How to build a garden pond: follow our step-by-step guide, and how to start a pond
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It can be hard to know where to start if you want to get rid of your pond.A bit of guidance can go a long way when it comes to both of these processes.
If your pond has low water levels, you will need to add water.Depending on your site and circumstances, some will be better than others, and there are many ways to do this.
For small ponds, you can collect rain and add it to your pond for an inexpensive solution to a low pond water level.Adding barrels of water to your small pond can increase the water level, but this plan won't work for larger ponds.
If you live in an area that doesn't get a lot of rain, your pond will be susceptible to drying out easily.
If you decide to add water to your pond, be careful where it comes from.Plants and animals living in your pond are at risk of being contaminated with cleaning products or chemicals from the runoff from a roof.
If you want to fill your pond with water, you can run a hose in it until the water reaches your desired height.It is another cost-effective solution compared to bringing in commercial water suppliers.
Many fish are harmed by high levels of chlorine in tap waters.If you have living things in your pond, you can use a test to see if the water is safe for your fish or other animals.
If the water is too high in chlorine, you can buy a dechlorinating treatment to make it less hazardous.Even small amounts of elements such as chlorine can destroy an entire population of fish, which is frustrating for pond owners.
You can use a water conditioner to remove chlorine and other chemicals from your water.The best water conditioners can remove salt from water.
Ample time will allow many ponds to fill by themselves.The method of adding water to your pond is the least harmful and the most effective, although it can take a long time to see changes.
Natural sources of clean, uncontaminated water are perfect for adding to your pond if you have a freshwater well.The rocks underground are used to clean the water.
If you decide to let the pond fill on its own, it will not.If this is the case, your pond is likely not in a good spot in the ground and the area may not have very moist soil.
If the amount of water in your pond is small, you should consider getting rid of it or filling it with something else.
If you live in an area with ponds that are naturally occurring, your pond's water level will likely rise.
Adding water to your pond can be done manually, but ponds just don't seem to want to exist.Bringing in water from outside sources can help get a pond started, but it can also cause problems down the line.
In areas with little precipitation, ponds tend to dry up.This drying up is almost inevitable unless you want to continue shipping in water.
It is more difficult to have a successful pond in arid climates than it is in areas with heavy rain.Plants and animals living in your pond can be disrupted if you add water regularly.
Some ponds are prone to drying up while others are more likely to thrive.It is advisable to keep in mind the likelihood of your pond needing water from outside sources before building a pond or investing in a large project.
There are a few fundamental steps to take if you want to get rid of your pond.Other steps are needed to completely remove the pond without disturbing the flora and fauna in the surrounding area.
There are four main ways to drain the water from a small pond.Some of these options are preferable to others.
A submersible water pump is one of the easiest and most popular ways to remove water from a pond.In areas where the water is not wanted, this tool is very effective and efficient.
The amount of work that the pump itself has to do is reduced by the water pressure from your pond.This choice is easy to make for pumping water out of smaller ponds.
The pond pump mentioned earlier is the same as the solar-powered one you can use.It works very slowly and will work best for small ponds.
The solar-powered pump might be a good option for you if you don't need something that will remove water quickly.Since they use solar energy, some solar pumps have added features, such as aeration, and can save you money down the line.
If you own a small pond and want to drain it quickly, the water vacuum is a solid choice.If you want to drain your pond in the future, this tool will help you.
Although there are some less expensive products on the market, pond vacuums are not the best choice for one-time usage.These products are more cost-effective and will get the job done on smaller ponds than the pricier models.
If you want to drain your pond once and for all, a water vacuum is not the best option, unless you already have one on hand.If you are temporarily draining your pond for whatever reason and plan on cleaning it or further draining it down the line, you may want to consider a pond vacuum.
A Siphon Water hose and pump can be used to drain your small pond.Adding a pump to your water hose will allow you to manually suck water from your pond, and although it takes a bit of extra work, it is a cost-effective and foolproof way of draining water.
It works best on higher ponds, but also on those that are level with the ground.If you end up pumping all the water out of your pond, larger hand pumps will save you both time and effort.
If you want to get rid of your pond, you don't need to control how much or how little water you get from it.If you can spare some time or enjoy doing things manually, the siphon and pump is an option to consider.
The next step is to fill the hole that remains after the pond has been drained.Smaller holes are easy to fill, but larger holes may require more help.
You can fill the hole with clay if you have a small pond.The material can settle over time and lower up to a foot after a few months, so be sure to pack in the material before you finish the job.
If you want to lower the amount of material that settles over time, you can add rocks to the hole.The material you put on top of the rocks will fill in any gaps left from the original rocks.
Once the hole is full, you can add grass seeds to the top layer and pour water on it.You can either plant other plants or leave the dirt on the top.
Whether your pond was preventing you from building something else or you simply did not want to continue maintaining it, there are a variety of options to fill the space left.
If you don't want to integrate, grow grass in the dirt spot and turn it into a garden spot.If you decide to take this route, do not throw your pond water away if it is not contaminated, as you can use it to grow plants around your yard.
Even if you don't have a green thumb, fruits, vegetables, and flowers are great replacements for a pond.A rock garden can be created if you gather some rocks.
You can turn the area into a patio by adding a few chairs and creating a conversation area.Adding a chiminea or a campfire area would be great if you like fireplaces.
When you have free space in your yard, there are many options that are easy to create.Whatever you decide to do with your old pond area, it will probably be less work than a pond.
If you want to fill your pond with water, you can either drain it or add material to it.If you fill your pond with water, this means that you are keeping it and if you drain and fill it, it will be gone for good.
It is possible to drain small ponds and fill them with silt, but larger ponds need professional work.If you decide to fill your pond hole, draining it is a very important step; fortunately, there are many ways to do so.
Once you drain and fill your pond hole, you can decide what to do with it.A couple of ideas are to build a garden or transform the space into a small patio, but there is more to do.
Whatever you decide to do with your pond or pond hole, be sure to take the proper steps to minimize the risk of injuries to you or the plants and animals in the surrounding area.The pond transformation process will be enjoyable with this in mind.
I have a degree in construction engineering.I am at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog.Outside of family, I like to work on projects around the house and grill on my Big Green Egg.