How to make a decorative pond with your own hands in the country. DIY decorative pond - where to start? Decoration of the coastal zone

We tell you how to make a pond in the country with your own hands, what materials can be used for this. We consider the basic rules for decorating and arranging that will help make an artificial pond an excellent addition to an existing one. landscape design.

Source otomate.ru

Varieties of artificial reservoirs

Before you make a pond in the country, you should decide on the type of future reservoir. Depending on the functional purpose 4 types can be distinguished:

• small pond- serves as a decoration of the garden, a small part of the overall landscape composition. Active recreation near such a reservoir is not expected.
• Fish pond. Own reservoirs with bright fish are actively replacing small aquariums from the market. It can be reservoirs of absolutely any shape, the main thing is that the size is comfortable for the inhabitants. In such a pond you can run decorative types fish or fish suitable for fishing and subsequent consumption. Regardless of who will be bred in the pond, it is important to take care of the water filtration system and enrich it with oxygen.
• decorative pond- a deep reservoir, additional equipment with curbs, a bridge, special lighting.
• Swimming pond. Pools can also be attributed to varieties of artificial reservoirs. In addition to aesthetic functions, they allow you to cool off or swim, depending on the size.

Source www.lumos-me.ru

The functions of the pond in the future will determine the choice of location, shape, parameters. An important nuance for everyone who is interested in how to make a pond on the site is the choice of the style of such a reservoir. There are two main styles that have many modifications:

• Formal or regular. It provides for the construction of a rigidly defined shape (round, rectangular, square, oval, broken). Suitable for landscape design classical style, hi-tech, modern, minimalism.
• Landscape. It features an irregular coastline, a more natural appearance, does not limit the flight of design imagination.

The choice of style largely determines the terrain in your country house. If the surface is flat, this allows you to create a pond of any configuration. Differences and irregularities leave no other choice than to make an artificial pond with a waterfall, cascade or bridge.

Choosing a place for a reservoir and a form

If you have already wondered how to make a pond in the country with your own hands, then pay more attention to its future location. You should not make a reservoir for the sake of a reservoir, when you can create a real highlight in the overall landscape design.

Source landshaftdizajn.ru

When choosing a place for the location of the pond, it is worth considering several nuances:

1. Plan the pond in an open area, away from large trees. Fallen leaves will constantly clog the water.
2. Avoid the sunny side. The sun will constantly heat the water, dry up the pond, promote the development of bacteria. It is not recommended that the time of exposure to direct sunlight exceed 5-6 hours.
3. Provide for the possibility of expanding the reservoir if necessary in the future. If the size of the plot allows, then the owner will eventually want a bridge, a fountain and other decorative elements.

When determining the location, consider:

• plot size;
• relief;
• soil composition;
• groundwater level;
• power supply;
• visibility from the house or gazebo.

Source img.ukr.bio

The pond should be combined with other elements of the landscape composition, buildings and the general style of arranging the dacha. Having studied all the above parameters, you can determine how to dig a pond, what shape and size to give preference to.

Base selection

The market offers many ways to make a pond in the country with your own hands. For this, manufacturers offer various materials, although many suggest using improvised devices as a basis.

Each of the methods has its own advantages. Everyone decides for himself what to choose, based on the idea of ​​​​design, financial capabilities, and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe summer cottage.

Source www.ural.org

Tools you will need, regardless of the type of foundation:

• shovel;
• irrigation hose;
• cord (for marking);
• stakes;
• a wheelbarrow for the export of land;
• cleaning filter and compressor (for fish pond);
• pump (for pouring water or during the construction of fountains, the operation of cleaning filters);
• sterilizer (needed to purify water).

concrete base

A concrete bowl is one of the most expensive options, but guarantees a long service life of the reservoir. Most often, such a base is used for the construction of swimming pools in a summer cottage, or for the creation of artificial reservoirs in the northern regions due to its resistance to temperature extremes.

Source vremya-stroiki.net

Concrete allows you to create compositions of any shape and size. The main features of using such a framework:

• it is better to choose a sunny area remote from communications and trees;
• before you make a pond with your own hands, you need to dig a pit and make waterproofing;
• the concrete structure is reinforced with reinforcement;
• can be used to level the bottom surface cement mortar.

Concrete bowls are decorated with tiles, artificial stone, figurines of birds, animals.

Arrangement of a pond using a ready-made form

To simplify the work, ready-made forms made of PVC or fiberglass are used. They are easy to install, durable (up to 30 years of operation). Among the disadvantages is the difficulty of transporting large-sized molds. The best choice is a fiberglass mold with rubber base.

Source svoyabesedka.ru

How to make a pond in the country with your own hands step by step:

• After choosing a place and the finished form, you need to dig a foundation pit. To do this, the form is placed on the ground, the contour of its borders is marked. The pit should be 8-10 cm larger than the shape parameters.
• Installing the container in the prepared pit. Use the measuring rod to determine if it is level.
• Filling the mold with water.
• Fill the voids formed around with sand and tamp.

Before digging a pit with your own hands, you need to think over a sketch on paper, and then transfer it to the ground. Marking is more convenient to do with sand or a garden hose.

For decoration along the edges of the form, you can lay out stones or plant plants. This should be done after the container has completely shrunk. Often such a pond is additionally decorated with a fountain.

Arrangement of a reservoir using a film

One more modern material, which is often used to create an artificial reservoir of any shape and size, is a film. You can use different types of it - PVC, polymer, butyl rubber. The choice depends on the operating conditions: the service life of a polymer film - up to 10 years, butyl rubber - more than 50 years, even in conditions of constant frost or rocky surface of the site.

Source static.tildacdn.com

How to make such a small pond in the country with your own hands step by step:

• Digging a pit of the required shape. Depending on the size, this can be done with an excavator or with your own hands. It is important that the bank slope level is 45 ° C, and the minimum depth is 60-80 cm. If the parameters are less, this threatens the freezing of the reservoir in winter, excessive heating in summer, and the death of the flora and fauna of the mini-pond.
• To further secure the film along the perimeter of the pit, a ditch 15 cm deep is torn off.
• Leveling the bottom of the pit, cleaning it from branches, stones, roots that can damage the film. Additionally, it is recommended to sprinkle the surface with washed sand and cover with a geotextile.
• Covering the prepared pit with a film. The sheet must be laid freely, fixed along the edges with a brick.
• Fill with water and leave for a day so that the material takes the desired shape. Water must be supplied to the center of the pit without pressure.
• Cut off the excess film, leaving 20-25 cm under the blind area.

The calculation of the required film web is done as follows: add 2 depths and 1 meter of margin to the length and width of the pond. The edges of the film should extend 20-25 cm beyond the edge of the pond. When choosing a film, consider its thickness, composition, resistance to UV radiation, mechanical damage.

Source i2.wp.com

Choosing a PVC film, you need to understand the features of the application different colors:

• a black film covers the bottom, which makes it possible to observe the reflection of the sky on the surface of the reservoir;
• brown film makes the reservoir more realistic;
• blue or cream - ideal for a pond with fish and other inhabitants.

To make the bottom suitable for planting plants or for the purpose of additional protection against mechanical damage, the film is covered with pebbles or stones. This approach requires further cleaning of the pond due to rotting organic particles, which is why many people prefer to leave the film open.

You can decorate the coastline with tiles, stones, bricks. The main thing is that the material is laid on the cement mortar, and the width of the blind area is at least 60 cm.

Video description

How to make a pond with film in the video:

Pond from improvised materials

It is not always necessary to buy a ready-made form, a film or make a concrete base. There are several options for those who do not want to purchase special building and finishing materials, dig a huge pit.

Source mtdata.ru

As a base for an artificial pond, you can use:

• Old bathroom. The main feature in the preparation of the pit is to provide a recess at the location of the drain, fill it with pebbles. This will allow, if necessary, to drain water into the ground. You might as well not dig a hole at all. It is recommended to cover the bottom of the bathroom with varnish or waterproof paint.
• Taz. Does not require a large pit. It can be used as a base for a temporary artificial reservoir, or as a permanent decoration of the site.
• Tire- allows you to equip a small decorative element of landscape design. The tire is cut in half, placed in a prepared hole, covered with a polymer film.
• Pots, boxes, buckets, tin barrels and to create mini-ponds on the site. Insulation is also made with a polymer film. The option is suitable for growing aquatic plants.

Source www.ivd.ru

Even with a complete lack of budget, you can create a pond that will become a real decoration of your summer cottage.

Water Filtration and Care

To turn a pond into a complete compositional element, you need to take care of its decoration. If this is a pond with fish, you can not do without a filtration system.

