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Making a small pond bigger


 
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Daisychain
Rank attained: Hazel Tree
Rank attained: Hazel Tree


Joined: 20 May 2011
Posts: 2
Location: Offaly
PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:23 pm    Post subject: Making a small pond bigger Reply with quote
Hi all
We made our first DIY pond about 8 years ago ...We bought one of those pond-sets from Aldi that time . It looked well until 2 years ago, then our new dog discovered that this was great fun and jumped into it evry time she wasn't watched ...our kids are very attrackted to it too and they love playing at the pond and somtimes walk into it too ...the pond is small and shallow and the liner is not the best quality ....well it is pretty much damagaed around the top now and the pond is not much more than a boggy puddle.
I would like to take everything out and make it bigger and deeper too .I don't want to use any liner anymore , I would love to have a natural pond completely without liners. I have been reading about it in a book on ponds but the information given in the book wasn't a lot .
I would be very thankfull for any help, ideas and advise on this .
Will post some pics on what the pond looks like at the moment soon

Thanks
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vulkan
Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree
Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree


Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 167
PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Making a small pond bigger Reply with quote
Daisychain wrote:
Hi all
I don't want to use any liner anymore , I would love to have a natural pond completely without liners. I have been reading about it in a book on ponds but the information given in the book wasn't a lot .
I would be very thankfull for any help, ideas and advise on this .


Hello Daisychain, I can answer the question about why the information in the book was "not a lot"

It's because there really is not a lot in a natural pond.

In short you dig a hole, line with clay, fill with water, Finished. (I did say in short)

Most people do not choose to build natural ponds for the following reasons.

You have to dig a big hole to allow for the clay thickness.

You have to check all the clay for foreign objects, as these will cause problems later.

All the clay must be kept wet at all times.

Clay itself is some what heavy, people do use a backhoe excavator even for small ponds.

The clay is easiest if its put down in layers, each layer must be whacked to remove any air pockets, the back of the backhoe bucket is good for this.

The clay must end up being around 20cm thick all over.

As it has to be this thick to be water proof and stable, it also means you will need a lot of it.

The clay must never be allowed to dry out, if it does it will crack and leak.

You should not plant anything directly in the clay.

Clay itself is reasonably cheap, getting it to your location often isn't

Natural ponds take a lot of looking after and can be expensive due to the cost of clay transport and plant hire, a pond liner with protective edging costs much less.
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ponddigger
Rank attained: Orchard owner


Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 731
Location: co tipp
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
hi dc,how big are you making the new pond,post some photos of the old pond Very Happy ponddigger Very Happy
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vulkan
Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree
Rank attained: Silver Birch Tree


Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 167
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ponddigger wrote:
........post some photos of the old pond Very Happy ponddigger Very Happy


Daisychain already said some pictures will be posted.

Daisychain wrote:
..........Will post some pics on what the pond looks like at the moment soon
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ponddigger
Rank attained: Orchard owner


Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 731
Location: co tipp
PostPosted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
hi daisychain,any photos of your pond project Very Happy ponddigger Very Happy
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