Pond Walls

[Squidhead]

I am digging a pond as I ask. I will be using a pond liner, no concrete. I have found conflicting information about the angle of a ponds walls. Some say to build a step type one for plants. I don't like that for the reasons many others have given! The access is to easy for predators. Others say a 45 degree angle so the walls don't colapse inward to the pond. I'm sure that's happened before, but I have a feeling there where other factors involved not mentioned. To note: I have compact red clay soil. Others say to build them as steep as possible, even up to 80 degrees. Reasons are not as easy access for preditors. They say the water will keep the pond from imploding. You get more volume. These all sound logical to me. What do you ponders reccomend?

 

[jethro13]

As long as your clay is a dense compacted clay like mine and not a crumbly type you will be fine. I think my pond walls are close to 80 degrees and I have had no problems for 4 years now. I do have a shelf about a foot below water line that I used for support for the various sized river rock that I stacked up coming out of the water around the pond and 4 bog areas. But at the edge of the bog areas and below the rock shelf that I mentioned is quite steep all the way to the bottom.

 

[koiguy1969]

yep, a slight tapering of the walls inward towards the bottom is the most structurally sound. and least likely to experience any washout or cave in.

 

[Squidhead]

Very good! That's what I thought. I will also have a "shelf" just to hold the edge/coping stones that will hold my liner in place. But I expect them to be as flush with the walls as possible when they are inplace. Thanks Again.