For an artificial reservoir, made by hand in the country, you can use the simplest filtration system. This will require a small pumping station with sand filter. The system needs two pipes: one will discharge dirty water, the other will again supply purified water to the reservoir. If additional purification is needed, a small stream of sand can be made through which the filtered water will pass.

Proper water purification in artificial reservoirs Source static.tildacdn.com

Ready-made filtration kits can be purchased at stores. Detailed Instructions allow installation without the involvement of specialists.

As for care, for a small pond, a complete cleaning once a year is enough. Features of seasonal care:

• in the spring, with the help of a submersible pump, all the water is pumped out of the reservoir, the bottom is cleaned of dirt manually or using a special vacuum cleaner with a dirt filter. In April, fountains and waterfalls are launched;
• in summer, it is enough to remove weeds around the pond, purify the water from filamentous algae, add it in case of drying;
• in autumn, fallen leaves are collected with a net or ordinary rake (you can cover the pond with a special net that will protect water from pollution during a period of strong leaf fall);
• so that the water does not bloom, a vessel with charcoal located at the bottom of the pond will help.

How to clean the pond from duckweed and get rid of silt, mud, algae Source storage.kun.uz

The listed actions do not require a lot of effort, time and money, since the care is gradual.

Video description

How to make a pond filter with your own hands, see the video:

After finishing all the work on the arrangement, you can proceed to the stage of decoration. The decor can be stones, interesting figurines, figurines, small trees.

Depending on the size of the pond and the entire summer cottage, the reservoir can be supplemented:

• run fish;
• plant aquatic plants;
• make a bridge, a small island in the middle of a pond, a fountain, a waterfall;
• equip night lighting;
• put a bench, gazebo, deck chairs, barbecue;
• lay out the paths with gravel, stone;
• install a beautiful fence.

Source www.vodorobot.ru

Additional elements will allow you to turn an ordinary artificial pond into a full-fledged recreation area in your own garden. When choosing them, you should be guided by several rules:

1. It is better to choose stones of different sizes to make the composition more interesting. For safety reasons, do not use sharp stones.
2. You should not dig a deep pit with sheer walls, since it is very difficult to decorate it.
3. Container gardening is much more convenient.

Source artgrass.com.ua

The fantasy in decorating is limitless, it all depends on the personal preferences of the owner of the summer cottage, the available budget, and the general style of landscape design.

planting

Particular attention should be paid to planting aquatic plants. First you need to choose them correctly, since the further biological balance, self-regulating processes depend on this:

• for the first deep level, a tail, arrowhead is suitable;
• among floating plants, you can choose lilies, water hyacinths, water lilies. They will not only decorate the pond, but will also protect the water from the scorching sun;
• ferns, sedges, reeds, reeds are suitable for decorating the space around the pond;
• among flowering plants, plakun-grass, bergenia, lungwort, water iris, kupena and others are most suitable.

Source aquascapes.com

You can start planting plants immediately after starting the filtration system. It is much easier to take care of them in the future if you use special containers for planting, which are placed at the bottom of the pit.

Winter care for an artificial reservoir should be started long before the onset of frost. A special protective mesh will help protect water from excessive amounts of fallen leaves, dirt, and swamp gas accumulation. Remove nets after the first frost.

Key points of preparing an artificial pond for winter:

1. The reservoir should winter without equipment, filters, pumps, nozzles, lamps, they must be thoroughly cleaned and put into the room.
2. Small ponds freeze completely to the bottom, so you need to remove all plants and fish.
3. In order for reservoirs with a plastic bowl to endure frosts without deformation of the base, it is recommended to lower several bottles filled with sand to the bottom at the rate of 1 bottle per 1 square meter of reservoir.
4. You can start the reservoir if the night temperatures are above zero.

Source www.vse-dachi.com

Video description

For more on preparing the reservoir for winter, see this video:

Conclusion

Thus, if you understand the basic nuances of arranging a pond for a summer residence, then everyone can do it with their own hands. It does not take a lot of time, effort and money to create an excellent water recreation area near the house.

A decorative pond in the country is a unique element of landscape design, an object for pleasant contemplation. In addition, the pond will humidify the air and improve the illumination of the garden, thanks to the reflective surface of the water surface. If you are thinking about arranging a personal artificial pond, you immediately need to competently approach the choice of style, lighting and decorative elements.

Choosing a place for a reservoir

The choice of a place to create a reservoir depends on many factors: soil, landscape, relief, illumination, and the presence of vegetation should be taken into account.

Terrain and soil	When choosing a place for a future pond, it is better to stop at a site that remains wet for a long time after rain. It is obvious that somewhere in the layers of soil in this place there is clay or loam. If the choice of places is limited, then it is always better to choose low-lying areas.
illumination	The right choice of lighting will make it possible to avoid strong growth of algae and pond blooms. The ideal option is that at noon the shading reaches at least 40% of its area, and the total illumination reaches 6 hours.
Neighborhood with plants	The pond must be broken into open space, away from high vegetation, which will pollute its surface with leaves, seeds, rubbish.
Landscape	The pond should harmoniously fit into the landscape of the site. Often it settles down in front of the house or near the gazebo.

There are some specifics if the pond is planned to be equipped with live fish: for example, with koi. In this case, it will be important to provide them with the optimal water temperature, which depends on the breed of fish.

Earthworks and waterproofing works

You have chosen a place for the pond and determined what shape it will be. Now it's time to dig the pit. First, turning points and contours are marked with pegs. Then terraces come off, 30 cm deep and 20 cm wide. You can form several levels of terraces to place plants on them.

Now the main bowl is being dug out. The slope of the banks should be approximately 45 °C. The walls of the bowl should taper downwards to prevent soil shedding and reduce the load of the water mass. The minimum depth of the reservoir should not exceed 60-80 cm: a shallow reservoir will completely freeze in winter, and warm up strongly in summer, which will make it impossible to breed flora and fauna.

If waterproofing is planned with a film, a ditch about 15 cm deep is torn off to secure it along the perimeter. After the foundation pit is ready, its bottom is leveled, all stones and roots that can damage the film are removed. The surface is covered with clean washed sand for 5 cm, poured from above monolithic slab from concrete M150. After hardening, it is completely covered with a geotextile. All these measures will protect the waterproofing film from damage and extend its service life.

The next step will be waterproofing - laying butyl rubber or PVC maple. The size of the canvas is calculated from the total length of the pond and twice the depth. To fix the canvas along the edge, about half a meter of stock is enough. The sheet is laid out freely, securing the edges with bricks along the edge. To eliminate the negative impact of groundwater, a reliable drainage system, which is also included in the waterproofing system.

All of the above waterproofing works are carried out before concreting, if this form of waterproofing device is chosen. When creating small ponds, concrete work is first carried out, and then the concrete surface is treated in several layers with a mixture of Hydroshield.

Do-it-yourself concrete base device

Concrete work begins before waterproofing with the casting of a base plate made of concrete M150, which is designed to protect the basin of the reservoir from soil movements. On top of this plate, after it dries, waterproofing is laid.

After the base for the bowl was dug out, the drainage system was equipped, a sand and gravel cushion 20-30 cm thick was poured, concrete preparation 10 cm thick was poured, the walls of the pool were reinforced. This will require fittings A 12 mm. The rods are tied with knitting wire in the form of a mesh with cells of 20 x 20 cm.

Installation of mortgages is an important stage of work. Before the start of formwork work, mortgages are installed: bottom drain, nozzles, headlights, skimmers. Electrical is also being installed.
The formwork is installed with moisture-resistant plywood 15 mm thick and wooden supporting beams. High-quality formwork will help save material and other leveling agents.

Concreting is carried out with heavy concrete of high grades with plasticizers. The walls are vibrated so that no voids form. It is more convenient to fill the bowl in 2 steps - first the bottom, then the walls. To prevent water from penetrating through the cold seam of a leaky joint, a self-expanding bentonite cord is placed in the joint during pouring, which increases 6 times when exposed to water.

Alignment of the pool bowl is made with a plaster layer. With the help of plaster, you can achieve the perfect smoothness of the pool bowl. The plastered surface of the bowl does not have cracks, voids, depressions and other irregularities.

Devices for creating water effects and lighting

If the pond was originally planned with the use of water effects: fountains, cascades, jets, then an underground, waterproof electrical cable must be connected to it in advance. Lighting and pump can be connected to the same source.

