And a pond. Even a small body of water attracts others like a magnet. Water is mesmerizing 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. The construction of 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, a negative side to this: you will have to raise the edges of the bowl higher in order 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, laying out its borders with cobblestones or stones, and planting plants. The brook, which is obligatory in this case, can also be ennobled by laying out its edges with cobblestones, drowning them in soggy soil, you will give greater strength to the shore, between them you can land moisture-loving plants.
Even a small waterfall is a magical sight. How to dam a pond if there is a natural stream on your site - dig a ditch, line it with stone and direct the stream into it
Not everyone on the site has such a luxury as a stream or a key. 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 fast way make an artificial pond in the country - bury the finished bowl in the ground, decorating and decorating its edges. There are plastic bowls - ready-made in different shapes, sizes and colors (mostly blue, green and black).
The device of a plastic garden or country pond- it's a simple matter. Here is a step by step guide:
- 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, draw a contour with something (at least dig it with a shovel). The bowl is taken aside, 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 manage to raise the edges a little, it will be even better: during the rain, dirty water will not flow.
- After the desired depth is reached, the bottom is leveled into the horizon: it is first leveled with a shovel, then compacted and the excess is removed with an even bar. The surface should be flat and hard: the plastic should 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 step is to install the bowl in the pit. If the bottom has been made even, the edges of the bowl will become level with respect to the horizon. Now the space that remains between the wall of the bowl and the pit must be covered with soil or sand and compacted well.
- Now it's up to the design: the installation is completed, you can fill in the water.
How this technology was used to build a pond in the yard with illumination, see this photo report (you can scroll through the photo gallery by clicking on the thumbnails below).
Digging a pit. We decided that the sides would be 1-2 cm higher than the level of the track - there would be less debris inside, and we would decorate the edges with stones. On this side, just below the maximum level, a pipe was cut into the bowl - so that excess water would drain. They took her down the drain
But not always and not everywhere there is an opportunity to constantly add and divert water to the pond. Then you will either have to plant such plants that will clean it, or change it periodically.
Pond from an old bathroom
It is not necessary to buy a bowl. Any container can be used. Even old bath. It turns out very well. All actions are the same, the foundation pit is first dug, a bath is placed in it, what goes on, see the next series of photos. On them, the pond from the old bath is transformed into a really lovely corner.
The site was still entangled with wire - so that the clay does not float and the site does not sag. It’s such a beauty after a month - a garden pond built by one’s own hands makes me happy
A pond from a car tire (with a film)
A mini-pond can be made from an old car tire, or rather from a tire. The larger it is, the larger the reservoir. The most difficult thing in this business is to cut off one side part. If the edges are sharp as a result, they need to be processed sandpaper. The second most difficult task is to dig a hole of a suitable size. This is where the difficulties ended. The rest is quite easy.
A cut tire is installed in the pit, covered with earth on the sides, well compacted. Also, earth or sand is poured inside, the bottom is leveled. Take a piece of dense polyethylene film, can be folded twice and cover the resulting tank. Do not try hard: pour water, she will straighten the film herself.
Instead of polyethylene, you can take a banner film (available in advertising firms 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, decorated with stones. The device of the pond is over, then - decoration and planting of plants. See how to make a pond from a tire in the photo report.
The next stage in the manufacture of a mini-pond for a summer residence is decorating the edges with stones
There is certainly nothing complicated in such a device. Anyone can build such a reservoir in the country with their own hands, and the investment is minimal.
In general, mini-ponds are also made from tanks, barrels, pots, even flower pots. The main thing is to have a body, and it is not very difficult to arrange it: experience gradually comes. They put them in the garden, in the country, near the house. It is possible to bring water, make a stream, it can be bred under trees, for example, or shrubs. Both beauty and usefulness at the same time.
We make a pond with a film
By creating this artificial pond from a film, you almost exactly repeat the work described above, only without installing a bowl:
- mark out the shape of the future pond;
- dig a pit, forming, if necessary, ledges;
- clean the bottom of any sharp objects: roots, stones, etc.;
- level the banks of your pond;
- spread the waterproofing film;
- fill the pond with water;
- fix the edges of the film;
- decorate.
A country pond created using this technology may already be of a more respectable size. Important point: on loose soil, just making a pit and putting a film will not work. We will have to come up with some measures to strengthen the coast. In this case, you will either have to put up a bowl, or make a more serious structure - from brick or concrete. Next, consider examples of how to inexpensively make a pond out of film.
First project: sides flush with the ground
Eight simple steps and your pond in the country is built. How to dig and equip a pond in the country, to make it look like a natural one, see the photo report.
Second project: sides raised
The second version of a home-made pond in the first stages is built in almost the same way as the first. Only after the depth of the excavation reached the design one, the sides were raised, laid out along the edge with bricks and concreted. It turned out a reservoir with raised sides. There is also a water circulation system. It is shown in the figure below.
