Big pond. Large garden ponds

And a pond. Even a small body of water attracts those around you like a magnet. Water is fascinating even in small quantities... Moreover, you can build a pond with your own hands in a few hours. But this is a small artificial reservoir. Building a large one will require both money and time.

Where to dig

Small artificial reservoirs are best viewed from above. Therefore, if there is a corresponding depression on the site, it is best to do it here. There is, however, in this negative side: You will have to raise the edges of the bowl higher to rainwater didn't get inside. The second option is to come up with a water drainage system (make a drainage system above the reservoir).

If there is a key somewhere on the site, it is logical to make a natural pond by digging or deepening the existing bowl, lining its borders with cobblestones or stones, and planting plants. The stream, which is sure to exist in this case, can also be improved by lining its edges with cobblestones, drowning them in the soggy soil, you will give greater strength to the bank, and you can plant moisture-loving plants between them.

Even a small waterfall is a magical sight. How to dam a pond if there is a natural stream on your site - dig a pit, cover it with stones and direct the stream into it

Not everyone has such a luxury on their property as a stream or a spring. We have to make artificial reservoirs. When properly designed, they look no worse than natural ones.

How to make an artificial pond with a bowl (without film)

The simplest and quick way to make an artificial pond at the dacha - bury the finished bowl in the ground, shaping and decorating its edges. There are plastic bowls - ready-made different forms, sizes and colors (mostly blue, green and black).

Construction of a plastic garden or country pond- it’s not a difficult matter. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

• It is necessary to dig a pit in the shape of a bowl. If the shape is very non-standard, you can turn it upside down at the installation site and outline the outline with something (at least dig it with a shovel). The bowl is taken to the side and a pit is dug. It should be a little larger in size - a little wider, but not deeper. The edges should either be flush with the ground or protrude slightly. If you can raise the edges a little, it will be even better: when it rains, dirty water will not flow in.
• After the required depth is reached, the bottom is leveled to the horizon: it is first leveled with a shovel, then compacted and the excess is removed with an even bar. The surface must be smooth and hard: the plastic must have good support. If the ground is poorly leveled (clay), you can pour 5-10 cm of sand, wet it and compact it.
• The next stage is the installation of the bowl in the pit. If the bottom has been made level, the edges of the bowl will be level with the horizon. Now the space that remains between the wall of the bowl and the pit must be filled with soil or sand and compacted well.
• Now it’s time for the design: the installation is complete, you can add water.

How to use this technology to build a pond in the courtyard with lighting, see in this photo report (you can scroll through the photo gallery yourself by clicking on the thumbnails below).

We are digging a pit. We decided that the sides would be 1-2 cm higher than the level of the path - there would be less debris inside, and we would decorate the edges with stones. On this side, just below the maximum level, we cut a pipe into the bowl so that excess water would drain. She was taken to the sewer

But it is not always and not everywhere possible to constantly add and remove water to the pond. Then you will have to either plant plants that will clean it, or change it periodically.

Pond from an old bathroom

You don't have to buy a bowl at all. Any container can be used. Even old bath. It turns out very well. All the steps are the same, the pit is dug first, a bathtub is placed in it, what goes next, see the series of following photos. There's a pond on them old bath transforms into a truly lovely place.

The platform was also entangled with wire - so that the clay did not float and the platform did not sag. This is such a beauty after a month - a garden pond built with my own hands makes me happy

Pond from a car tire (with film)

A mini pond can be made from an old one car tire, or rather from a tire. The larger it is, the larger the reservoir. The most difficult thing in this matter is to cut off one side part. If the resulting edges are sharp, they need to be sanded. The second most difficult task is to dig a hole of the appropriate size. The difficulties ended there. The rest is quite easy.

The cut tire is installed in the hole, covered with earth on the sides, and compacted well. Also, earth or sand is poured inside and the bottom is leveled. Take a piece of thick plastic film, maybe folded in half, and cover the resulting tank. Don’t try too hard: just pour water, it will straighten the film itself.

Instead of polyethylene, you can take banner film (available from advertising companies that produce outdoor advertising) or a piece special for swimming pools and ponds. They are much stronger (but more expensive).

The protruding ends of the film are tucked around the walls of your pond and decorated with stones. The construction of the pond is completed, next comes decoration and planting. See how to make a pond from a tire in the photo report.

The next stage of making a mini-pond for a summer residence is decorating the edges with stones

There is certainly nothing complicated about such a device. Anyone can build such a pond at their dacha with their own hands, and the investment is minimal.

In general, mini-ponds are made from tanks, barrels, pans, even flower pots. The main thing is that there is a body, and designing it is not very difficult: experience gradually comes. They are placed in the garden, at the dacha, near the house. It is possible to supply water, make a stream, it can be placed under trees, for example, or shrubs. Both beauty and benefit at the same time.

