New Pond.

[Darwin.]

After 17 hours total with the garden hose, it's full. I'll try getting another photo later when it's stopped with the snow/rain/hailstones.

The right hand side of it is the widest and deepest and it can be seen from my study, even though it's still very rough it was nice looking out at the rain falling into it. That might sound a bit odd but I love rivers, lakes and ponds and the sight or sound of rain hitting water relaxes me.

[Two_Sheds]

After 17 hours total with the garden hose, it's full. I'll try getting another photo later when it's stopped with the snow/rain/hailstones.

hahahahahaha

Your neighbours must think you're bonkers, out with the hosepipe in the rain

[Darwin.]

If I waited for the rain to fill it it'd take years. Hopefully now that I have it filled though the rain will keep it topped up.

One neighbour is in New York for Paddys day and the other one seems to love mowing the lawn when it rains so I reckon I'm safe enough.

[Two_Sheds]

If I waited for the rain to fill it it'd take years. .

I know, I was just joshing

[scorpius]

Wouldnt take forever here

[Darwin.]

I was just out measuring it, it's 10m at its longest point and 6m at its widest. A good bit of soill seems to have slid back in so the bottom is very loose and eneven and it's only 14" at the deeper end. I had left it at almost twice that depth down that end.

I'll need to go in with a shovel and lower the deep end at some stage, I'll be stoning parts of it so I'll do it around the same time.

Or is that deep enough for a wildlife pond that isn't getting any fish in it?

[Verinda]

wildlife ponds are supposed to be a minimum of about 8-12 inches, although that seems a bit shallow to me. I think the main thing is that if it ices over in winter the pond has to be deep anough so creatures at the bottom hibernating in the mud do not freeze.

It occurred to me that plants for ponds won't be on sale yet, not till about May maybe. I had a lot of trouble finding anywhere that sold pond plants last year...although we do live in the back of beyond! I ended up mail ordering plants from UK, but it wasn't very successful as quite a few of them died.

[Darwin.]

I was in the garden centre in Virginia earlier and he recommended these plants,

These look good.

Aponogetonaceae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I asked for these which I like and he can get them.

Typha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm not sure about these but he has them and said they'll be good,

Mimulus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Caltha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lysimachia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eupatorium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

He didn't mention prices yet as I said I was only getting ideas.

I asked about plants to put in a muchy, wet border to a stream that drains off the bog beside us and he said to get these, he'll have them in a month,

Reed (plant) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[dogsbody]

Darwin, 2ft - 1m is normally best for wildlife as it guarantees free water below any ice at a reasonable temperature. As for plants - natives are best and don't be tempted to put too many in to start with as they will multiply and spread - I know that to my cost, "weeding" a pond isn't all that easy!

Also a couple of water lillies might be an idea - it gives protection to the wildlife and shades some of the water.

I envy your size of pond mine is only 3m x 2m but at present has baout 15 frog "parties" going on with 50+ participants so you have plenty to look forward to (and I am in a suburban area).

Have fun!

[rustylady]

I asked about plants to put in a muchy, wet border to a stream that drains off the bog beside us

Darwin, what plants are growing there at the moment?

[Darwin.]

None at all. There are trees further in, I think they're Sally but nothing growing out my end. There were a few nettles and weeds growing above it before I levelled it out a bit. All that's along the side is rotted wood and sludge a few foot deep.

[Verinda]

Ooh lucky you having such a good garden centre. I'd also say to be careful of not having too many plants, they really do go mad spreading all over the place. Marsh marigolds and iris's are great as marginals and you can't beat a lily and a few oxyginating plants that grow over the surface.

Watch out for duckweed appearing that's what happened to me, I innocently thought I'd got another plant for free when it grew out of one of my lilies, there must have been a seedling in the roots. I wish i'd got rid of it then and there, it's in every pond now.

[Darwin.]

I probably wont get planting it all this year anyway. I'll lower the deep end for a start then step the sides, I've been told the step is where most plants will go.

I'll definitely be getting a lily and I'll definitely google duckweed and keep a sharp eye out for it.

I just did and it was exactly what I expected. The pond in the garden centre and the little stream are both destroyed with it. Maybe the seeds from it would be in what ever I bought so I may be safer getting my plants elsewhere.

[Darwin.]

Latest update is that after a week or so of good dry weather the pond has about 6 inches of water in it. I'm going to need to drain it, deepen it, line it, then I'll put soil back over the lining. I'll do that in the summer, too much on for now. I'm happy now I didn't jump in and start planting straight away.

[Urban]

You'l regret using tap water, should really of left it to nature to fill it up
especially if you got a stream nearby, and especially with all the rain we have had of late
it would of saved you a lot of trouble down the line, it can take years to get rid of all the nutrients in tap water, I'm speaking from first hand experience

as soon as it warms up a bit your pond will be like pea soup

only thing I can suggest is making sure you have way more plants than you think
you will need, hopefully they can take some of the nutrients out of the water

nm seen your last post, make sure it gets rain/river water when you fill it again