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Setting up a pond

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Maartje (U5142036) on Sunday, 14th June 2009

  Hallo
  I've just bought a tiny rigid pond having seen a frog in my garden. Does anyone have any tips?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Bearhug (U2258283) on Sunday, 14th June 2009

  Dig out the hole for it bigger than you need, then line it with sand, so you get an exact fit for the liner. Stick a plank across it and measure it with a spirit level, then do the same at 90degrees, till you're sure it's level all round. If it's not dead level, then take it out and redo the sand. You can take ages getting this right, but better now than when you've filled it and you can't totally fill it because it's not quite level.
  
  I have a strawberry planter (a flower pot with holes in the side) in mine (a half barrel with a flat bottom) - with the planter upside down, with a plant on top, it means that the fish can swim in and out of the pot, and I have different planting levels.
  
  The gardening page in yesterday's Guardian magazine has some information about ponds, including small ones.
  

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• Message 3

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  Posted by One (U8211650) on Sunday, 14th June 2009

  We have a very small pond, which may be a bit like yours, inherited from the previous owners of our house.
  
  We recently turfed over a previously paved area and decided that it would be a suitable area for the pond. So before turfing we dug a hole put the pond it it and then turfed round it. We are considering getting a lily leaf for it, wouldn't take more than one. Hopefully it will keep itself full. But too small for fish or frogs as cats would easily catch them.
  
  Don't know how sucessful it is going to be.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Isca (U9480909) on Sunday, 14th June 2009

  Don't forget to make some sort of step or ramp so the frogs can get in and out. They drown if they get stuck in deep water.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Sixties Relic SAVE ML (U13777237) on Sunday, 14th June 2009

  And if there is a shallow end (or some stones in, close to the surface) the birds will also hop about and use it as a bird bath.
  
  
  PS a friend of mine has a very small pond, she does get frogs, but says they never spawn there. Do they know it is too small and go elsewhere to spawn?

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• Message 6

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  Posted by goldilocks exits pursued by bears (U1859740) on Sunday, 14th June 2009

  In reply to Sixties_Relic in message 5
  
  Just a word of advice from somebody who used to work at a nursery specialising in water lilies. Don't get a 'pygmy' lily for a small pond. In this case 'pygmy' means that they have small flowers, not that they are a small plant. In fact they tend to be very prolific!
  And DON'T take the advice in yesterday's Guardian gardening section and buy Parrot's Feather. It's a very invasive weed, and has become a real problem in some places. I despair of these gardening 'experts' at times!

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Isca (U9480909) on Sunday, 14th June 2009

  I can recommend water soldiers (unless anyone knows better... I'm still a beginner) They have a funny habit of floating very slowly between the surface and the bottom, and produce loads of water cadets, strawberry-style. Zero-maintenance and look elegant. I'm eyeing up water chestnut too - anyone got any experience?
  
  Goldilocks, anything else you can suggest for a small -- or, in my case, shallow (< 1ft) -- pond?
  
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by goldilocks exits pursued by bears (U1859740) on Sunday, 14th June 2009

  In reply to Isca in message 7
  
  I'm quite a fan of Aponogeton (water hawthorn) myself, as it smells lovely. And the Calthas are good marginals (marsh marigolds). Iris are my favourite, but avoid the native yellow flag because it will take over pretty quickly.
  I think the main thing to remember is that any plants will take over your pond after a while, so be prepared to be ruthless and hoik chunks of them out from time to time.
  My old boss used to reckon that you shouldn't need oxygenating pondweed if you have plenty of marginal plants etc.
  
  This is where I used to work, and I would recommend sending for their catalogue:
  

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