What elements of energy design can be introduced into the design of a pond in the country:

• A closed-loop fountain, where a pump drives water from a reservoir into the fountain bowl, from where the water flows back into the reservoir. Subsequently, the water flows back into the reservoir.
• A cascade or waterfall is best placed on the shore, where it will be in harmony with the alpine slide.
• As a backlight, you can use lamps located in the water, above the water, and even built into the body of the fountain. Along the contour, you can install garden lamps that are recharged from the sun and give light at night.

Aquatic plants in design

There are many aquatic plants. In order for the design of the pond to look attractive and function normally, the following types of aquatic plants must be present in it:

• Oxygenerators are plants that release oxygen. They carry out biological purification of water and are food for fish (for example, for koi). These include marsh turcha, hornwort, spiked urt, water star.
• Floating plants serve to decorate the mirror of the pond. They can be placed in containers on underwater terraces. The most popular are duckweed, vodokras, azolla, thick-leaved eichornia.
• For shallow ponds, deep water plants are used in combination with floating plants. They are also planted in containers. The easiest to care for are the water lily, the capsule, the apogeton.
• Embankment plants are necessary to decorate the contours of the pond and to protect the water from overheating. Usually, low embankment plants are used for these purposes: fern, thuja, barberry, juniper, etc. Other plants planted in pots also look good.

Coastal and pond decoration

There are a lot of ways to design the coastline of a reservoir:

• the use of large stones of various shapes. Marble, granite, sandstone, quartzite, etc. are used as the main types of stone for decoration;
• construction of decks and bridges from logs;
• decoration of the coast with slabs or tiles;
• with a special decorative film, immediately covered with a layer of gravel and imitating rocky terrain.

Choosing a method of designing a reservoir, it is necessary to build on its size and shape. The size of the stone should be proportional to the pond itself. Large stones will be in harmony with a large reservoir, and small ones with a small one. IN ideal the shape of the stones should also be similar.

Large boulders are laid around the perimeter so that part of the stone hangs over the water. No need to make a continuous coastline of stones. In the edging of the reservoir, plants and stones should alternate in random order. After placing all the stones, they must be fixed in cement, deepening into the solution by a third of their height.

Reservoirs of strict geometric shapes are best edged with similar materials: tiles, logs, boards.

Stylistic design

The design of the pond can be different - the main thing is that it is combined with the landscape of the site. A variety of stylistic solutions allows you to create amazing compositions that demonstrate the beauty of the water element.

Chinese

The pond is an obligatory companion of Chinese gardens. Traditionally, a path of large boulders should lead to the Chinese pond, and the banks should smoothly descend into the water. A small pond was often thrown across the pond. wooden bridge, and next to it they put a gazebo for contemplation and tea drinking. Koi and lotuses are a typical Chinese pond element. The Chinese-style pond is decorated with bright and lush vegetation.

French

The French pond is an example of elegance and sophistication, and at the same time the severity of forms. It attracts with clear boundaries and a neat shape. As a rule, the coast french style rise above ground level. Fountains, cascades, steps and sculptures characterize this style.

Italian

A characteristic feature of the Italian pond is its symmetry. A reservoir of regular geometric shape, usually with decorative fountain or cascade type is at the head of the garden. Since Italian landscapes are regular, compositional, terraced, several levels can also be present in the pond. The banks are lined with many ornamental plants in terracotta pots, or in tubs and beautiful containers. Often Italian ponds are decorated with street lamps.

Japanese

The Japanese pond should be as natural as possible. You will never find rectangular ponds in nature, so there are none in Japanese style. A Japanese pond may have a waterfall, but not a fountain. In general, the art of creating a Japanese pond is similar to the creation of bonsai - everything is real, but in miniature. The pond should look like the ocean, a pebble on the shore - like a rock towering above the ocean. On the shore, you can put a sculpture with the image of a Buddha, a dragon, an animal or a bird, so that it is reflected in the water surface.

English

Pond in English style much easier to arrange, since it does not require clear boundaries. The lines of the English pond should be smooth. An English reservoir is usually created of a landscape type - trees and shrubs grow in abundance around it. English ponds look natural.

After arranging a pond at their summer cottage and landscaping, you will have to take care of the pond. What is included in the concept of care:

• In spring, the filters and the pump are usually switched on in mid-April. Immediately you need to carry out bottom cleaning and cleaning the surface of debris. At the same time annual plants are planted.
• Tropical plants are planted from June.
• Bottom cleaning should be regular and carried out with a bottom vacuum cleaner.
• In summer, it is imperative to remove debris from the surface of the water surface with a skimmer.
• In summer, thread-like algae must be removed. If oxygen generators do not have time to purify the water from green algae, you can use special chemicals - algaecides.
• Water lilies and irises need to be fed with fertilizers.
• All summer it is necessary to control the quality of water with special tests.
• In the fall, tropical plants are taken out of the pond, placed in containers with water, and wintered in a bright, frost-free room.
• In autumn, during the period of leaf fall, it will be more convenient to cover the surface of the pond with a fine mesh so that the yellow leaves do not sink to the bottom, and remove it by winter.
• In winter, the water from the pond drains. Water must be drained from all pipes and hoses. Remove and clean filters and pumps.

Conclusion

A pond on a personal summer cottage is prestigious, fashionable and simply beautiful. If it is quite troublesome to maintain a large deep pond with fish, then even the owner of a small plot can build a small pond with his own hands within the means and within the power.

How nice it is to sit by the pond on a fine sunny day, admire the water surface, relax, unwind. But what if there is no water nearby? Build it yourself on your site! This does not require huge financial influences. All the nuances of creating and arranging a small country pond will be discussed in our article.

Purpose

If you have decided to equip the landscape of your site and decided that you must have a pond in your yard, then before you start work, you need to determine what functionality the pond will have on your site.

According to their purpose, ponds can be divided into three types:

• decorative;
• fish pond;
• for swimming (pool).

Decorative

A decorative pond can be small, built solely to decorate any area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garden. Being a component of a landscape composition, it can be its finishing touch or an original addition to a design project.

Such a pond is created for an aesthetic purpose: it is pleasant to admire it while sitting in the garden.

Ornamental ponds can be larger: the pond itself is deeper, the compositions are larger, where bridges, fountains, streams, and lighting can serve as decor. In addition to a pleasant sight, such ponds are also a place to relax: in a warm summer day around the reservoir you can sit in sun loungers and get your dose of ultraviolet radiation.

For fish breeding

Who among us does not dream of watching the fish frolicking in our own pond and pleasing the eyes of the household? In addition to the decorative function, such a pond will also serve as an antidepressant: fish swimming in the pond are an excellent sedative and relaxing remedy.

Such a pond should be large enough for your fish to feel comfortable. It can be absolutely any form. But whoever you decide to breed - crucian carp or ducks - do not forget about the need to filter the water, as well as to enrich it with oxygen.

For swimming

A homemade swimming pond is a lifesaver on a hot summer day! The size of such a pool will depend on your wishes and on the possibilities of your site. If the size of the plot allows, then you can build a beautiful reservoir in your yard in which you will swim in the summer. You can also get by with a smaller pool, which will be no less pleasant just to plunge into to cool off on a hot day.

Style of artificial reservoir

Conventionally, ponds can be divided into two large main groups, each of which has many varieties:

• regular pond;
• landscape pond.

A regular pond is created using a ready-made form. You must have thought about landscape project, so you already have a good idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat a home pond should look like. Based on the wishes for the design of the pond, you can choose a suitable finished shape: they are not only regular geometric, but also more complex types: broken, asymmetric and so on.

A landscape pond differs from a regular one in that a ready-made form is not used in its construction. Therefore, any configuration can be given to it.

Dimensions and appearance reservoirs can also be different: you can build a small Japanese-style pond, the main advantage of which is simplicity, or you can give free rein to your imagination, not being limited to the standard round shape and create a large pond filled with various decorations.

How to make a pond with your own hands?

Let's assume that you have decided on the type and functionality of the pond. Now let's look at how to practically implement the conceived idea.

Where to begin?

Of course, you should start by determining the location and size of the future pond. The choice of location is very important. Still, a pond, even if it is functional, should please the eye of the owner, complement the landscape composition, fit perfectly into it, or even become an accent in your design project.

When choosing a place for a pond in the country, you should take into account not only and not so much its visual advantages, but a number of other factors that affect the choice of location:

• Plot size. It goes without saying that the size of the pond will be whatever the size of your garden will allow it to be.
• Site relief. Different terrain allows you to achieve different results: on a flat surface you can create a wonderful laconic pond, the water in which will please the eye with its smooth surface; uneven surface allows you to fantasize with fountains and waterfalls.