Making a pond with film

By creating this artificial pond made of film, you almost exactly repeat the work described above, only without installing the bowl:

1. mark the shape of the future pond;
2. dig a pit, forming ledges if necessary;
3. clean the bottom of any sharp objects: roots, stones, etc.;
4. level the banks of your pond;
5. spread the waterproofing film;
6. fill the pond with water;
7. fix the edges of the film;
8. decorate.

A country pond created using this technology can be of a more substantial size. An important point: simply making a pit on loose soil and laying down film will not work. We will have to come up with some measures to strengthen the banks. In this case, you will have to either install a bowl, or make a more serious structure - from brick or concrete. Next, let's look at examples of how to inexpensively make a pond from film.

First project: sides flush with the ground

Eight simple steps and your pond at the dacha is built. How to dig and arrange a pond at your dacha and make it look natural, see the photo report.

Second project: raised sides

The second version of a homemade pond in the first stages is built in almost the same way as the first. Only after the pit reached the design depth were the sides raised, lined with bricks along the edges and concreted. The result was a pond with raised sides. A water circulation system has also been made. It is shown in the figure below.

As you can see, this pond is more multi-layered and its displacement is more serious. If you want to have a pond of at least medium size and not build a serious bowl, you can do as shown in the figure: fill the created pit with sand, cover it, and only lay the film on top. Geotextiles evenly distribute the load and do not allow plants to grow. This is especially true if you are building a pond in the garden and there are shrubs or trees nearby.

Serious projects: brick and concrete

If you want to have a large pond in your country house, and you want to build it yourself, you will have to study the topic of building swimming pools. Firstly, the construction of the bowls repeats all the stages one by one. Even the forms are sometimes made stepped. True, the banks are not decorated with plants, and they are not planted in the pool itself... But the construction process itself, with reinforcement, plaster, and waterproofing is the same. Moreover, the water supply and water treatment system is also similar. Except that they are not used in ponds. chemical methods cleaning, but filters, screamers and ultraviolet can be used.

In general, a large pond is not a cheap pleasure. Moreover, it requires expenses not only for construction, but also for maintaining a large reservoir in normal condition: filters need to be regularly cleaned and cartridges or backfill replaced. But of course the pleasure is great...

Not the largest pond, but it required 10 bags of cement, 30 bags of sand (20 coarse and 10 fine), a hydrophobic additive - 5 bags to make the concrete water-repellent. Plastered on a mesh fixed in the ground

Pond Plants

When shaping or choosing a bowl, consider not only its shape and depth. If you want plants to grow in your pond, a marshy riparian area is necessary. If you form a pond using film, you can make a profile approximately like the one in the picture.

It is more convenient to do this if you fill the pit with a layer of sand at least 15 cm thick. With its help you can make the relief the way you like. To make the work easier and the film not torn, lay geotextiles on the sand. This thin membrane is very tear-resistant. You can do whatever you want without breaking it. Having formed the desired bottom topography with its help, you can line the film and lay stones on it, fill it with water and plant plants for the pond at different levels.

To ensure there is enough oxygen in the water, you can plant Elodea, hornwort and swampweed. They are in the photo below. They are planted in water - these are aquatic plants.

Whether you like to swim or just relax near the water, relaxing on the shore of a body of water is one of the wonderful pleasures of summer. But not every summer resident has the opportunity to build a summer house near water. Therefore, sooner or later, each of us thinks about how difficult it is to make a pond on the site with our own hands. Ideally, we see a pond at the dacha not only as decorative element landscape design, but also as a small pond in which you can happily swim on a hot day.

DIY swimming pond.

We will tell you the process of creating a pond step by step, and you can make a garden pond with your own hands - by building a cool oasis in the middle of the heat right on your summer cottage, where with every light breath of a fresh breeze our everyday worries disappear.

A garden pond is a living organism.

The pond at the dacha imitates the process that nature uses to keep lakes clean. Everything from the size and shape of the pond, plant species and water circulation are designed to maintain the pond in a stable natural state.


The problem that a pond owner faces is maintaining a balance between plants and water - the plants either die or cover the entire surface of the pond. Only a pond that represents a balanced ecosystem provides optimal water clarity and quality, and maximum enjoyment from swimming in the pond.


The water in the pond must circulate among the roots of the plants to cleanse itself. Plants enrich water with oxygen, which supports life. beneficial bacteria, recycling pollution and potentially pests, and also create habitat for dragonflies, frogs and other aquatic inhabitants. The result is a stable, ecologically diverse system. Nature has revealed its technology to us and we need to use it carefully.

How to make a pond yourself. Principles of pond operation.

