiration
You can always go with something a bit more vertiginous, like a waterfall of sorts? almost like a miniature cliff
Barrel is best answer beware water will expedite wood rot
As others have said sink several containers into the space leaving a little bit raised to stop fence rot. I have had a “mini-pond” for about 10 years. It gets loads of wildlife – frogs, tiny clams, etc and brings me so much joy. That’s not too small, but to keep it healthy you need plenty of oxygenating pond plants. I also have a solar fountain – contentious in the wildlife pond community as moving water is not suitable for some native wildlife, but helps oxygenate. Make sure you plant taller plants next to it to provide some, but not total, shade to stop total algae take-over. Enjoy! Here’s mine – dish at front = birdbath
https://preview.redd.it/wpeooxu5cdjf1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=21c821a4f00c967bfb656623ccfb8c17d5ea9f31
We’ve got a mini pond in an IKEA trofast tub in our garden.
We’ve got ramshorn snails, water slaters, and tadpoles in it.
You can get custom fibreglass ponds to fit it exactly, might be a bit spenny though.
Because it’s so thin, maybe better doing like a flowing river/waterfall feature?
I have a stone bird bath top with a solar fountain in it in the garden, wildlife love it and it takes up a 40cm circle. Like others have said, maybe consider a stone trough or plastic window trough without the holes. visit your garden centre for ideas.