• Groundwater level and soil. You should consider these factors when determining pond depth (you may need specific expendable materials and additional forces).
• Lighting. It is preferable to find a pond in the shade: exposure to direct sunlight for a long time will increase the evaporation of water, and the microorganisms living in the water will become active, and the pond will lose all its attractiveness. To prevent this from happening, when choosing a place, pay attention to the light regime. This is especially true for small ponds and ponds with fish.
• Environment. Of course, the trees and shrubs surrounding the pond look very attractive, but do not forget that the foliage falling from these plants will pollute the pond, and the close proximity of tree roots can spoil the waterproofing.

• Power supply. Particular attention should be paid to the location if the pond is planned to be decorated with fountains or lighting in order to think over the electrification of this part of the summer cottage in advance.
• The prospect of expansion. You should always take this point into account, perhaps in the future you want to increase the pond itself or expand the recreation area near the reservoir, you want to fix or redo something.

To do this, be sure to leave a piece of empty space in the garden on one side of the pond.

• Consistency with other buildings: after all, a pond is part of the overall composition, so it is necessary to take into account the general appearance of the summer cottage, thinking through the design of the reservoir.
• And finally, the visual component. Of course, the pond should be pleasing to the eye, so its location must be arranged so that it can be seen from most places in the garden.

The size of the pond, of course, depends on the size of the site, but not only on this. The size of the reservoir also depends on your design project, in the end, just on your desire.

So, let's look at the main parameters:

• Dimensions. There are no specific recommendations regarding the area of ​​the pond. Some sources have information that the reservoir should be located on a plot up to approximately 10% of the entire garden area, but these are not fixed standards.
• Lenght and width. These parameters are taken into account based on the total size of the site. If you dig a hole for a pond with your own hands, then they also depend on your physical capabilities.
• Depth. Depends on the dimensions of the reservoir, its potential functionality, soil and your physical strength (again, if you dig the pit yourself).

• Zoning. Experts distinguish three parts:

1. coastal(100-300 mm): it contains plants growing in shallow water, and there is an entrance to the reservoir.
2. Shallow(300-900 mm): There is room for other deeper plants.
3. deep sea(from a meter and further): the area necessary for the habitat of fish. The larger and more diverse the living world of the reservoir, the greater part of the area is given to the deep-water zone. Also keep in mind: to winter period the fish in the pond did not freeze, Bottom part the pond should be located below the freezing level of the ground.

• Content. At Surprisingly, it is easier to take care of a large body of water than a small one.

What will be needed?

When you have decided on the location and size of the future reservoir, it is time to purchase materials. Now in the market of construction and finishing materials you can buy everything you need to equip the pond:

• One of the most costly options concrete pond. This reservoir will serve you for a long time, but consider the functionality of the future pond: if you are going to build a pool, then this option may be for you. the best choice, if not, explore the other options offered and choose the one that suits you best.

• plastic containers- an easier option. They come in different compositions (polyvinyl chloride or fiberglass), so their service life is also different: an average of 10 to 30 years. The work on installing the bowl is simple, so this option is quite convenient: you need to dig a hole, set the shape, fill the voids with sand. However, there are also disadvantages in this option: plastic molds are quite expensive, they also need especially careful transportation, they are not resistant to ultraviolet radiation, but they are resistant to frost.

The best choice in this case is a fiberglass mold with a rubber base.

The strongest and most reliable film is butyl rubber: it will last up to 50 years, it is also frost-resistant and very durable.

• You will also need the following materials and tools: a shovel, a hose for irrigation, a cord (for marking), stakes, a wheelbarrow for removing land, a cleaning filter (especially relevant for reservoirs where fish are bred), a pump (it creates the pressure necessary to fill in water, it will also be needed for construction of fountains and for the operation of cleaning filters), a sterilizer (needed to purify water), a compressor (aerator) (required for reservoirs in which fish live, as it saturates the water with oxygen).

Plan and calculations

So, you have thought about how your future pond will look like, found a suitable place for it, decided on the size, materials, but you still don’t know exactly how many materials you will need to build your dream pond. To find out, we will make calculations and, based on the size of the pond, calculate the optimal amount of materials needed for its construction.

Suppose we decide to use polyvinyl chloride film (PVC) as a basis, since this material is affordable, strong enough and easy to use, and also subject to repair.

PVC film comes in different colors: black, brown, blue (or cream):

• a black film will cover the bottom and allow you to observe the reflection of the sky on the surface of the reservoir;
• the brown film resembles the real bottom in color, which will make the reservoir more realistic;
• a light film (blue or cream) will allow you to see its inhabitants under water, for example, fish.

When buying a film, you should take into account the composition (PVC is stronger than, for example, polyethylene film) and thickness (we need a film whose thickness is more than half a millimeter).

It is also worth paying attention to the manufacturer, strength, UV resistance and the absence of toxic substances.

1. The length of the film is equal to the length of the reservoir + 2 depths of the reservoir + 400-500 mm, just in case.
2. The width of the film is equal to the width of the reservoir + 2 depths of the reservoir + 400-500 mm, just in case.

It is necessary to glue the film with glue bought in the same place, in a hardware store, for example, "Tangit" or adhesive tape.

After you understand the film, you have to make a sketch of your pond. First, draw a mini-sketch on paper, and then directly on the ground, indicating the depth and width of the tank, as well as the depth and width of the steps. You can write with a garden hose or sand - it's convenient.

Making: step by step guide

After all the preparatory stages have been successfully completed, you can proceed to the main actions:

1. We remove the top layer of soil.
2. We dig a hole.
3. We remove the earth.

It all sounds quite simple, but be careful, do not forget to take into account all the recesses necessary in the future (for plants, for steps, etc.), as well as the features of your reservoir (waterfall, pond, pool). When installing a pool, a large pit will have to be dug with an excavator, as in full-scale construction.

When the job is done, the foundation pit was dug, and the walls were well rammed, you can proceed to waterproofing. If you do not pay close attention to it, then water will begin to flow into the soil, and we do not need it at all. If you do it right, everything will turn out the way it should.

There are three ways to form a substrate on the bottom of your pond:

• The simplest and cheap way- fill the bottom with sand and stones. But the result of this method is short-lived: a few years and such a substrate will cease to function properly.
• Another way is to cover the bottom with geotextiles. The result, of course, is more durable, but the cost of this method is higher.
• This method is the most reliable: cover the bottom with PVC film. It is not very energy consuming, and the result is the most durable.

Let's take a closer look at the third option, as its result will allow us to enjoy the pond in our garden. long years. The main thing is to follow the instructions.

The fact that we have chosen the film method of waterproofing does not at all forbid us to fill the bottom with sand before laying the film: in this way we will protect the film from unnecessary damage by stones or roots. When laying, unfortunately, it will not work out completely without folds, but it is better to make one large fold than many small ones: it can then be pressed with stones or glued. The main thing is not to stretch the film, otherwise it will break under the weight of water.

To fix it, you need to dig an additional track, lay a film, fix it with rods and sprinkle stones on the track, and then lay the hole itself with them. When you have mastered the film, you should pour water into your hole. Do it carefully, without sudden pressure. You should act carefully: the film, although durable, can still deteriorate and tear from incorrect actions. After 1-2 days after filling with water, you can cut the film.

Now it is necessary to strengthen the shore so that the reservoir looks beautiful and neat. Let's pay attention to the soil: if it is black soil or clay, then vertical walls can be made, but if it is sand, then the walls should be inclined. It is believed that the ideal slope of the pond bank is 45°. With such a slope, the coast does not crumble, and during the freezing period, the ice does not stick out. Do not forget about the plants: since the planting depth of all plants is different, it is necessary to provide shelves for planting in advance.

It is possible to strengthen gentle banks with a geogrid or geomat, and steep banks with gabions, piles and retaining walls. By the way, there is an option for those who are not yet ready for such large-scale work on their site, but still want to be the owner of a small island of happiness in their garden. A pond can be built from very improvised means. For example, from a tire.

The pit will be needed much less deep, the film will need much less, and in the end there will be the same amount of joy. The creation process is extremely simple: you need to dig a hole according to the size of the tire, insert it into this recess, lay a film on the bottom, pour water, decorate the outside with stones.

Of course, the pond will be very small, but if it is properly decorated, it will please the eye no worse than a full-fledged reservoir.

What plants to plant?

Of course, in order for your pond to look impressive and attractive, it needs to be decorated accordingly: decorate with plants. In order for your pond to be closest in resemblance to a natural reservoir, you need to do landscaping.