Water is a living biologically active component and all purification occurs due to the work of plants and beneficial microbes. For this purpose, the pond has a swimming area and a filtration area for plants. The filtration zone is actually the swamp part of our water zone, and just like in nature, it is she who guarantees the cleanliness of the entire reservoir. This zone must occupy at least 50 percent of the total surface area of ​​the pond.
If you have noticed, in nature there are almost no tiny bodies of water with consistently clean surface water - they quickly become overgrown or silted up. Natural stable biological balance can be achieved in ponds with an area of ​​100 sq.m. Smaller ponds require more of our attention, because... Their biological balance is precarious. Therefore, to maintain cleanliness, these ponds include a skimmer and UV sterilizer, but still offer a chemical-free swimming area and support the growth of aquatic plants.


It is useful to regularly enrich the water with oxygen by adding a small waterfall, stream or fountain to the pond. Although, an aerator can be used for the same purposes.

How is water purified in a pond?

You can see that the process of filtering water in a pond is not complicated:
1. Water from the swimming area flows into the regeneration area.
2. Water circulates back to the bathing area.

Through drainage pipes under the plant roots in the regeneration zone and/or after the skimmer, water is pumped through the UV sterilizer to a waterfall, stream or to the bottom of the swimming area. The pipe leading to the bottom of the swimming area is raised slightly above the bottom so that the flow of water prevents the formation of silt on the bottom.

What should the shape of the pond be?

The pond bowl looks more like a soup bowl with large rims than a bathtub. The height difference should be about 30 cm for every meter of depth. It is this shape of the pond bowl that ensures the stability of the walls. The picture shows cross section pond with planting and swimming area:

After compacting the surface layer of soil in the pit, geotextiles and a sealed liner are laid on the bottom of the pond. In the plant area there are drainage pipes and gravel. In order to separate the swimming zone from the plant zone, a small mound is formed - its top is 3 cm lower from the surface of the water. You can make it from bags of sand or gravel. The mound allows water from the swimming zone to pass into the plant zone, where the water is filtered by plant roots, and at the same time protects the plants from fluctuations in the water of the swimming zone.


This pond design will allow you to conveniently clean the swimming area without affecting the plant area. In addition to cleaning the water, the shallow waters warm up quickly and provide habitat for frogs and other invertebrates, which you will appreciate when they begin to eat mosquito larvae.

To imitate the natural contours of a pond, use a combination of different pond edge profiles. If you place plants on the terraces of the pond, it is better to do this in pots so that they can be easily removed when cleaning the pond.

What size pond is suitable for our site?
The optimal size of the pond is 1/10 of the area of ​​your site.

What about mosquitoes?
One of the first questions that arises when you hear the word “do-it-yourself pond” is what about mosquitoes? Mosquitoes breed only in stagnant water, but the water in a pond will never be static, so mosquitoes will find it unattractive for their habitat. Even if at some point they appear, the ecosystem of the pond in the form of frogs will reduce their population to a minimum.


Why make a pond at your dacha?
People who make a pond with their own hands make this decision because they want their pond to be a beautiful part of the landscape design and at the same time have a clean, attractive place for swimming on a hot day.
Is it possible to have fish in a swimming pond?
Unfortunately, fish, on the one hand, happily eat beneficial microflora, on the other hand, they are carriers of pathogenic bacteria, so there should be no fish in bathhouses.


Is it possible to do sand beach on the pond?
The best solution for entering the pond is a walkway or ladder. For a beach entrance to the water, you need enough area, because... The angle of entry into the water is small. In addition, the sand quickly silts up - those beaches that we see are often simply trampled down to sand, most of the shore of the pond is usually densely overgrown with plants.

Should I swim with frogs?
Yes, frogs are full-fledged and important inhabitants of the pond. Additionally, to purify the water in the pond, it is good to have bivalve shells or pearl barley, which filter water up to 40 liters per day. You can also get snails (coils, livebearers) - they eat dead plants and clean the pond well.

Which the best place for a pond?
It is better to place the pond away from trees, because... falling, the leaves will rot in the pond. Moreover, growing roots can damage the waterproofing film or tilt the finished container. The illumination of the area should be about 5 hours in the morning, and the rest of the time should be in partial shade. The pond does not need high illumination because... leads to increased formation of algae and overheating of water in the reservoir.

What to do with a pond in winter?
In winter, the pond, like natural bodies of water, freezes. There is no need to drain it. For the winter, all equipment (pumps, filters, skimmers) must be removed from the pond.

Does soil type affect the creation of a pond?
No, the composition of the soil does not affect it. There is a misconception that it is good when the level groundwater high. In fact, groundwater at the freezing level is more of a problem. When ice freezes, it can bulge the bottom of the pond. This is especially problematic if the pond is made on the basis of a rigid finished mold.

