Tag Archives: how to build a pond

Designing a Water Garden Feature- Types for Success

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by Kerri Bailey, The Pond Pad
1. Choosing your Water Feature. First step, ask your self:
  • What are your time requirements? If you don’t have a lot of time and don’t want any fish, then you may choose a “pond-less” waterfall or bubbling feature.
  • Do you have time to maintenance your water feature on a regular basis? Fish Ponds require more maintenance, time and effort. Achieving a balanced ecosystem takes time and some patience. Ponds evolve by cycling from day to day and season to season. You can also hire a professional for consultations, maintenance and cleaning when you need some extra help www.thepondpad.com
  • What is your budget? Figure out how much can you afford to spend on your feature for materials and installation. Pond-less and bubbling features typically cost less in materials and less time to install than a fish pond that has additional filtration and more materials.
  • Will you be installing this, or will you hire a contractor? If you choose to install your own water feature know your limitations. Bubbling features, smaller ponds and pond-less waterfalls can make great weekend projects. For larger, more challenging features you may choose to hire a professional. When shopping for pond installers, I suggest you get multiple bids from different contractors for comparison. Ask for pictures of their past work and client references www.alpinegrows.com
  •   What attracts you most- the water movement, sound, having fish and plants? If you primarily like water movement and sound, than choose a pond-less waterfall or bubbling feature. Fish need addition filtration and deeper water- goldfish can survive in smaller ponds with a depth of at least 1′ or deeper; koi do best in larger ponds that are least 3′ deep. Aquatic plants are versatile & can be incorporated into any size or type of water feature.

2. Choosing the Site for your Feature.

  • Choose an area where it can be seen as a focal point and appreciated regularly. Entry ways are great for bubbling features; backyards for ponds near a deck or patio.
  • Full sun (8 hours or more) breeds more algae. Partial sun (up to 6-7 hours) area is usually best.
  • Surrounding Landscape, Picking and choosing your battles. Keeping your feature clean of debris not only looks better, it cuts down on the waste that produces excess algae. Trees & shrubs drop leaves, needles, fruits and seeds at various times of the year, so keep in mind what plants are planted around your feature. Evergreen trees/shrubs shed all year, either with needle drop, cones and branches. Deciduous trees shed usually once a year in the fall. Choose plants that are the least “messy”.
  • Make sure you have an electrical outlet nearby.
  • Stay away from low areas that may be wet at anytime of the year. If water collects under your feature, it can “bubble up” your liner causing problems.

3. Design your Pond

  • Size matters. Design to scale with the rest of your landscape.
  • Maintenance made Easy. Think about how you will drain, clean and maintain your feature and incorporate that into your design.
  • Plumbing should be complete, yet not overcomplicated. Pumps can be installed with valves for adjustment and unions for disconnection.
  • Do research and get help when needed. Buying on the internet may be a little cheaper and convenient. Buying from your local pond supplier may be your best solution as they know what’s best for your area, are accountable for their information and accessible for your needs.

If you need help designing a water feature, please email me at thepondpad@gmail.com and if you are in the neighborhood stop by The Pond Pad inside Alpine Nursery located at 17518 79th Ave E, Puyallup, WA 98375

and visit http://www.alpinegrows.com/ for additional blogs on water gardening, construction and fish.

 

How to build a “Pond-Less” Water Fall

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by Kerri Bailey, The Pond Pad

1. Select your site, somewhere you can enjoy it.  Avoid installing a pond on the low side of the yard or where water collects (water can get under the liner and cause problems). Be mindful of the surrounding landscape-leaves from trees and shrubs that may collect in your pond in the fall or evergreens that may shed year round.

2. Mark out your basin with a garden hose or landscape paint.  Dig your hole 2-3 feet deep.  Build a berm using the excavated soil and add more if needed. Compact your berm area well, it will sink over time.

 

3. Add an underlayment or some other protection down prior to adding your basin liner piece.  To figure out your liner:  Length=Length  (Depth x 2) + 2  Width=Width (Depth x 2)+2  Place your pump vault / canyon in the lowest end of your basin.  Insert your pump inside the vault and connect your plumbing and hose.  The hose then goes to the top of the berm to be connected to the weir or biological filter.

