Gardening
By Pippa Greenwood
Watery Delight A pond is a great long-term addition to a garden but plan it before you start digging! Where to put a pond? Keep clear of deciduous trees; their leaves clog up the pond and cause methane gas to be released as they rot, which can be lethal to fish and pond wildlife. Conversely, extremely sunny, hot spots will increase the likelihood of pond algae problems. Choose a level site to minimise the amount of soil that needs to be shifted to create it. How to choose a liner. There are three main types of pond liner: a pre-formed rigid liner (mid-price but shapes are limited); plastic available by the metre (cheap but may only last three or four years); and butyl (costly, but lasts around 30 years, and allows and any size and shape you require). What shape? Create a simple shape to use less butyl liner and underlay, and make it easier to install. Always use underlay as this dramatically reduces the risk of leaks due to liner damage. Either buy it or use old carpet underlay for flexible liners, while plenty of sand works well for rigid liners. What size? A larger pond is generally easier to maintain and should be at least 45cm (18in) deep to minimise algae and to maximise the range of plants you can grow. Adjust the pond levels at the edges before laying edging material. Edges must fit snugly in the hole to reduce the chances of damage – pack dry sand or garden soil into any gaps. Large, rounded stones at the pond edge help animals to climb out and help disguise liner edges, plus
reduce the amount of soil accidentally entering the pond. Have a gently sloping beach at one edge to allow hedgehogs, birds and other non-aquatic creatures to drink and bathe, and get out easily if they fall in. Build in some ‘shelves’ at the sides, wide enough to hold pots or pond baskets to allow for aquatics and marginals (bog-loving plants) needing shallower water. A pond should be filled with rain water, but mains water can be used if allowed to stand for a week or so before adding plants or fish. What to plant? Buy healthy and hardy pond and marginal plants that are able to withstand winter temperatures. Check the depth of water they require and how big they’ll grow. Make it safe. Make sure that you explain the potential dangers of ponds to children, and consider waiting a year or so if they are too small to understand. Avoid steep, straight sides and have a graduated exit so it’s easy to get out of should someone or something fall in. Consider fitting a strong galvanised metal mesh over the entire surface. It must be strong enough to bear a child’s weight, with a small mesh size that small feet cannot go through. A small fence around the pond can be clothed with climbers or painted, and can be removed once children are older. Visit Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.
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