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Post by ianr on Aug 5, 2021 5:30:55 GMT
After clearing an area the other week yesterday ground was broken once I'd removed the first few spade fulls I was lucky enough to be able to supervise as the daughter got stuck in. She's off work and get board easily:D Some monster roots from an old now gone holly took some cutting out but generally the digging was quite easy going 'or looked that way  ' the soil here is very fine with few stones and once down a couple of feet it's sandy. Levelling the preformed pond took some time and may need a little tweak today before completely back filling and topping up fortunately it's forecast rain later the water butt need a refill. Then it's make your mind up time as to what the surrounds going to look like, I'm leaning towards a pebble and a few rocks look with plants through the pebbles. It's something that will evolve over the next few months and more  I call it a pond but more of a puddle really 150L I'm sure the garden frog will love it  ian |
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Post by rowanberry on Aug 5, 2021 8:39:36 GMT
Take lots of photos! You'll be amazed at how it will evolve over time... I'm glad I took so many pics of ours, because it changed a lot over the years. It's interesting to keep a record of what plants worked, and which ones didn't. I certainly learned to rein in my enthusiasm for pond plants and now I keep it down to just three reliable ones. I'd avoid water soldiers if I was you... I had my pond end up looking something like this one summer: wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/W/WaterSoldier/WaterSoldier_2007_08_03_DaisyNook_canal_502p2.jpgThey are prolific! |
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Post by Tringa on Aug 5, 2021 12:55:42 GMT
Yes, do take some photos, Ian and post them here please.
This year the above the water surface plants(water mint, water lily, brooklime and water soldier) in our pond have spread dramatically and now cover almost all of the water surface. The wildlife doesn't seem to mind and the cover is so dense the duckweed is almost non-existent.
Dave
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Post by ianr on Aug 8, 2021 5:50:25 GMT
I didn't take any before pictures I knew I should have but it's coming on nicely topped it up yesterday it's settled a tad out of level but not so as you'll notice once it grows up. We've relocated some of the garden plants around it and put a few water plants in, more will be bought next week. I'm looking forward to getting the pebbles down and then waiting for it' first tenants to arrive ian |
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Post by aeshna5 on Aug 8, 2021 8:54:05 GMT
Will be a fascinating experience as things arrive. It's amazing how quickly plants take over!
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Post by ianr on Aug 9, 2021 12:05:21 GMT
The frog has landed just popping a few pebbles around the pond closely watched by the frog head just above the water ian |
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Post by ianr on Aug 11, 2021 10:06:40 GMT
The pond project is close to complete just a couple of plants to add 'being delivered today' I'm really quite pleased with and looking forward to watching it mature Mostly the plants and ornaments around it we had just rearranged I'm a tad worried about my hosta it's had to be seriously protected from slugs and snails and taking out of it's pot and planting it  we'll see. Pictures as promised ian  The pond by ian robinson, on Flickr  the pond by ian robinson, on Flickr |
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Post by rowanberry on Aug 12, 2021 20:26:09 GMT
It's looking really good... and yes, unfortunately hostas do tend to be very attractive to slugs. I love hostas, but had to give up on them- the only way to protect them seemed to be slug pellets, which I didn't think would be good for any frogs or newts that came in contact with them.
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Post by ianr on Aug 16, 2021 6:29:26 GMT
The frog had a friend over Saturday morning so 2 frogs now also lot of mosquito larva 'what do they eat' now need something to come and eat them ian |
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Post by ianr on Sept 6, 2021 6:53:18 GMT
Well so far I've seen 3 frogs at the same time in the pond and now the plants are growing a little noticed some duckweed on the surface yesterday brought in on the other plants no doubt guess I'll be scooping it out by the bucket full next year ian |
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' the soil here is very fine with few stones and once down a couple of feet it's sandy.
we'll see. Pictures as promised