We offer several options:

• You can plant plants at the bottom of your pond. It is better to use local plants: they will take root faster.

• You can also plant various plants in some kind of container., for example, in a barrel and put around the pond. At the same time, you can plant whatever your heart desires, choosing containers to your liking and, in accordance with the style of the pond and garden composition as a whole: it will look impressive, while not visually separating from the overall picture. In addition, just by replacing the container, you can easily change appearance the whole environment, if suddenly the former view is boring.

• The highlight of your design project can be a decoration in the middle of the pond. Place a beautiful stone in the middle of the pond, and place a pot with some interesting plant on it, or decorate it with some figure, for example, a mermaid. Such a move will certainly attract the attention of others.

• To keep the water in your pond clean for as long as possible, you need to protect it from leaves, branches and insects falling from trees with a special mesh design.
• If, nevertheless, the leaves are in the water, a net will help you: just remove unnecessary debris from the water so that it stays clean for as long as possible, and the pond delights you with its beauty. But the net will not help get rid of debris from the bottom of the reservoir. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to clean the pond with a water purifier.

Recreation in the country is an opportunity to dedicate yourself to nature, relax, forgetting at least for a while about city everyday life, and this is best done on the shore of your own pond. It all depends on your imagination and the size of the suburban area. Is it possible to make a pond in the country with your own hands? Of course. Follow the instructions below and you'll be fine.

Man-made pond in the country

Of course, I want to spend time in a well-equipped dacha, on the territory of which landscaping and complete landscaping are done - after all, resting in a dacha, which is a rickety house with a small courtyard overgrown with weeds and thistles, will definitely not contribute to peace of mind.

At the same time, a green, well-groomed lawn and neat trees, flower beds and artificial reservoirs will turn the territory of the cottage into a real earthly paradise. And ornamental ponds will take not the last place in it. Own pond in the country can be of almost any size - from a couple of square meters to a pond of a large area.

First of all, you need to understand the very purpose of an ornamental pond: unlike pools, the water in which must be subjected to special treatment (chlorination, ozonation, etc.), a garden pond will require the creation of a certain biological balance. Otherwise, the water in it will bloom and become cloudy, the plants will wither and they will take a fancy to it, except that midges and frogs are a dubious pleasure for the owner of the pond.

Types of garden ponds

Garden ponds having a geometrically regular shape - rectangular, round, diamond-shaped, etc. - look especially good in suburban areas, landscaped in the correct geometry (smooth lines, ideal shapes). As a rule, such decorative reservoirs are edged along the edges with tiled stone (artificial or natural), they are arranged near buildings, thereby emphasizing straight lines.

Ponds with the correct geometry can be made above ground level: this type of pond minimizes earthwork during their construction, simplifies their care, and reduces the risk of small children falling into it. The sides of such a pond protruding above the ground are suitable for a flower garden, you can install seats on them, and arrange a fountain in the pond itself.

Artificial ponds imitating natural reservoirs - they are characterized by rounded shapes and a coastline of arbitrary shape. Plants that are natural for marsh flora are planted along their banks. A gentle slope under the water, covered with medium-sized cobblestones or pebbles - landscape designers usually place this type of pond in the far part of the garden, near the lawn. Such natural ponds are especially successful in arbitrary garden improvement.

Choosing the size and location of the garden pond

Of course, the size of an artificial pond directly depends on the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe summer cottage. If we talk about building a pond ecosystem, then large ponds are more convenient for this. Balancing vegetation and aquatic life in a large body of water is easier than in a small one, and larger ponds are easier to maintain. The smaller the artificial reservoir, the more often it will have to be cleaned - the lack of space for the inhabitants of the reservoir will not allow establishing a full-fledged ecological balance.

The place for the future pond is chosen from the point of view of aesthetics, the placement of an artificial reservoir near the main building is especially successful - it will be possible to observe the water surface from the windows or sitting in an armchair on the terrace.

The best place for a pond would be an open space that is not subject to strong winds - a strong wind will prevent the development of tall plants on the shore of the reservoir. It is necessary to calculate the illumination of the pond: the direct rays of the sun should not illuminate the reservoir for more than 10 hours (6 hours of illumination is optimal). With greater illumination in stagnant water conditions, the active development of aquatic bacteria and green algae (for example, mud) will begin. At the same time, in those parts of the pond where the illumination is insufficient (shading), the growth and development of aquatic plants will slow down.

The proximity of an artificial reservoir to the crowns of trees will lead to its pollution during seasonal leaf fall, in addition, root system trees can damage the pond bed, breaking through the underlying film or displacing the edges of the bath.

Owners who plan to provide lighting for a pond at night, or a pump for a waterfall cascade or fountain, should consider the location of the pond from the standpoint of power supply.

Artificial Pond - Materials

A man-made reservoir can be made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or butyl rubber film, use a ready-made container made of reinforced plastic or fiberglass, or create a reinforced concrete pond bowl.

In terms of the speed of creation, the first place is occupied by purchased containers made of fiberglass - all that is required is to dig a deep enough pit for them and place the container in it on a prepared and compacted sand cushion (it resembles a plastic basin of large size and, often, a bizarre shape).

True, it will not be possible to arrange a large fiberglass pond - serial production tanks, as a rule, have a small quadrature (usually an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 4 m 2, depth - 500-800 mm). Larger fiberglass tanks are intended more for swimming pools (above 10 m2) and are therefore more expensive. However, a small pond made of plastic or fiberglass for small suburban areas is quite suitable. The cost depends on the volume, shape and color.

A large pond and a “free” (i.e., not tied to any standard forms) layout can be arranged using a film (PVC or butyl rubber) - the film is needed to waterproof the reservoir. The cost of such material is low, in retail outlets it is widely represented both in terms of quality and manufacturers.

Do not use ordinary polyethylene in creating an artificial reservoir, it will serve you for a maximum of 2 years, then its density will be broken under the influence of physical and temperature influences.

PVC film or butyl rubber is suitable for creating a garden pond. The first material has sufficient strength and elasticity, has a high-quality structure - the reservoir formed by it will last at least 15 years. However, the undoubted leader in the field waterproofing materials for artificial ponds is butyl rubber - it has high resistance to sunlight, high and low temperatures, and is not prone to cracking. Among other materials, butyl rubber has only one drawback - it is not cheap, but its service life exceeds 50 years.

If we are talking about complete reliability and durability, then only one material remains - reinforced concrete. Unlike pond bowls formed by film or cast materials, you can walk along the bottom of a concrete reservoir without fear - it is difficult to damage such a bottom. However, it is more difficult to work with concrete, full compliance with the technology (welding of reinforcement, manufacturing of formwork), double waterproofing (on both sides of the concrete casting, both outside and inside) will be required - to protect against groundwater, i.e. the cost of such work will be the highest. It is possible to use special grade concrete that is not exposed to water, but it will cost even more and its use will require strict adherence to casting technologies.

Let's summarize the characteristics of materials for artificial ponds

The main advantages of film waterproofing: the ability to form the required shape, change the shape of the reservoir bowl in the future, ease of repair (if the film breaks). Minus: in winter, water from the reservoir will have to be poured out, if it freezes and expands, it will inevitably tear the film.

Advantages of reinforced concrete: high reliability, independence from external climatic factors (subject to the concreting technology), resistance to physical influences (stone falling, rodents, etc.). Cons: high labor intensity, extremely difficult rework. As a rule, the creation of artificial ponds from concrete is not popular, since the film is much easier to use. But if it is planned to build bridges over a reservoir and sculptural compositions on its banks, reinforced concrete would be the best choice.

When creating garden ponds, it is necessary to make sure that the selected materials are completely non-toxic, otherwise the fish and plants in the pond will not survive.

Pond in the garden based on a finished (rigid) container

When choosing a rigid container for creating a pond with a total area of ​​​​up to 4 m 2, it is worth stopping at a fiberglass or plastic bath. The minimum depth of such a tank should be about 800 mm - the water in such a pond will warm up evenly in summer, and in winter it will not freeze to the bottom.

A ready-made container as a basis for a garden pond will allow you not to engage in cutting and fixing (activities performed when installing the film base of the pond), there is no need to build a general configuration - everything has already been done, the container is equipped with terraces for planting aquatic plants. The choice should be taken carefully - it will not be possible to change it.

Ready-made bathtubs for the pond are sufficiently durable, they are not afraid of winter frosts. And yet, when transporting the pond tank to the site, it must be handled carefully and not stepped on. The wall thickness of such a tank is 3 mm, and in case of mechanical damage, cracks will appear, which will be difficult to seal.

