Ponds and things

[Paul D]

I have been given a old bath and intend to dig it in to make a small pond. Can anyone help with ideas of what to plant around it etc?

The area set aside is about 4 metres by 1.5 metres

Ta!

[Hazel at the Hill]

I have been given a old bath and intend to dig it in to make a small pond. Can anyone help with ideas of what to plant around it etc?

The area set aside is about 4 metres by 1.5 metres

Ta!

That sounds fab, Paul - I don't know anything about the planting, but can you make sure you put a ramp in it so that daft wildlife which decides to go for a swim can climb out again...

And welcome the Vine...

[Flummery]

And don't leave the plug out!

With a bath you could try the lovely yellow flag iris - a native plant, as is Mayblobs (king-cups) which I have in ponds in my garden. You will have to cull the iris every few years as they expand to fit the space available but they are just so gorgeous in the spring. I also like water forget-me-not and monkey flower (mimulus) but you'll need shallower water for those - you could maybe make a platform at one end?

I'm sure other folks have ideas too.

Welcome to the grrapevine - lovely place!

[Hans Mum]

& if frogs dont lay spawn in spring in your pond, beg some from a friendly pond owner and you'll have onsite slug control - i took some from the pond home to the lottie pond and have loads now

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the vine Paul D. Have fun with your bath pond. I have considered doing something like that when seeing baths offered on freecycle. Looking forward to seeing pics of how yours goes.

[Snadger]

I have an old bath next to a standpipe on my allotment. If I keep it topped up, during the summer I can just keep dipping the watering can into it which saves a lot of time waiting for the can to fill!

Just another use for an old bath!

Handy for washing my veg in as well!

[Paul D]

Reminder to self...buy a plug!!

I'd already thought of the ramp! I also intend to use the soil I dig out to create a sort of rockery around 2 sides to act as a wind break.

Because of the size of the area I want to create a small wild space but I would rather not just leave it to the weeds

[HeyWayne]

If memory serves me correctly - there's a bit in this months GYO mag about a pond, and I think it actually shows you how an old bath tub has been used. Can't recall if it mentions what is planted around it or not though I'm afraid.

I've thought about making a small pond on my plot - anyone know if it's the sort of thing you'd need to get cleared with the allotment association/society/head dude? (my plot is completely fencing in and gated - so little risk of oiks falling in for the health and safety conscious.)

Good luck with yours Paul, don't forget to picturegraph it for us!

[Paul D]

Tannks heywayne. GYO came through the door a while ago but I haven't got around to looking at it yet...

[lainey lou]

What a great idea Paul. How about using native plants and flowers, and those that will attract in beneficial insects. Scabious is lovely and will attract bees, butterflies and finches or how about agrimony, meadowsweet (good for hoverflies), musk mallow, oxeye daisy....oh the list goes on!

[Nicos]

I'd try and create a bit of shade to the water from the afternoon sun as with a lot of light and warmth you'll get a fair bit of algal growth which is not a good thing.

We made a pond on our previous lottie from a corner bath sunk into the ground!!
Well worth the effort!

[Paul Wagland]

Lots of good ideas here already. Do go for the marsh marigold though (Caltha palustris) as it's one of the earliest to flower, which is good for the first batch of insects. Something with tall upright stems is also good - dragonfly larvae love to climb up them when they're ready to 'go airborne'. Equisetum is a pretty one (horsetail, but not the bad kind!) or the flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus). Plant ground cover near to the pond too - small mammals and amphibians need to feel protected if they are to approach the water.

I don't think you need permission to build a pond - though probably best to ask. That said, the landowner insisted I built a fence around my pond as soon as they noticed it was there - despite almost every other plot having something similar with no fence! That's councils for you though.

[marialittlebzz]

try pennyroyal mint, it seems to reduce the proliferation of mosquitos, and it smells really nice !

[Paul D]

Thanks all. It's progressing well and although many of the plants won't be at their best for a while I will post a pic as soon as I can work out how to make it small enough for this site to allow the upload!!

[Paul D]

That sounds fab, Paul - I don't know anything about the planting, but can you make sure you put a ramp in it so that daft wildlife which decides to go for a swim can climb out again...

And welcome the Vine...

Does this include small children as well