DIY pond made of film.

The main question when creating a pond is how to make it waterproof. There are several types of pond waterproofing - film, clay castle, concrete and rigid form installation.

Installing a rigid mold is a simple and durable method, but they are not usually available large sizes up to 3.5 sq. meters. Their service life is 10-50 years.

Waterproofing with concrete is the most expensive; in addition, it needs additional processing frost-resistant agent and liquid glass.

A clay castle is the cheapest in terms of materials, but the most labor-intensive. In order to waterproof a pit with clay, the compacted soil is covered with wood ash or soot. Then a 15 cm layer of clay dough is applied to the walls and compacted. When the layer dries, apply a second 30 cm. When the layer is almost dry, crushed stone is poured onto it, slightly pressing it into the layer.

The optimal solution for the construction of ponds with an area of ​​more than 5-6 sq.m. - film waterproofing.


How much film is needed for a pond:
Film length= pond length + 2 pond depth + 50 cm margin for fasteners.
Film width= pond width + 2 pond depth + 50 cm margin for fasteners.

The film is available in widths from 2 to 10 m and lengths of 10-50 m. Knowing your needs, you can choose the optimal roll. Buy the film before digging a pit; this will allow you to cover it immediately when the pit is ready, preventing its edges from fraying.
Which film to choose for a pond.
PVC film for a pond is cheaper, but over time it is destroyed by ultraviolet radiation, its service life is 8-10 years.
Butyl rubber fabric is more expensive, but has protection from both ultraviolet and cold. The service life of such film is 50 years.

DIY pond construction photo.

A do-it-yourself pond begins with marking a pit. The curved shape can be marked with a hose. We remove the turf along the coastline and remove the soil with a bayonet - this will be the line of the swamp zone, then the next level of soil is removed inside the resulting border, and so on. As a result, our terraces will be 50 cm wide with slopes of 20 cm. When the pit for the pond is ready, all solid objects that can damage the film: stones, roots, etc. , we remove. We level and compact the walls and bottom of the pit.

Before work, the film is laid for several hours on sunny place so that when it warms up, it becomes more elastic. The film is laid at warm weather. Overlapping panels of geotextile or felt are laid on the compacted pit; they are needed to protect the waterproofing film from protruding roots and stones over time.


A waterproofing film is spread on top of the geotextile with a margin of 50 cm along the edges of the pit. The edges are temporarily fixed with stones. The film is allowed to sag a little, smoothing and leveling it to the shape of the pit.


The film inside the swimming area can be protected with dry stones stacked on top of each other.


Instead of stones, you can use bags of gravel or sand. But keep in mind that it is more convenient to care for a pond with film walls. – it is easier to clean it from silt and mud.

Fill the pit with water in portions, removing air bubbles from under the film.

When the pond is completely filled with water, securely fix the ends of the film in a trench, which is made at a distance of 15 cm from the edge of the pit. In a trench 20 cm deep, the edges of the film are wrapped in a roll and covered with stones and pebbles.

We make a pond with our own hands. Coastal decoration.

After you have made a pond with your own hands, before you start decorating the shore, you need to water it generously and wait 2-3 days, because... shrinkage is possible. In addition, during this time the water in the pond will settle.
We mask the film on the shore with crushed stones, stones, and snags. We plant plants in shallow water. A pond needs plants that saturate the water with oxygen. There are many suitable plants - reeds, crabgrass, iris, bathwort, marigold, arrowhead. Any plant that grows on the shore of a natural body of water will be suitable for your pond. Don't forget about algae, such as hornwort, which just floats in the water. Deciduous ornamental shrubs It is better to plant behind marsh herbs that are planted directly on the shore.


Illumination adds additional charm to the pond.


Floating flower beds look seductive on the surface of the pond.


Pond safety.

If there are very young children in the family, then perhaps the construction of a pond should be postponed until they are older. It is necessary to consider visiting the pond by elderly people and school-age children. Make a convenient ladder to enter the pond, don't forget to clean it so it doesn't become slippery! It is better to cover all other sides of the pond, except the entrance, with plants.

Pond care.

The new pond will find its own natural look within a year - while it forms its ecosystem. The small world of your pond is very vulnerable. The pond may quickly heat up or freeze, water may evaporate, or the pond may overflow after rain. This puts stress on aquatic life that cannot immediately transition to a safer, more stable environment.


Therefore, your pond, like any living organism, requires care. On a hot day, you need to add water, collect debris that floats on the surface with a net, check whether the plants have grown or perhaps something has not taken root and needs to be replanted. However, a surprising number of life forms will colonize your new pond; they will quickly explore new waters and will stay if conditions suit them.

