ponds

28 Jul '05 10:14 pm

Hello,

My first post - couldn't resist asking about water features. Am just about to 'create' my first pond. unfortuntately nothing like the size of your pond Moosey. Had a bit of pond envy having seen photo's of yours (should I just flood the whole garden?!).
So basically do you have any tips? Its going to be in a lightly shady spot with a bog area around the outside (sort of like a toad hotel - Woody our cat [spotty bellied] brings us at least 3 live ones a night and Dave and I can often be seen sprinting down the garden half naked in the middle of the night taking the poor things to safety... Embarassed

)
The pond/bog area will be about 2 metres square in total with one rocky end (for the toads)I've had a look at lots of different plants and there are so many! I thought I would just stick to a few - Any recommendations?

28 Jul '05 10:26 pm

Welcome to the forums Nic!

Moosey had lots of fun making her new stream and pond - sure she'll have a few do-s and don'ts. Not sure whether engineering garden partner Stephen's know-how was employed tho... Wink

I can only watch in envy - the only water making it up onto the roof terrace here is lugged up in watering cans.

18 Aug '05 8:25 am

Hello Nic,
A toad pond sounds so good - I guess they don't so much need space as the perfect habitat. Little rocks, floating plants to hide under - edge greenery to lurk in, that sort of thing. I would be tempted to design the whole thing for them, rather like one would design a healthy childrens's playground. Thinking I guess of safety (shelter from Woody the cat?) and good clean living. Which I guess means good clean water. Don't ever forget that the water is the real thing!

If you are too tempted by grand pond designs you can end up with giant gunnera beside a stinky puddle, or water lilies with no water showing!

So I'd think small, and toady - and have plants in buckets standing by to fill in the margins, and maybe some water-floaters with weighted down buckets to look groovy. Rocks. A few permanent (or potted) spikes look fabulous by the water. Ha! What about the plants we call toad lilies?

Water quality first, toads second, fashion last!
Good luck, and how about a set of well planned photographs? Tripod, exactly same spot, one a week sort of thing?

Cheers and happy ponding

ponds

ponds

Making a new garden pond