First ever pond - plant question

[Dave12345]

Really appreciate all the advice and I hear what you say about the liner, but due to shade issue the site I'm going to use now is quite small so going to go for a pre formed liner, blagdon mayfly 250. I've already dug up the wife's rose bushes and will dig out the main site tody.

I'm mainly interested in plants but will probably put some small fish in, and really want a waterfall so looking for some basic filtration. This looks very small and basic, but think it'll suit my needs - or are they a bit crap ? Thinking maybe they aren't that good because they so cheap ?

Amazon.co.uk

 

[brokensword]

Really appreciate all the advice and I hear what you say about the liner, but due to shade issue the site I'm going to use now is quite small so going to go for a pre formed liner, blagdon mayfly 250. I've already dug up the wife's rose bushes and will dig out the main site tody.

I'm mainly interested in plants but will probably put some small fish in, and really want a waterfall so looking for some basic filtration. This looks very small and basic, but think it'll suit my needs - or are they a bit crap ? Thinking maybe they aren't that good because they so cheap ?

Amazon.co.uk

it'll work; having some water movement/agitation will keep mosquitoes away. Go online and look for a few pics of pond plants, their characteristics and whatnot, and choose from those in your area that are hardy.

 

[Dave12345]

it'll work; having some water movement/agitation will keep mosquitoes away. Go online and look for a few pics of pond plants, their characteristics and whatnot, and choose from those in your area that are hardy.

Thanks, I'll order one then. I've just bought the preformed liner, can't wait to get the digging sorted !

 

[Dave12345]

digging stage is coming to an end now, but concerned about sharp stones causing punctures. The attached pic has lots of loose stones which I'll obviously clean out, but there's going to be others just under the surface. Do I need some extra protective layer ? I thought of sand but not sure if that'll eventually wash down as the soil gets wet. The liner I have is plastic and not fibreglass, but I think it's sturdier than some of the cheap bendy ones I've read review of, its a blagdon mayfly 250.

Thanks for the help

 

[brokensword]

digging stage is coming to an end now, but concerned about sharp stones causing punctures. The attached pic has lots of loose stones which I'll obviously clean out, but there's going to be others just under the surface. Do I need some extra protective layer ? I thought of sand but not sure if that'll eventually wash down as the soil gets wet. The liner I have is plastic and not fibreglass, but I think it's sturdier than some of the cheap bendy ones I've read review of, its a blagdon mayfly 250.

Thanks for the helpView attachment 143117

if concerned, add a 4" layer of sand; that'll keep a nice cushion between the stone and liner. As an added plus, it'll be easier to level your preform. I know you already got it but most here use a liner for a reason. But, not to worry; LPS will arrive sooner or later and we'll have this discussion again!

 

[Dave12345]

I appreciate that I was advised to use a liner, guess I have to learn the hard way, but I do appreciate all the advice.

I dug the hole enough to fit the liner in, but now read that it should be about 5cm wider so that there's enough space to backfill, so more digging needed. But I'm now worried about supporting the shelves in the liner. I left areas un-dug to support them, but the soil has lots of stones and crumbles easily, so this area has collapsed somewhat. So this means there wont be anything solid to support them, so worried the weight of the water will push down on these areas. not sure if I can build them backup as they've collapsed quite a bit - see pic of shelf in top right, and the pillar in the hole which has collapsed.

Do I need to try and build it back up again or is it not that important ?

 

[addy1]

If not supported well they do tend to crack. Back fill with some sand

 

[brokensword]

I appreciate that I was advised to use a liner, guess I have to learn the hard way, but I do appreciate all the advice.

I dug the hole enough to fit the liner in, but now read that it should be about 5cm wider so that there's enough space to backfill, so more digging needed. But I'm now worried about supporting the shelves in the liner. I left areas un-dug to support them, but the soil has lots of stones and crumbles easily, so this area has collapsed somewhat. So this means there wont be anything solid to support them, so worried the weight of the water will push down on these areas. not sure if I can build them backup as they've collapsed quite a bit - see pic of shelf in top right, and the pillar in the hole which has collapsed.

Do I need to try and build it back up again or is it not that important ?

now you see what you need to learn the hard way. It's super easy peasy to just get a preform and voila! you have a pond. It's alluring to say the least. But imagine you have a nice preform pond, have some interesting plants and even put in fish. Now imagine you've even NAMED the fish, that your kids (if you have any, or maybe a significant other) has fallen in love with JUST one--their favorite.

Fast forward to spring and you've not paid much attention to the pond because well, ice and snow prevented you. Imagine the moment you DO pay attention and see how the water is dangerously low (or worse; it's barely got any water in it)...do you even THINK to say anything to anyone that Goldy's gone belly up? That all your hard work will now have to be redone? I have a friend who went through this and for a few years after, I saw his preform standing like some sort of grave marker at the side of his house, unused, cracked, need I say forlorn?

So the idea here is; RETURN the preform if you can and just get a liner. This question of yours wouldn't even be forum-fodder; we'd be telling you stuff like 'how to hide your liner edge' and we'd all point you to some super duper artsy fartsy drawing addy's done, showing you exactly how! And, that's where the fun just begins!

okay, I don't really even WANT to answer yoru question but I know MOMMA addy is watching, so I'll do my part; if you dig a bit larger than your preform and disregard how accurate your shelf supports are, you can line/backfill everything with sand, which WILL form up to whatever void(s) you have in/around/under/etc your preform, shelf or otherwise.


Okay, done. Did I avoid the corner and a timeout, MOMMA addy??

 

[addy1]

okay, I don't really even WANT to answer yoru question but I know MOMMA addy is watching, so I'll do my part; if you dig a bit larger than your preform and disregard how accurate your shelf supports are, you can line/backfill everything with sand, which WILL form up to whatever void(s) you have in/around/under/etc your preform, shelf or otherwise.


Okay, done. Did I avoid the corner and a timeout, MOMMA addy??

No time out!

Make it so you can get to the sides like said above, pour in sand until no more will go in, wet it, pour in more, wet it, that will fill the voids.
My two large preforms (years ago) thought I had them flat no voids, wrong, both cracked, both tossed. Now the holes are small liner ponds at the end of my mama pond.

 

[moby]

Not many pond plants for sale at this time of year in the U.K. Best to get them in March when first in the shops and they will be ready to start into fast growth. Anything bought now would be just left overs in my opinion, all the best would have been snapped up long ago. Plus whatever is left, (even if it’s a good one) will soon be dying off and going dormant.