The quiet splash of water is the most enchanting melody of a hot summer; water bewitches, attracts and seduces us with a playful play of light, transparent depth and invigorating coolness. A DIY pond will give your dacha a special charm.

The contemplation of flowing water is calming. Its measured murmur pacifies, bewitches, and gives a feeling of calm. On a clear day, the sun's reflections play in the clean, transparent droplets. At sunset, the heavy red sun draws a bright path on the smooth surface of the pond. Water gives coolness in the heat, refreshes, invigorates...

OskoHouse

From childhood, we all remember fairy tales about the magical power of living water. According to astrologers, representatives of the signs of the water element especially need healing power water, so they are recommended to surround themselves with all kinds of bodies of water. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a small home aquarium, a small fountain or a large picturesque pond. The main thing is the incomparable feeling of coziness and comfort that comes from the water.

Advice

Necessary attributes for the design of swimming pools as part of decorative reservoirs are also all kinds of wooden flooring and walkways. In addition to the fact that they provide a convenient approach and descent to the water, it is very convenient to place under them necessary equipment, ensuring the water cycle in the system.

Own sea

Biomarket

A large pond in a suburban area is a small sea. A sea of ​​pleasure and a sea of ​​responsibility. What will this pond be like - classic, symmetrical, with smooth edges and strict geometry of the coastlines - or romantic, as close as possible to the natural contours; whether it will be intended only for swimming or inhabited by fish is up to the owner of the pond to decide, fortunately there is a choice design projects is large and will satisfy any, even the most demanding land owner.

Advice

Think carefully about the type of pond you want. The worst thing for a specialist is when they turn to him with a request: “Do something!”

Dmitry Vasiliev,
Technical Director
LLC "Master-Fontan"

Dream come true

In order to competently approach the creation of your own reservoir, first of all you should read special literature. Guided by the information received, you will be able to choose the right materials needed to make your dreams come true.

When creating a mini-garden, you need to take into account three main aspects. The first is the design of the pond. It is necessary to carefully weigh and consider how the size and shape of the pond will be combined, whether its design will be in harmony with the surrounding landscape, whether it will suit the style, and whether the landscape near the house will look holistic and beautiful.

The second, most significant aspect is the location of the reservoir. If this is a pond exclusively for swimming, then it should be located on the south side of the site so that the water in it is always well heated. On the north side, for protection from the wind, you can install a gazebo on the shore. If the pond is populated with fish, it is important to ensure that the water temperature is optimal for their life. Therefore, such a reservoir should not be exposed to solar radiation for more than 5 hours a day. You should inquire in advance about the water temperature suitable for the life of the fish you have chosen: some prefer cold water, others - slightly warmed up.

Advice

When choosing the size of a waterproofing film, you should always take into account all possible circumstances. Order a film of a slightly larger size than required - under certain conditions, the soil at the base of the pond may settle, so a small supply will not hurt.

Dmitry Vasiliev,
Technical Director of Master-Fontan LLC

1. Using onshore modules fastened with metal brackets, markings are made. 2. Retreating from the edge of the coastline, a pit is dug

There should not be large deciduous trees and flowers, otherwise falling leaves and petals will clog the water, and due to an imbalance in the oxygen balance, the pond will begin to become overgrown with algae. The lawn should also not come close to the pond - cut grass can get into the water and clog the pond. To ensure ventilation, the space around the pond must be open.

The third aspect is the amount of work, time and costs of materials. Sometimes it takes no less effort, time and money to create a small but carefully designed pond than to build a large but simple pond.

There are many ways to create ponds. For this purpose, various materials are used - concrete; butyl rubber; special film coating; ready-made plastic molds; custom made plastic bowls individual project. But all ponds - both large and small - are built according to approximately the same scheme.

Why should we build a pond?

3. A waterproofing film is laid on the bottom of the reservoir, and shock-absorbing material is placed on top of the film.

4. Cobblestones and large pebbles are laid on the top layer of geotextile

Before you start creating a pond in the garden, you need to create it on paper - sketch out a rough sketch of what we want to see on our site.

The current fashion for the shape of a reservoir is dominated by a move away from the classics, straight lines and clear boundaries. The last “squeak” is a mini-water area of ​​extravagant, irregular shape. Such a pond is unique, inimitable - we can say with complete confidence that there is no longer and will not be exactly the same reservoir anywhere in the world. But sometimes a pond with a complex configuration does not fit very well into the surrounding terrain, especially if the site has a strict design. In this case, simplicity of form will rather be an advantage.

The pond itself is already beautiful and bright, but there are many different decorations that can, by the way, carry both an aesthetic and functional load. So during construction you should also think about what additional elements you will decorate your pond later. These can be various fences, decorative bridges (which will be very useful in a garden made in Japanese style) or hanging platforms.