As you can see, this pond is more multi-layered and its volume is more serious. If you want to have a reservoir of at least a medium size and not build a serious bowl at the same time, you can do as shown in the figure: fill the created pit with sand, cover it, and only lay the film on top. Geotextile evenly distributes the load and does not allow plants to germinate. This is especially true if you are building a pond in your garden and there are bushes or trees nearby.
Serious projects: brick and concrete
If you want to have a large pond in the country, and you want to build it yourself, you will have to study the topic of building pools. Firstly, the construction of bowls - one to one repeats all the steps. Even forms are sometimes made stepped. True, the shores are not decorated with plants, and they are not planted in the pool itself ... But the construction process itself, with reinforcement, plaster, waterproofing, is the same. Moreover, the water supply and water treatment system is also similar. Except that they do not use in ponds chemical methods cleaning, but filters, skimmers and ultraviolet can be used.
In general, a large pond is not a cheap pleasure. Moreover, it requires expenses only for construction, but also for maintaining a large reservoir in good condition: filters need to be cleaned regularly and cartridges or backfill changed. But of course, it's a lot of fun...
Not the largest pond, but 10 bags of cement, 30 bags of sand (20 coarse and 10 fine), a hydrophobic additive - 5 bags went to it so that the concrete was water-repellent. Plastered on a grid fixed in the ground
Plants for the pond
When shaping or choosing a bowl, consider not only its shape and depth. If you want plants to grow in the pond, you need a swampy coastal area. If you form a reservoir using a film, you can make approximately the same profile as 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 it, you can make the relief the way you like. To make it easier to work and the film does not tear, lay geotextiles on the sand. This thin membrane is very tear resistant. You can do whatever you want and don't break it. Having formed the desired bottom relief 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.
In order to have enough oxygen in the water, you can plant Canadian elodea, hornwort and swamp. They are in the photo below. Planted in water - these are aquatic plants.
Such a luxurious garden decoration can be made with your own hands in various stylistic directions. Also, the pond can be decorated with decorative streams, paths, a neat coastline, etc.
Place for a pond
In order for the pond to have natural light, it is better to place it near the house, on the south or east side, away from areas densely planted with shrubs and fruit trees.
It is advisable to place the reservoir near the water source, so that after cleaning it is easier to fill.
How to make a fence from plastic bottles with your own hands, as well as which model to choose, read.
Shrub to create a hedge -.
Shape and size
When choosing the size of the reservoir, you need to focus on the area of \u200b\u200bthe garden plot. For example, on 6 acres it is better to build a 3x3 m structure with a depth of 80 cm or 2x2 m with a depth of 50 cm.
If it is planned to launch fish and other aquatic inhabitants into the pond, the water expanses will have to be expanded, otherwise the inhabitants in a cramped space will not survive.
Choosing a form should be based on personal preferences and stylistic features site. Drop-shaped or bean-shaped designs look natural. For garden plots with height differences, designers advise considering options for small backwaters with streams.
Pond Base Selection
When the place and size of the pond are chosen, you need to decide on its basis. You can build a pond in the country from:
Step by step instructions for creating
To create an artificial pond with your own hands, you need to perform several stages of work with high quality. Before that, you need to prepare the necessary materials:
- PVC coating;
- fine gravel;
- rope;
- stone slabs;
- round stones;
- sand;
- bricks.
To create an artificial reservoir, you need to follow the step-by-step instructions:
You can also see how to make a film pond with your own hands in this video:
A small artificial pond can be made from an old bathtub. It is installed in the pit, after closing the drain hole. The inner sides are treated with ceramic tile adhesive with the addition of paint. A chain-link mesh is laid along the perimeter of the container, a cement-sand mixture is applied to it, and various decorative elements– stones, tiles, gravel, etc.
decoration
When the main part of the work is completed, you can proceed to the decorative stage.
Stones and water
If there are cobblestones, they can lay out the perimeter and bottom.
It is important to remember that only stones without sharp corners, especially if the base is made of film.
Water is poured from the hose in a weak stream. Within 2-3 weeks, the liquid may be cloudy - this is a biological process, then the water will become clear and clean.
To maintain these qualities, you can have tadpoles that feed on algae and filter the water.
Find out how to plant and care for a delphinium in the garden at. Additional decorations
The pond can be equipped with underwater lighting, which will look spectacular at night.
You can also install mini spotlights. For this, LED and halogen lamps are used. To make fountains, you will need special surface and underwater pumps.
The use of lighting in the pond - a modern design solution
Life in the pond
If you want to populate the pond with fish, create for them the necessary conditions habitat
A pond without vegetation and living creatures will soon lose its aesthetic appearance.
That is why landscape designers are advised to think in advance who will live in the reservoir. For example, tall species of plants, lotuses, water lilies, duckweeds can be planted at the bottom.
Before buying fish, you need to clarify the conditions of their habitat. It is important to remember that some species are at enmity with each other and will not be able to survive in the same territory.
Pond care in summer and winter
Summer is a period of active vegetative growth, so you need to monitor the plants planted in the pond and nearby.
It is necessary to remove overgrown algae, they can be used at their summer cottage as fertilizers and mulch. Plants blooming in a pond in the summer months are fertilized with long-acting agents. Weeds growing on the shore are regularly removed.