Cheap plastic bathtubs have the shortest service life - they are gradually destroyed by sunlight, and the surface of such containers cracks when bent. Unlike them, tanks made of reinforced plastic are more resistant to ultraviolet radiation, have a greater margin of safety (they are more plastic) - the service life of such tanks for ponds is up to 20 years.

The best and therefore the most expensive are fiberglass tanks with a rubber backing. A reservoir based on them will last more than 30 years and, unlike plastic containers, they can be repaired without damage. general characteristics. Fiberglass is the most resistant to low / high temperatures and exposure to sunlight, it has high environmental performance and is completely safe for the flora and fauna of an artificial reservoir.

In addition to quality characteristics, fiberglass containers also have an aesthetic appeal: they can be of three colors - black, brown and green; applied to their edges decorative coating imitating natural materials, which makes it easier to give artificial pond natural look.

Fiberglass bathtubs are made not only for ponds, but also for streams. Containers for imitating a stream have an outwardly “stone” texture and easily fit into the overall landscape, and a multi-stage shape allows you to conveniently plant aquatic plants. The bed of such a stream is fenced on the sides with protrusions that protect the roots of plants from washing out.

Artificial reservoir with film waterproofing

The laying of flexible coatings is carried out both in a prepared pit and between erected walls raised above ground level. Such a decision in creating a pond in the country is justified if the estimated size of the future reservoir is larger than the parameters of the rigid shells offered by specialized stores. The film coating is also used when creating reservoirs of complex shape - the use of a waterproofing film will greatly facilitate this task.

To create a reservoir, you can use polyethylene (thickness 500 microns), laid in two layers, among other film coatings, its cost is the lowest. Although the characteristics of polyethylene are more than minimal: it is easy to tear (by sharp stones, animal claws, etc.), it becomes brittle under the influence of the sun, and if damaged, it is practically impossible to repair. Polyethylene coating will provide waterproofing of the reservoir for no more than 5 years (on average - 3 years). This is rather a temporary solution for those summer residents who do not like constancy - after three years there is an excellent reason to change the place of the pond.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coating will cost more than polyethylene, but it will also last longer - on average, about 8-10 years. Manufacturers offer two types of PVC coating: the usual two-layer and reinforced, in which a woven mesh is laid between the layers of the film (for strength). In general, such a coating has all the disadvantages of polyethylene. Solar ultraviolet damages the strength of the PVC film, it is easy to perforate. But, unlike polyethylene film, damage to PVC film can be repaired using a special repair kit. In addition, this film stretches better - after filling the reservoir with water, most of the folds will stretch and even out.

The best pond film is made from butyl rubber - this material is durable (service life of about 50 years), strong and indestructible by ultraviolet light. Butyl rubber film comes in three colors: black, stone-like and charcoal. If the soil in your area contains a large number of stones, or the construction of a reservoir with a high load on the base (great depth and considerable width of the pond) is planned, choose a butyl rubber coating and you will not be mistaken.

Characteristics of butyl rubber coating: high plasticity, ease of installation, regardless of the season and air temperature. Low temperatures do not affect this coating, so it is not necessary to drain water from the reservoir for the winter.

Film for the pond - which color is better

The color of the film will seriously affect the overall appearance of the reservoir. The black bottom will turn the reservoir into a kind of mirror, reflections of the sky and clouds, plants planted along the coastline will be clearly visible in it. A film of black or brown color will serve as a good imitation of natural bottom soil. A cream or blue bottom will look unnatural, but colorful fish look great against such a background. If you choose a grayish or bluish tint, the pond will look like a swimming pool. Choose the color of the film depending on the functions of the reservoir: if it is a pond - black or brown, if the pool - white or blue.

Create a decorative pond using a film

We draw the contour of the future pond at the selected place and determine the required film size. The calculation of the film coating is done as follows: the width and length of the canvas will be equal to the sum consisting of the size of the width (in the second case, the length) of the future reservoir, twice the size of the depth and 600 mm allowance for fixing the film along the edges of the pond.

It must be taken into account that the standard parameters of a roll of butyl rubber film are as follows: width from 4.5 to 15.25 m (more precisely, then 4.5; 6.1; 9.15; 12.20 and 15.25 m) , length - 20-25 linear meters. Sometimes it is easier to make adjustments to the parameters of the future pond than to glue pieces of film together. If there is a need to glue a film for a pond, this is quite possible, only special adhesives and adhesive tape produced by the same manufacturer as the selected film will be required. To obtain a high-quality seam when gluing a butyl rubber film, use mastic followed by hot vulcanization.

In addition to the waterproofing film, when forming the bowl of the reservoir, geotextiles will be required (optimal density - 350 g / m 2) - for the insulating coating, it will act as a protective layer (from the roots of trees, teeth and claws of animals, sharp stones, etc.).

To create a reservoir with your own hands, you will need: sand (for the underlying layer), a spirit level (building level), a coil of cord (or twine for marking), wooden pegs, a garden hose, shovels.

We create a pit of a reservoir

First of all, evaluate the future shape of the reservoir, for this with a hose of sufficient length and pegs - change the position of the hose fragments until the shape of the reservoir bowl suits you. When planning a free-form pond, try to get rounded lines without sharp corners - such a pond will look better. In the process of planning the pond, mark out terraces for pond plants along its edges, they are performed at a depth of 300 mm.

Having decided on the shape of the reservoir and completing the markup, proceed to work on the pit. First, three-hundred-millimeter terraces come off (after filling the reservoir, the distance from the terrace to the water level will be about 200 mm). The banks of the future pond should have a slope of approximately 45o. In the process of creating a pit, try to remove all plant roots and stones that come across to you. Having completed work on the terraces, check the horizontality of the banks using a board with a spirit level laid on it.

The next stage of work is the formation of the main bowl of the reservoir, its deep part. Remember: the minimum required depth of the reservoir is 600 mm. Such a reservoir will not freeze completely in winter, and in summer pond fish will be able to find shelter at such a depth from the scorching rays of the sun. Then, along the coastline, it is necessary to dig a ledge with a depth of 60-70 mm, for the subsequent laying of a blind area of ​​tiles, bricks, natural stone or laying turf.

We form a drainage layer and waterproofing

Having completed work on the pit, it is necessary to pour washed sand over its entire area with a layer of 30-50 mm - the sand is placed on the bottom, banks and terraces, carefully rammed. After making sure that the sand drainage is done well enough (no unevenness), place a geotextile on top to isolate the film coating from damage.

The next step will be laying the prepared sheet of film. Do not try to align the film along the contours of the reservoir - let it sag over it - lay it loosely. Align the sheet of film along the banks, securing the edges with a sufficient number of bricks (stones).

Connect a garden hose to a water source and feed it in the center of the film laid over the pit - it will gradually sit down, taking the shape of a reservoir. Watch for drawdown by moving holding stones along the banks. After the artificial reservoir is completely filled, you need to wait a day, then cut off the excess film, leaving a margin of 250-300 mm along its edges (a blind area will be laid on them). Secure the edges around the perimeter of the pond using wooden wedges or wire arcs.

The next step is laying the blind area. Its width must be at least 600 mm, it is made of tiles, bricks or natural stone. The blind area must be laid on a cement mortar - if it is laid only on a pillow of sand, a person who steps on the tile can move down into the pond with it.

Summer residents planning a waterfall or fountain in an artificial reservoir need to lay and close the blind area with a water supply hose before laying the tiles on the cement mortar. The same should be done if there is a need for power supply to the pond (underwater floodlights, water pumps), passing a plastic or copper tube for the subsequent pulling of an electric cable.

Creation of a reservoir raised above ground level

For such a reservoir, at least one retaining wall is required. The foundation for such a reservoir is required, otherwise the pond bowl may be distorted.

The construction of a reservoir above ground level is carried out in the same way as the construction of an ordinary garden wall: the place and parameters of the future pond are determined, trenches are dug out for laying the foundation. After casting, the foundation must harden within two full days.

When creating a body of water that is half buried in the ground, dig a pit in the deepest part, then form terraces for planting (roughly at the level of the concrete foundation). Then carefully remove all the stones and lay a pillow of sand on the bottom of the pit.

Build retaining walls around the perimeter of the pond, carefully tracking the position of each row. Before laying the waterproofing film, wait 48 hours - the wall mortar must completely harden.

Lay the film in such a way that its edges protrude evenly from all sides of the supporting wall. If your future pond is rectangular or square, form folds from the film in the form of a neat accordion at the inner corners. The film panel must be temporarily pressed on top of the supporting walls with bricks.