Undersea world

5. The pond is filled with water in several stages, giving the film time for final shrinkage

Concrete T-shaped modules are being installed at the site of the future swimming pond

When creating a deep swimming pond, a convenient entrance to the water should be provided. At least one of the slopes should be gentle, and in general it is desirable that the bottom slope along all banks should be no more than 45°.

For aquatic inhabitants, several underwater terraces should be made - a shallow water area, a platform for deep-sea plants and the deepest place for fish.

If you have small children, then for their safety you can simply reduce the water level in the pool bowl. Then, when the children grow up, the water level can be raised.

A matter of technology

"Landscape structures". A layer of geotextile and a layer of waterproofing are laid at the bottom of the reservoir. Upper concrete modules are installed along the perimeter of the swimming bowl.

Shallow regeneration zones are covered with soil. The bottom and walls of the pool are decorated with a waterproofing film that imitates pebbles, and the edges are decorated with cobblestones and large stones.

You can start a pond at any time of the year. It is better to immediately mark the place for the pit and underwater terraces with pegs with a rope stretched between them. When creating terraces, it is better to leave small earthen banks for the convenience of fixing the film and a layer of sand for planting. You should dig a pit 5-10cm deeper than the expected level, then fill the bottom with sand and line it with coconut mats or special non-woven material- geotextiles.

Advice

In some cases, a geostatic mesh, similar to a honeycomb, is mounted on the top layer of geotextile. Large pebbles or cobblestones can be placed in these “honeycombs” to create the effect of a rocky bottom. But such a mesh is used only with ISOBENT, and is usually not used in a standard construction scheme.

Landscape Construction Company

Landscape designs

If the bottom of the pit is reinforced with film, then it is better to remove all sharp objects - stones, tree roots, etc. Work should begin on a warm sunny day, since as the temperature increases, the elasticity of the film also increases. Calculating its dimensions is simple: width\\length of the film = width\\length of the proposed reservoir + double the maximum depth + 1 meter in order to bend the film over the side and dig into the ground for fixation. (After strengthening at the bottom, the edges of the film are wrapped over the sides and dug into the ground several tens of centimeters. This allows the film to be securely fastened and prevent groundwater from entering the pond).

Before you begin waterproofing work, you need to find out what the groundwater level is. If they lie quite close to the surface of the earth, then a relief valve will be required. This is very important point, because if the groundwater level rises, they can ruin the pond by simply squeezing out part of the bottom.

This cup is not for tea

Further work on reinforcing the pond bowl can be done according to several schemes.

The first and, it should be noted, the most expensive method is concreting. This is the oldest and most reliable method of strengthening the bottom. The concreted bottom is not afraid of either groundwater or freezing - and will serve faithfully for more than one generation of owners.

Butyl rubber films for covering the bottom are also quite strong. They can withstand temperatures down to −35°C. Although on the market you can find such films produced different countries, specialists in creating ponds recommend purchasing products from a German manufacturer. Films from Germany are better in quality,
In addition, they are guaranteed to last at least 15 years.

PVC films have gained popularity due to their low cost and ease of use. They range from 0.5 to 1.0 cm thick. To create a pond on a personal plot, a film with a thickness of 0.8 cm is most often used.

Today, PVC is being replaced by a more promising material, which among professionals is commonly called “EPDM membrane.” The material is capable of tenfold stretching without the threat of rupture. Sold in the form of panels and sheets standard sizes, which are glued together directly in place using glue or heat-sealing tape.

"Geotechnology". Construction of a reservoir using a geostatic grid

Another option suitable for creating a large reservoir is to use liquid rubber. After this material hardens, a durable bowl is obtained. The main advantage is that in this way you can create a reservoir of any size. If the width of the film is less than the width of the pond, you will have to make a seam, the quality of which will determine the quality of waterproofing of the pond. When using liquid rubber, such problems do not arise - you can create a pond bowl of any size and configuration, ideally flat or with ledges. The service life of a bowl made of liquid rubber is 50 years.

In specialized stores you can purchase ready-made plastic bowls with a volume of up to 1000 liters or more. Large volume bowls are made to order. Plastic molds used in cases where you need to create a pond quickly and without special costs. They are made of durable, frost-resistant plastic with a UV filter and already have several terraces for aquatic plants, fish, a recess for lighting and a pump.

Natural coating of the bottom of the pond - it couldn’t be simpler. Sand, gravel and flat stones are all that is needed in this case.

Once the pond bowl is made, you can begin to slowly fill the pond with water. The stream should be spraying - this will help reduce the chlorine content in the water. But still, before planting plants and putting fish into the pond, a certain time must pass, during which fresh tap water must “breathe.”