 

4. Fill the basin with larger cobble stones graduating to smaller gravel near the top.  Hide your pipe along the outer edge, burying it with soil, then cover with liner.  Stair step your berm with a curve to it for multiple views and for a more natural look.

5. Install the waterfall / stream liner piece and over lap it with the basin.  You should have at least a 6 inch rise to avoid the water wicking under the liner creating a leak. Install the weir or biological filter inside the top of the berm. Attach the liner to the weir, use silicone to seal the faceplate. Place larger rocks or boulders along the curves of the waterfall.

6. Place the rest of your rocks along the sides and edges of your waterfall and basin area. Start to fill your basin with water. Finish building your waterfall and use waterfall foam sealing around the rocks.  This allows the water to go over the rocks for more sound and better water flow.  

7. Adding decorative rocks along the edges and on top of the gravel in the basin- large stones add character and break up the look of the of small rock. When the basin is full, plug in your pump and continue to fill with water until it is entirely full.

8. Add soil to your berm and install plants along the edges. Use plants with staggered bloom times for year round enjoyment.

 

 

Let us help you install your own waterfall visit The Pond Pad at Alpine Nursery in Puyallup, WA.  Don’t want to install it your self?  Alpine Nursery & Landscape can do it for you.  Find us at www.alpinegrows.com

 

 

 

Pond and Waterfall Calculations

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Figuring out what you need to build your pond is an important factor to determine it’s cost and efficiency.  The following guidelines should help you. Ask for help at thepondpad@gmail.com

                          How to Estimate Gallon Capacity

Circular Pond: R2 x 3.14 x Depth x 7.48 = Approx. Gal. R2= Radius x Radius (Radius is ½ of the total length)

Irregular /Rectangular Pond: Length x Width x Ave. Depth x 7.48= Approx.Gal.

Irregular Pond w/shelves: Length x Width x Depth x 7.48 x .66= Approx. Gal.

Streams: Length x Width x .25 (Depth) x 7.48= Approx.Gal.

How to Calculate Pond Liner Size.

Length= Length + (Depth x 2) + 2      Width= Width + (Depth x 2) + 2

Example: 8 x 10, 2′ deep L= 10′ + (2×2) + 2= 16′ W= 8′ + (2×2) + 2= 15′ 

                                    Electrical Conversions / Consumption

WATTS= Volts x Amps AMPS= Watts / Volts 1HP= 745.7 Watts

Approximate Electrical Cost to run a pump, etc.

Amps x Volts x 1000 x .10(KW per hour) x 24hrs x 30.4 days=$ / month

                           Aquatic Plant Calculations

Water Lilies: 1 per every 45-60 Sq F

Marginal Plants: 1 plant per every 3′-4′ shelf margin

Bog Plants: 1 plant for every 2′ of bog

 

                            Rock Calculations- For Gravel & Boulders

Boulders for Pond Basin:

Length x Width / 65 Tons of Boulders Use a 1:2:1 ratio

For every 1 Ton of 6”-12” rock; get 2 Tons of 12”-18” and 1 Ton of 18”-24” rock

½ Ton of 6”-12” of rock will cover 20 linear feet

1 Ton of 12”-18” of rock will cover 10 linear feet

1 Ton of 18”-24” rock will cover 5 linear feet

Boulders for Stream- For every 10′ of Stream, Use 3/4 Tons of rock using ratio above.

Boulders for Waterfall- Use 1 Ton of rock per each 3′-4′. Choose some larger stones for support, and some rocks with flat or interesting faces for the waterfall.

Gravel for Pond Basin- Use 40% total tons used for pond boulders calculations

Gravel for Streams- Use ½ Ton for every 10′ of stream

Pondless/ Disapearring Waterfall- Length x Width x Depth = Cubic feet

Use 90lbs of rock per each cubic foot; Use Ratio of: 40% 4”-6” Rock

(for the bottom of the basin) and 60% of 1 1/2” – 2” rock (for middle and top layer). Add decorative gravel / rock as a top dress.

These are guidelines to help you, always over estimate whenever possible. Any left over rock can be blended into your surrounding landscape.

www.alpinegrows.com         www.thepondpad.com