Gradually fill the film hanging over the pond with water by moving or removing the pressing stones on the supporting walls, aligning the corner folds. After the reservoir is completely filled, cut off the excess film along the edges, keeping the indentation at half the size of the supporting wall (it will be covered with stones when forming the ridge). Remove water from the reservoir. To protect the edges of the film, we install ridge stones. The pond is ready - fill it with water, place plants and fish.

Decorating a country pond

In itself, a garden pond is not bad - you can put a gazebo near the water and relax on a hot afternoon in the shade and coolness, watching the game of fish in its depths. But you can turn it into something enchanting and colorful - fountains created by a system of pumps and underwater lighting will help here.

Pond pumps are produced in two versions: surface and underwater. Let's say you want a two-meter jet of water to come out of the pond - you need an underwater pump. If a two-meter fountain is not enough, choose a surface pump and you will be provided with a really high column of water.

The underwater pump is mounted at the bottom of the pond: first, a stone plinth is placed, the pump is placed on it and closed from above with a ceramic casing made under natural stone. A complete set (pump, plinth and casing) can be purchased from one retailer.

How an underwater pump works: it draws water from the bottom of the reservoir and sweeps it over the water surface with the help of special nozzles. If a fountain or waterfall is installed separately from a reservoir, water is supplied through supply pipes. Some models of pumps can supply water for both a waterfall and a fountain at the same time. The pump is powered by an electrical cable with waterproof insulation.

The surface pump is installed in a disguised brick chamber on the shore of a reservoir, not far from a fountain or waterfall. Water is supplied to the pump from the reservoir through a pipe with a mandatory filter at the inlet. The surface pump needs more technical equipment than the underwater pump - a drain system, filters (on the suction pipe), a suction system. Otherwise it will overheat.

The greatest effect from the work of fountains is achieved in reservoirs of the correct form. Fountains are placed in the center of the reservoir in such a way that the water thrown out by them does not fall on coastal plants.

The type of fountain and the height of the jet ejection depend on the type of nozzle installed on the submersible pump. The jet of water itself, depending on the installed nozzle, may have the shape of, say, a bell or a beating key. A boring fountain tube can be decorated with fiberglass, stone, bronze or ceramic cladding. If a cladding is used, then the water nozzle is attached to the brass connector with which the cladding is equipped. The cladding body is exposed either to the bottom of the reservoir, or to a special stand.

Lighting will help create a magical atmosphere in the evening and at night. Lighting equipment for private reservoirs is designed for power supply at 12 V. The power of halogen lamps in lamps can be from 5 to 75 W - it is enough for bright lighting, because the luminous flux of such lamps is 3 times higher than household ones.

Mini spotlights are installed on a special support or on a fountain nozzle, highlighting the scattered spray of water. There are floating lanterns, they consist of a light bulb placed in a sealed ball of glass. They can be lowered to a certain depth in a reservoir, suspended on a load, or installed at the bottom. Thanks to the equipping of the spotlights with colored light filters and rotary devices, the night pond will take on a simply stunning look.

How to take care of the pond

The natural balance of the reservoir will be formed quite quickly. To maintain it, it is necessary to remove all wind-blown debris and fallen leaves before this mass falls to the bottom and begins to decompose. It is possible that the bottom of the reservoir will have to be cleaned with a net every autumn, eliminating bottom debris.

To protect the water area of ​​the pond from falling leaves, you can use a fine-mesh net - it should be stretched over the mirror of the pond before autumn leaf fall and removed closer to winter. Or use a skimmer - a special pump for collecting floating debris.

To clean the bottom, a bottom vacuum cleaner is useful - its design resembles a conventional one, but there is no filter in it. Water from the bottom of the pond is sucked into the device, as the chamber fills up, the device automatically turns off and the container with mud must be emptied into the drainage system.

If you settled in your ornamental pond fish, they need oxygen. If it is lacking, use aerator pumps - they resemble aquarium ones, only larger and more powerful.

The main problem facing the owners of reservoirs with the beginning of the warm season is that the water in it becomes green, which is caused by the active reproduction of protozoan algae. Most often, this problem is faced by owners of small reservoirs with a shallow depth and therefore quickly warmed up by the sun's rays. Water overheating can be prevented by using aquatic plants with large floating leaves (water lilies and capsules), as well as by planting oxygen generators - plants that fill pond water with oxygen (Canadian elodea, hornwort, swamp).

At the beginning of spring, when the plants have not yet had time to develop sufficiently, application is required. chemicals fight (algicides). However, these drugs are harmful to both humans and aquatic life - so they should be treated only as a last resort.

The danger for fish in the pond can be birds and cats, for them the fish is a subject of hunting. To protect pond fish from birds (for example, herons), you need to tighten the space above the shallow areas of the pond with a net or black threads (the latter solution is especially successful - black threads are practically invisible against the background of the water surface). An obstacle for cats will be decorative fence from wire (not less than 150 mm high), usually used for fencing flower beds.

The main threat to aquatic life in areas prone to frequent frosts is ice. The ice shell, which steadily covers the reservoir for more than a day, will lead to the accumulation of poisonous gases formed by the decaying remains of vegetation and, as a result, the partial or complete death of fish. It is necessary that part of the pond is always free of ice, best solution there will be a special small heater. You should not try to break the ice using force - hitting the ice shell can stun and even kill the fish.

If your artificial reservoir has a great depth, use a pump to pump warm water from the depth to the water surface - this measure will prevent the formation of ice. As a last resort, in the absence of other methods and means, arrange an exhaust hole in the ice shell - with wormwood, for this, put a pot of boiling water on the ice (after the formation of the wormwood, do not forget to remove the pan!).

How to green up a pond

Aquatic plants perform an important task - they are a kind of water filters. The biological balance will be established when at least a third of the artificial reservoir is devoted to plants. Moreover, each type of aquatic plants requires planting at a certain depth.

So, the reservoir is finished, filled with water - it needs to be allowed to settle for 10 days and only then proceed to planting. The best time to plant aquatic plants is early summer.

You can plant plants in the laid soil at the bottom of the reservoir, but it is best to place them in mesh baskets, setting the latter to the bottom. It is easier to take care of plants in baskets - move them to wintering in warm room and carry out reproduction. The soil in the baskets is ordinary soil from the garden, its enrichment with manure, fertilizers or peat is not required. To keep the soil layer in the baskets from being washed away by water, a clean burlap or other coarse fabric laid on top will help. Place medium-sized gravel over the cloth to protect the roots from pond fish.

Before planting, remove especially long roots and old leaves from plants. After planting, compact the soil around the stem of the plant so that the distance between the soil and the edge of the basket is 40 mm.

Some types of pond plants do not require planting - they float freely on the surface of the reservoir, keeping themselves afloat. Representatives of such plants are water lilies and lotus. Such plants need to be closely monitored, because in favorable conditions they will quickly multiply and occupy the entire pond - periodically some of them must be removed. The main plant problem for any closed reservoir is duckweed, which reproduces rapidly and tends to capture the entire area of ​​​​the reservoir - do not plant it on purpose!

When buying aquatic plants, be sure to ask the seller at what depth they should be planted. When planting, stick to the measure - plants need light, and dense thickets on the water surface do not look attractive.

During the winter season, aquatic plants, whose natural habitat is a temperate climate, remain in the reservoir. If you have planted exotic plants from warm countries in the pond, then they should spend the winter outside the pond. Take them out and place them in a body of water indoors - an aquarium or a bath, before doing this, pruning especially overgrown plants.

An important point: when transferring plants for wintering indoors, do not forget to provide them with sufficient lighting.

Pond fish care

For the full existence of fish in a country pond, its depth should be no less than 1200 mm. At shallower depths, fish need to spend the winter outside the pond, otherwise they will die. Just bought fish should not be placed in the pond, give it time to acclimatize - it should get used to the temperature of the water in the pond. Let the container with the fish swim in the pond - this measure will avoid the shock state of the fish.

If you did not purchase fish from specialized stores, then you should not immediately release them into a garden pond. Place them in an aquarium by filling it with pond water. The time of such quarantine should be at least seven days - so you find out if the fish is sick.

Now about fish nutrition. In principle, there should be enough food for them in the pond: duckweed, algae, mosquito larvae and other insects living at the bottom of the reservoir. However, if there is not enough food or the number of fish increases, it needs to be fed. Purchase fish food in specialized stores - it contains everything necessary for pond fauna, in addition, such food is enriched with oxygen and will not become a source of pollution for the pond, it will float on the surface for some time. Give the fish as much food as they will eat in 10 minutes, otherwise it will still sink and rot.