Two in one

You can achieve a harmonious combination of a swimming pool and a decorative artificial reservoir. Such a “hybrid” among professionals is called a landscape swimming pool. The main thing when developing such a hydraulic structure is to solve problems associated with contradictions in the rules for constructing such reservoirs.

The mirror surface of a decorative reservoir, beautifully designed coastlines, as well as the convenience of planting plants in shallow water are its main trump cards. But for swimming pools, the main issue is the depth and hygiene of the reservoir. The water purification system should be as close to natural as possible. This is the main difficulty of constructing a landscape swimming pool. It is necessary to organize a water purification system that is as close to natural as possible. This can be achieved through forced water circulation, when the water passes through the regeneration zone and returns to the swimming bowl purified, clarified and enriched with oxygen. And then you can swim in such a reservoir even if there are fish and plants in it.

The construction scheme for a landscape swimming pool may be as follows. First, markings are made on the curb area plastic tape, which will later serve as the contour of the future reservoir. Then a pit is dug to the entire depth of the swimming bowl and a foundation is cast under the sides of the internal cavity of the reservoir. As waterproofing material An EPDM membrane is used. A shock-absorbing layer of geotextile is laid on top, on which concrete blocks are installed, from which the walls of the swimming bowl are constructed. Next, shallow regeneration zones are backfilled with soil. The final touch is to decorate the surface of the bottom and walls of the pool with a waterproofing film that imitates natural material, let's say, a pebble.

Decor

A ready-made, waterproofed pond bowl can be skillfully decorated. One of the options for such “internal” decoration is artificial stone, also known as concrete with the addition of plasticizers. This material is convenient in that during the hardening process it can be given the required form. A pond decorated with artificial stone looks very impressive. Such a “lake” in solid rock is an ideal addition to a rocky garden.

Multi-colored industrial glass mosaics and bright tiles on the bottom, especially in combination with colored pebbles on the shore, are an excellent design move for connoisseurs of colorful and vibrant life. Suitable for lovers of natural beauty PVC film with pasted on epoxy resin pebbles. This film is also indispensable for decorating steep slopes, which are quite difficult to decorate with ordinary natural material.

Various antique objects associated with water or liquids in general, from ancient Greek amphorae to ancient jugs, will add special chic to the pond. And, of course, the irreplaceable elements of aquadesign are phytodecor
and backlight.

And the water will always be clean!

Any body of water, even the smallest one, needs timely cleaning. Garbage can be either mechanical, accidentally falling into a pond, or biological, arising from the life of plants and fish. While a small pond can be cleaned manually, a large one simply needs a special filter to remove impurities from the water. You can place it near the swimming area so as not to disturb aquatic life. And special filter covers made in the form of large stones will help to disguise the cleaning equipment.

If a lot of leaves fall into the water, you can install a skimmer. It collects fallen leaves and petals, forming a small funnel on the surface of the pond.

Water is the substance thanks to which life appeared on earth. Any pond - both large and small - is quickly populated by inhabitants who begin to live their own lives, in their own rhythm and pace, but next to you. This is a whole microcosm in a small area, amazing and diverse. Give yourself the opportunity to live in harmony with this microcosm, observe or even communicate with its inhabitants, and then your own life will be filled with the harmony and wisdom of nature.

Modern technologies make it easy to build a pond of any size and depth, durable and beautiful at the same time. If there is already a natural reservoir in the garden, you can give it the desired configuration, enlarge it, and decorate the banks.

Text: Snezhana Kholodova, Vladislav Chigazov
Consultants: Landscape Constructions company, Master Fountain LLC

« Landscape solutions"No. 3, 2008

Large garden ponds

If you want to make a relatively large pond on your site, with a water surface area of ​​5–8 square meters. m or more, first of all decide on its size and location. The size may depend only on your desires and the capabilities of the site. It is better to choose a place that is not too dark, since most aquatic plants are quite light-loving. You should not make a pond in a lowland so that in the spring it will not be flooded by groundwater and melt water. If you make a pond near large trees, then be prepared to periodically remove fallen leaves, branches, seeds, etc. It is best to make a pond in a recreation area, where it will be pleasant to admire from garden gazebo or from the lawn.

Before you start digging a pit, outline the outline of the future reservoir and solve the following questions:

Where to put the excavated soil? Don’t rush to order a tractor with a cart and remove soil from the site; you can find a use for it on the site itself - for example, to create alpine slide or to raise the level of the whole site or any part thereof. And don’t be upset that the soil from the depths of the pit is infertile and not cultivated - if necessary, you can quickly improve it by adding organic fertilizers.

The size of the garden pond depends only on your desires and the capabilities of the site

How deep should the pond be? It depends on its size and the purpose for which you are creating it. If you want to have a small pond with shallow-water plants, its depth should be about 50–70 cm. If you want to combine it with a swimming pool or plant water lilies, lotuses, or fish there, the depth should be increased to 1–1.5 m.

