Hamstermann's pond build

[hamstermann]

Guess what it's been doing again all day today. Rain! But I still had fun - got a couple 5 gallon buckets full of yellow iris for free and bought small plugs of marsh marigold, water celery, water forget me nots, and chameleon plant. I'm so excited to get the rocking and building done so I can plant these guys!


The rain has (of course) risen the water level but I figure if it rises and nothing's flooding, that must mean there's no major leak. I'll still wait til tomorrow night before draining to be sure though.

 

[GBBUDD]

Here is a post i put together on seaming it's the same for plugging a hole with the exception that you want to make and tears into a hole with rounded edges https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/seaming-epdm-liner.26807/

 

[hamstermann]

Has anyone tried planting microsword in their pond? If that's not a great option, what's a good dense and low-growing grasslike plant I can put in my pond about 3 feet deep?

 

[YShahar]

Has anyone tried planting microsword in their pond? If that's not a great option, what's a good dense and low-growing grasslike plant I can put in my pond about 3 feet deep?

Try acorus gramineus (dwarf sweet flag). https://www.gardenia.net/plant/acorus-gramineus-ogon. I've got this planted around my intake bay and tucked into pockets in the streams. A really cool effect is when you plant the non-variegated type of dwarf sweet flag in the pond, and dwarf lily turf in the ground on the other side of the liner. Since they look almost identical, it looks like one big planting of the same type, completely concealing the liner and making it look like the pond extends back into the landscape.

 

[hamstermann]

Try acorus gramineus (dwarf sweet flag). https://www.gardenia.net/plant/acorus-gramineus-ogon. I've got this planted around my intake bay and tucked into pockets in the streams. A really cool effect is when you plant the non-variegated type of dwarf sweet flag in the pond, and dwarf lily turf in the ground on the other side of the liner. Since they look almost identical, it looks like one big planting of the same type, completely concealing the liner and making it look like the pond extends back into the landscape.

That does sound like a cool effect. Would the dwarf sweet flag work on the bottom of the pond? I'm thinking something grass-like on the bottom would feel good on people's feet and possibly also hide fish caves mouths.

 

[hamstermann]

It seems to have passed the leak test. The boys and I decided to give it a swim test. (thankfully I don't appear in this picture).

 

[GBBUDD]

That does sound like a cool effect. Would the dwarf sweet flag work on the bottom of the pond?

NO, the only plant that will come up from three feet is lilies. or true aquatic plants suck as fox glove acanaris etc . This is why shelves are made so lillies can be placed. the majority of the rest of pond plants are tuck them between the rocks or make c a pocket for the plants to have there own area. are you planning on covering the liner on the inside of the pond before you start placing rock?

 

[hamstermann]

NO, the only plant that will come up from three feet is lilies. or true aquatic plants suck as fox glove acanaris etc . This is why shelves are made so lillies can be placed. the majority of the rest of pond plants are tuck them between the rocks or make c a pocket for the plants to have there own area. are you planning on covering the liner on the inside of the pond before you start placing rock?

Darn. I was hoping for a soft, living carpet.

Yep, I'll put another layer of geotextile under anything that sits on liner or leans against it.

 

[GBBUDD]

WHERE EVER YOU PUT THE SWeet flag make sure thats where you really want it. it has a root system that can dig in like a tick and not want to let go. when its small it's not bad but once established watch out

 

[GBBUDD]

I wish i had placed fabric completely over the entire liner for piece of mind and looking at all that young energy that you have it would demand it imo

 

[hamstermann]

WHERE EVER YOU PUT THE SWeet flag make sure thats where you really want it. it has a root system that can dig in like a tick and not want to let go. when its small it's not bad but once established watch out

Is the sweet flag the light green variegated grass looking stuff?

 

[GBBUDD]

Is the sweet flag the light green variegated grass looking stuff?

there is two, white and green and yellow and white

 

[GBBUDD]

Darn. I was hoping for a soft, living carpet.

Yep, I'll put another layer of geotextile under anything that sits on liner or leans against it.

there is a plant that looks very much like a carpet /moss but it is not very very col plant but it will not survive zone 6b I would do lots and lots of home work on plants and make triple sure you know what your adding to the new pond.

 

[YShahar]

That does sound like a cool effect. Would the dwarf sweet flag work on the bottom of the pond? I'm thinking something grass-like on the bottom would feel good on people's feet and possibly also hide fish caves mouths.

Ah, no it's a plant for the margins. For the bottom, there are all sorts of oxygenating plants that would work on the bottom. The problem is that they wouldn't withstand foot traffic. I would suggest putting down an ample layer of geotextile fabric on the bottom, sides, and shelves, then and on top of the horizontal surfaces, a layer of round river pebbles. Those are easy on feet, help protect the liner, and will give your fish something to browse on, so they'll spare your water plants.

 

[YShahar]

I went out this morning and snapped a photo to illustrate how the two marginal plants I recommended look in situ (won't be going out again now, as we've got a dust storm moving in, accompanied by high winds and blistering heat... blech!). All these plants are inside the liner, other than the dwarf liriope (lily turf) on the left, which is just outside the liner.

And here's one with the plants labelled (the pineapple is in there only until it grows roots):