A special need for vitamins occurs in fish in the spring, during this season increase the number of feedings. In autumn, when the temperature in the reservoir drops below 10 ° C, stop the feed supply completely.

Constantly monitor the condition of the fish, do not overfeed them, control their numbers (optimally: for 50 liters of water - one fish 100-150 mm long. Keep in mind that the fish is growing!).

Sick fish can be identified by its behavior: as a rule, it swims in circles and at the same time “staggers”, rubs its sides against objects in the reservoir, lies on its side on the surface. The presence of diseases is evidenced by “glued” fins, white coating on the eyes, snout, fins or gills. Having found a sick individual, immediately isolate it from the rest and place it in an aquarium. Then visit the pet store, describe the signs of the disease to the specialist and buy the necessary medicines.

How pleasant it is to spend time on the shores of a picturesque forest lake on a fine summer day, enjoying the coolness and beautiful views of aquatic vegetation. Knowing how to make a pond in the country with your own hands, you can equip a similar corner on your own land. It is enough just to decide on the design and clearly follow all the stages of work that the instructions below contain.

Preparatory stage

Pond Style Selection

Before proceeding directly to the construction, you should choose the design of the pond in the country - by going through a lot of standard sketches and samples with your own hands, you can create a unique pond, adding personality to it with the help of minor design changes or using additional decor.

Of course, the simplest option is a mini-pond made of tires, which, in spite of everything, will look great in a small summer cottage.

However, if you have enough space, and you are not embarrassed by the cost of materials and the cost of designing a pond, you can make an excellent decorative concrete pond, which will act as a central element of the landscape design of the entire site.

Advice!
Used as temporary housing country houses from block containers after the construction of a permanent structure can be converted into a bathhouse, for example.
In this regard, it is advisable to locate the reservoir not far from them, in order to subsequently organize a recreation area with them there, organically completing the entire ensemble.

When choosing a style for a reservoir, first of all, you need to take into account the architectural design that was used when building a house and laying out a garden.

It's good when a small pond in the country - designed and built with your own hands - is combined with the following elements:

• coastline;
• design of garden paths;
• appearance of small garden forms and so on.

A gazebo or terrace looks most appropriate near the pond, sitting on which you can comfortably contemplate the calm water surface.

Let's dwell on some points in more detail:

1. Stylistics. The features of the Japanese reservoir are stones of various sizes and shapes and conifers. This style does not accept the presence of a large number of multi-colored herbs. The Chinese pond is decorated with brighter and more lush vegetation. Trees and a classic convex bridge must be present here. You can also plant a pond with local plants, without various exotic specimens. This style is called "ethno-garden".

1. geometric shape. A strict rectangular or square pond looks good next to a residential building, perfectly combined with its strict forms. In addition, this form is often used in the arrangement of a reservoir in the patio. Flowerbeds of the same shape and strict concrete paths organically complement the ensemble.

Advice!
Garden paths, regardless of the material used to make them, go well with ponds.
A decking board looks organic, from which a bridge is made across the water surface or concrete slabs, as if hovering above the surface.

Round ponds are suitable for decorating grassy lawns and neat ones. In this case, an additional element will be a pergola covered with ivy, as well as a separate group of low-growing trees.

It should be noted that it is easiest to build a round small pond in the country with your own hands. To do this, you can use many ready-made forms: from concrete rings for a well to the automobile tire already mentioned above.

Selection of location, size and material

The correct choice of the site where the reservoir will be located is the key to its normal functioning during the whole year. Otherwise, you may encounter the so-called bloom - the rapid reproduction of microscopic green algae, covering the water surface with an unaesthetic brown film.

• too long illumination leads to excessive development of harmful microorganisms in the water;
• being in the shade negatively affects the growth of ornamental aquatic plants and the behavior of fish living in the pond.

The best option is lighting for 5-6 hours. The water surface should be open from the south. It is also impractical to equip a pond in the shade of massive trees. Falling leaves from them will constantly clog the reservoir.

The ideal size for this hydraulic structure is 3% of the space land plot. However, not every summer resident is ready to donate such an amount of land for him. In addition, you need to remember that making a small country pond with your own hands is easier and cheaper than a vast lake.

As for depth, a three-stage system is most often used:

• coastal zone - for aquatic plants;
• shallow water zone - for growing water lilies and water lilies;
• deep zone - for the wintering of aquatic inhabitants (if their breeding is supposed).

The maximum required depth is 180 cm. Below this level, the ground does not freeze through, which guarantees the presence of water under the ice layer in winter.

Note!
The deepest zone can occupy no more than 1/5 of the entire pond area.
This will be quite enough for the wintering of fish, and its increase will negatively affect the cost of works on the arrangement of the reservoir.

Once you have decided on the size and shape, it's time to move on to choosing materials. The most expensive and reliable option is casting a concrete bowl reinforced with metal rods or mesh. A little less expensive is the use of a ready-made plastic container, which can be purchased at a building supermarket.

However, the best and cheapest way is to make a pond using a special film, which is lined with the bottom of the future pond.

Self-manufacturing

The sequence of actions for the design of a decorative hydraulic structure in a summer cottage is as follows:

1. As with any other construction, first of all, you should create a sketch of the future structure. When drawing, you must observe the selected scale. Reflect the size of the pond, its depth, the width of the shelves on which coastal plants will be planted, as well as the pattern of future landscaping. With this approach, you can avoid rework and changes during the construction process.
   It is also advisable to provide an accent detail - a tree, a stone, a bridge, a sculpture or an island, which will become the highlight of the landscape design element being developed.

1. The contour of the pond is best chosen on the ground. To outline it, you can use twine, a garden hose or sand. Remember that the opposite edges of the reservoir should be at the same level with each other.
   The bottom also needs to be level. Measurements can be made using a special laser tool or an ordinary long board on which the building level is placed.

1. Roem a pit.
   Work should be done in the following sequence:

• • the soil is removed to the first depth mark;
  • a new line is marked for deepening;
  • digging the pit continues to the next level;
  • marking is done again;
  • a small depression is dug, necessary for the wintering of fish.

Earthwork is a rather laborious task, especially if the size of the future pond is large. It is best to hire an excavator for this purpose. Otherwise, be prepared that at a certain stage of digging in the bottom area will accumulate ground water, in connection with which it is necessary to work in semi-liquid mud.

To avoid this, you can use a water pump designed for pumping slurries. Dirt is dumped into an auxiliary pit.

Advice!
If on personal plot there is no electricity, renting a diesel generator for a summer residence will help you.
This unit will provide the necessary electricity not only for the pump, but also for many other tools that make it easier to create a pond.

1. As soon as the digging is completed, its dimensions are measured with the help of a towline, taking into account the resulting depth.. To this value is added about 1 meter for allowances. The resulting value is necessary to purchase a film of a suitable size.

Many are wondering where to remove the soil that was taken out during the digging of the pit.

In this regard, the following can be recommended:

• raise the level of the site, evenly distributing the earth throughout the garden;
• form an alpine hill out of it;
• make the basis for the ledges along which the stream will flow.

1. Then the entire bowl of the pond is carefully lined with a waterproof film.. In order not to tear the coating, it is recommended to pre-cover the pit with an additional layer of geotextile. Then the pebbles and roots will not be able to tear the film after pouring water. Cheaper options - old linoleum or compacted layer of fine-grained sand.

Work should be done on a warm, sunny day. Such weather makes the film more flexible, it stretches easily and repeats all the irregularities and decorative curves of the pond.

1. To fix the film, a small trench is dug along the edge of the pond.. The edges of the material fall into it and are covered with rubble. You can't think of a safer way.
2. In order to strengthen the edge of the reservoir and prevent shedding of soil, the edges of the reservoir should be strengthened concrete blocks or plastic pipes attached to pegs. As a decor, wild natural stone is great.

1. The bottom of the pond is made out of rubble or boulders. Plants are planted in special plastic boxes, which are installed in the right places of the reservoir and next to it.

1. Further water is poured. The readings of the water meter should be recorded before and after this process. This will allow you to calculate the volume of liquid in the cavity, which will be useful later when purchasing equipment and chemicals for maintaining the pond.
   
2. It is best to make a pond with circulation. In this case, the water in it will be constantly updated and not bloom. To do this, an embankment is made near the reservoir, from which the stream will drain. Water flows up submersible pump equipped with a cleaning system. Decorating all elements is up to you.

Output

After carefully reading the above material, you should not have any questions about how to build a pond in the country with your own hands. glean Additional information about the construction process artificial reservoirs You can from the video in this article.