It is possible to decorate a personal plot with the help of greenery and new technologies, but a small pond will help to make it more refined and refined. A small pond will not only decorate the garden, but also help you relax after a hard day. To build such a reservoir in our time is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. There are a huge number of ready-made plastic ponds of various shapes, sizes and colors. If for large pools it is necessary to fill the pit with concrete and waterproof it, then in this case it will be enough to dig a pit of the required size and place the finished tank there. So easily you can arrange a garden in the country.
Choosing a finished plastic bowl
When choosing a finished plastic bowl, you need to pay attention to size, shape, color and material. For each specific landscape design, it is necessary to take into account all the nuances, because the wrong choice can lead to problems during installation and operation. Initially, you need to determine the place of installation of the pond and only then proceed with the search.
To size
Often the shape of the container has irregular geometric shapes, so the system by which the dimensions are indicated is not the same as usual. The depth of the bowl is from 30 to 300 cm. If the pond is rectangular, then most often the depth is the same, but if it has several levels or an irregular shape, then the depth is calculated from the lowest part of the tank.
By the same principle, measure the width and length. When specifying the size, the widest part is taken into account. Many landscape designers in their compositions use small structures of 250 liters, the size of which is 124 × 90 × 58 cm. With the help of such a small reservoir, you can equip even the smallest yard.Important! Usually bowls have several levels with steps, cascades and indentations. They are ideal for decoration by aquatic plants.
Shape and color
This landscape object is used exclusively as a decoration. Of course, with a great desire, you can swim in it, and some owners even raise fish to imitate a more natural pond. The shape of the reservoir is often irregular, because the pond in the natural environment does not have clear geometric shapes.
Important ! The color of the tank depends on the manufacturer. However, most often they are black or other dark shades. It is worth considering that with the help of color there is an imitation of the natural environment.
Nevertheless, the garden design uses a round, oval, square or rectangular shape. With their help, they emphasize the design in such a style as, for example, hi-tech. But if we are talking about a summer cottage, close to nature, then it is better to pay attention to bowls of irregular shapes, such as eights with various contours.
Choosing the right place for the pond
Choosing the ideal place for mounting a plastic container, you need to consider many points. In addition, the pond should be located in the most beautiful and attractive place, it should include such key points:
- For the pond, you should choose a plain. The hillocks and slopes will exert pressure on the bowl, which will lead to deformation of the plastic structure.
- It is advisable that the soil be covered with turf.
- Exclude areas with trees. Foliage or needles will crumble and fall into the container. In addition, the roots will interfere with digging the pit to install the frame.
- Since the pond is the central element, it should be clearly visible from any point, so distant or hidden corners are not suitable for installation.
- The place should be partially isolated from sunlight. So that the water does not bloom and does not evaporate, it is recommended to choose a site that is lit for no more than 6 hours a day.
- Also, when choosing a place, the size of the structure is taken into account.
How to install and dig a decorative pond
Small plastic structures are easy to install. But if it comes to tanks of large sizes, then you have to attract equipment.
Did you know? Even in ancient Egypt, people learned to build artificial ponds for their own needs.
Prepare the pit in the following way:
- turn over and lay the container upside down and draw a outline around it;
- add about 10 cm to the main line;
- dig a pit 15 cm more than the plastic bowl itself;
- align the bottom of the pit as much as possible;
- empty places to fill up with sand and earth.
Since the bowl is not heavy, it can easily be transported and dug on its own. During installation in the pit, you need to carefully check that there are no skews anywhere. Filling the excess space with sand and earth, it is advisable to add a little water and try to compact as tightly as possible.
If the bowl is large, then do not rush with the seal, since wet sand can skew the container, and as a result it will break. Fill the mixture gradually and in small parts, only after that fill with water. Immediately after the water is absorbed, add a little more sand and earth and repeat the process until the very end. In addition, to maintain balance, it is also important to fill the pond with water. Each time it should be 10 cm more than sand outside.Important! Do not lay the film on the bottom of the plastic bowls. This will not only help in sealing, as it will increase the formation of fumes, which will lead to damage to the pond.
Video: Installation of a decorative pond
How to design beautifully
To make your body of water look as natural as possible in nature, opt for blanks of irregular geometric shapes with pockets and cascades. Thanks to this, the pond can be decorated with aquatic plants and stones. Vegetation with a different flowering period will adorn the pond all season, which, in turn, will make it very attractive right up to the onset of cold weather.
Landscaping
When landscaping a plastic small or large bowl frame, try not to overdo it. In this case, in decorating, it is important to pay more attention to terrestrial plants than aquatic plants. The fact is that water most often does not take root due to frost or, on the contrary, grow at a rapid speed, filling all the free space, closing the water with itself. In addition, duckweed is formed from some floating plants, which also hides the body of water.
When choosing coastal plants, study their natural environment; it is important that they are water-loving. This type of plants guarantees long-term growth and beautiful appearance to your summer cottage. It is worth noting that it is not recommended to plant large lush or tall plants. In autumn, the leaves will fall off, thereby complicating the cleaning of water.
Decor
To create a beautiful view of the reservoir, landscape designers recommend using natural materials such as stone. In nature, there are a huge number of different stones of different sizes, colors, structures. For example, sandstone has a warm range and is ideal for naturalistic landscapes. If you want to make a part of modernity, then use slate and flagstone.
Cold gray, green and brown shades will not draw attention to yourself. To, on the contrary, pay as much attention as possible to decor, then decorate the coast with the help of boulders of a coil. But in this case, a small pond can simply get lost on the background of the stone. To outline the edges, use gravel along the entire perimeter. She not only emphasizes the shape of the pond, but also draws attention to the color scheme and texture of a number of growing flowers and shrubs.
Care and maintenance rules
The plastic design is also attractive because it does not need to drain water in winter. Modern materials are able to withstand low temperatures. This type of bowl can tolerate frosts down to -30 ° C. In addition, deep troughs in mid-latitudes do not freeze at all.
The care is as follows:
- Sometimes it is necessary to clean duckweed, algae or silt. This is done without draining the water. But in case of severe contamination, it is recommended to drain the water using a pump, thoroughly clean the tank and fill in fresh clean water.
- Against stagnation or flowering of water, a small pump and filter should be installed to ensure circulation.
- From trees or bushes, leaves, branches or petals can fall into the pond. They need to be cleaned as often as possible. In autumn, it is better to completely cover the structure with a net.
Since the plastic form is quite frost-resistant, it does not need to be dismantled and hidden in a warm place for the winter. It can withstand up to -30 ° C. In most cases, there is no need to drain the water, but in colder climates it is better to do this or, as experts recommend, pour sand into plastic bottles and place in a container. When it freezes, the water expands, and the sand can slightly prevent a lot of pressure on the walls of the mold and take on some of this pressure.Did you know? In China, river and lake fish are grown in artificial ponds, since in natural conditions there are very few of them left. The most popular carp koi.
Advantages and disadvantages of the PND garden pond
A do-it-yourself pond will decorate any garden plot. But, like everything in this world, a garden pond from HDPE also has its pros and cons.
- The disadvantages include:
- impossible to change form;
- a large exposure to sunlight will cause cracks;
- complex repair of mechanical damage;
- a shallow depth does not allow nymphs and fish to winter;
- not durable;
- making a pond as natural as it is in nature is almost impossible.
- The main advantages can be safely attributed:
- ease of installation;
- affordable price;
- a large assortment;
- good conditions for aquatic and coastal plants;
- frost resistance;
- does not rot.