How to make a bottom relief? In natural-style ponds, the side walls cannot be made vertical or steep - they must have a slope. From my own experience I will say that this slope should be at least 45 degrees - covering more vertical walls in winter period can be severely damaged by ice. At the same time, this slope should not be smooth, gradually decreasing from the banks to the center. In order to make it more convenient to go down into the pond, plant or install plants in containers, and care for them, you need to make 2-3 terraces around the perimeter, at different depths, with a width of at least 40-50 cm. The first of the terraces should have a depth of 10-15 cm , second – 20–30, third – 30–50. In this case, you can place plants on them that need different depths of water.

What to use to waterproof a pond? It depends on the type of pond and the amount of effort and money you are willing to spend. Cheapest waterproofing coating– clay (provided that you carry out the work yourself and use available materials). The wet clay must be placed evenly in a layer of 15–20 cm on the bottom and walls of the reservoir and compacted, if necessary, wetting it with water so that there are no voids or cracks left in it. Then you need to let the top layer dry and pour a small layer of sand, gravel or plant soil on top.

Film coating is much easier physically, but more expensive from a financial point of view. However, not every film is suitable for waterproofing a pond. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films are inexpensive, but are not very durable and release into water and soil harmful substances(for example, the heavy metal cadmium). Polyethylene film also unsuitable - easily pierced by plant roots and various objects, becomes fragile in the cold and from exposure sun rays, as a result of which it can withstand no more than 2–3 winter seasons. It is best to use special rubber films (butyl rubber) to waterproof a pond - these films are durable, elastic and adhere well special glue, but, unfortunately, quite expensive.

The film laying technology is as follows:

Measure the length and width of the dug pit - to do this, take a cord and lay it along the bottom of the pit from one edge to the other (in the widest parts of the pond). To the resulting length, add 60–100 cm to the edge bend (30–50 cm on each side) - this will be the size of the required piece of film;

Spread the film on a flat place next to the pond, let it lie in the sun for an hour or two so that it straightens and becomes softer;

Cut a piece the right size; if the panels, on the contrary, are not large enough, glue them together;

Slide the finished sheet onto the pond so that the center of the film lies at the bottom, press down the edges of the sheet on the banks with stones or pipes;

Place a small layer of clean sand or washed pebbles on the bottom and terraces to better fix the film;

Start filling the pond with water, and as it is filled, straighten the cloth, adding folds where necessary;

When 10–15 cm remains to the top mark, temporarily stop filling the reservoir;

Along the entire perimeter, stepping back about 10–20 cm from the edge, dig a groove 5–10 cm deep, tuck the edge of the film into it and sprinkle with soil;

Decorate the edge of the film: lay tiles or flat stones along the edge of the pond so that they cover top part films and hung 5–8 cm above the water. The stones should be laid horizontally or slightly tilted away from the pond (so as not to slide towards the water) and have enough big size to lie stable. In most cases, it makes no sense to fasten stones with concrete - in the harsh Russian winter, concrete will quickly crack. To make the reservoir look more natural and interesting, in some places the stones can be replaced with pieces of turf or wooden flooring that imitates an embankment;

Let the water sit for several days, after which you can start planting the plants, and only then add water to the maximum level.

The most expensive and durable material for waterproofing a pond is concrete. However, making a pond out of it is not easy. In the climate of the center and north of Russia thick layer ice forming on the surface of the water can tear apart concrete walls. To prevent this from happening, for the construction of reservoirs, as a rule, special high-grade concrete with a powerful frame of reinforcement and a wall thickness of at least 30 cm is used. For those reservoirs in which water remains for the winter (as a rule, these are natural-style reservoirs), the walls are made with a slope of at least 45 degrees so that the ice does not “spread” them, but is “pushed” up.

Most often, regular-style ponds are made from concrete, having the correct geometric shape. To fill such reservoirs, it is easier to make formwork, and the walls can be made vertical, since in the winter the water is drained from them, containers and pots with cold-resistant aquatic plants are transferred to other reservoirs, fish and heat-loving plants– in aquariums and winter gardens.

Concrete ponds can be dug into the ground or partially or completely raised above the soil level. For raised ponds of a regular style, the outside walls are lined with stone, tiles or decorative bricks. Inside, the walls and bottom are covered with liquid glass or decorative film, tiles, sometimes multi-colored, with patterns and designs. When constructing such reservoirs, it is necessary to make holes in the bottom in advance for draining water, and lay a cable in the walls for decorative lighting, connecting a fountain or equipment for water purification and aeration.

Your pond is finally built and it's time to breathe life into it. Let's start with choosing plants.

Lining a reservoir with concrete