From June to August, you can plant exotic plants: calla, lotus, lazichiton, water lettuce, cinquefoil.
It is important not to forget about the constant monitoring of water quality.
A pond in which amphibians and fish do not live can be drained and covered with garden film before winter.
If there are inhabitants in it, then before the first frosts, a de-icer is turned on.
Foreword
There are a lot of options for creating ponds in the country with your own hands: someone uses improvised materials, and if desired and with a sufficient level of skills, you can build a solid, monolithic structure.
Required Tools and materials
Concrete mixerBituminous masticBulgarianStoneBrushShovelMaster OKHammerknifeGlovesSandPolypropylene pipesPolyethylene filmAxeCementrubble
Content
There are a lot of options for creating ponds in the country with your own hands: someone uses improvised materials, and if desired and with a sufficient level of skills, you can also build a solid, monolithic structure. Here you will learn how to make a pond out of tires, how to create a pond with an alpine mini-slide, and also how to equip a landscaped pond with a waterfall in the garden.
How to make a pond from a tire (tire) in the country with your own hands
In order to make a pond from a tire in the country with your own hands, you will need the following materials and tools:
- old sink;
- old car tire;
- shovel;
- crushed stone;
- sand;
- polyethylene film;
- decorative rock;
- pump and hoses;
- aquatic plants.
To create a two-level pond from a tire with your own hands, you can take an old tire from the rear wheel of a tractor (you can get it at a tire shop) and an ordinary old sink.
Look at the photo - do-it-yourself bunk ponds in the country house look very impressive when finished, although it is somewhat more difficult to design them than a regular pond:
In addition to these basic construction details, you will need a strong plastic sheet (preferably black), a special pump and a garden hose, as well as finishing material taste.
Before you make a pond out of a tire with your own hands, you need to prepare the tire: carefully cut off the side part on one side so that you get a kind of pool with a hole in the middle. This hole must be closed using cold welding for rubber and pieces of rubber cut into long strips (you can use the material that remained when cutting one of the side parts of the tire).
Next, you need to put the tire on the site and outline its contour on the ground. Dig a hole along the contour, make a drainage layer 10 cm deep on the sides, and 20 cm deep. To make a pond from a tire, the bottom of the future reservoir should be covered with a layer of rubble (15 cm) and a layer of sand (5-7 cm ). Next, a tire is placed in the hole.
Then it is necessary to cover the entire tire with a solid sheet of polyethylene film, filling all the recesses with the film as much as possible and leaving another 60 cm of this material at the edges. Inside the tire, the film must be pressed down with stones. The same must be done outside. After that, it is necessary to pour water so that the film is completely straightened.
Further, when creating a pond from a tire with your own hands, you need to fill the ends of the film under the tire, press down and fill the free space between the tire and the walls of the pit with wet sand. This will be a kind of drainage layer and at the same time a fixative for the film, which guarantees no leaks in the future.
How to make a pond with your own hands in several levels? An old sink is used to form the second level. On one side of the tire, you need to form a slide from decorative stone so that the slope towards the tire is gentle, and at the very top there is a platform with a sink.
When laying out stones, it is necessary to place a piece of garden hose inside the structure, through which water will flow into the sink, and in the form of a waterfall flow down the slope back into the lower pond. To do this, you need to install the sink in such a way that its edge, through which water will flow onto the slope of the hill, is slightly sloped.
As you can see in the photo, in the pond with your own hands, the pump can be installed at the top, decorating it with a bush or a large stone:
The stones that make up the slide can be fixed with the help, while trying to make sure that the traces of the hitch are not visible from the outside.
The sides of the upper and lower ponds in the country house made of tires with your own hands should be decorated with the same stone from which the stone slide is made. The lower reservoir must be lined with larger stones, and the upper - with small ones. The inner surface of the sink must also be decorated with pebbles and sand, using special glue for fastening. When creating a pond on a site at the bottom of a large reservoir, several large stones should be placed, then sprinkled river sand. Pots with already planted aquatic plants it is very convenient to arrange among the stones, then they will not be noticeable.
Such a pond can even be decorated with aquarium fish, and the upper small pond can be decorated with algae or plants hanging down.
The video "Do-it-yourself pond from tires" will help you better understand the technology for making a decorative pond:
Do-it-yourself pond with an alpine slide and a photo of the design of the pond
To make an alpine slide with a pond with your own hands, it is better to use a natural gentle slope with a recess under it.
To work, you will need the following material:
- waterproof waterproofing material for the device of the bottom of the reservoir (butyl rubber or PVC film UV);
- geofelt;
- large gravel;
- aquaclay (for fixing stones);
- tumbled flagstone with rounded edges;
- sand and gravel;
- pumping unit and hoses.
For an alpine slide and a do-it-yourself pond, you first need to prepare a place for a cascading pond, you need to dig a hole according to the size of the pond, sprinkle it with sand, and compact it. Then you should outline the trajectory of the cascade.
Next, you need to line the bed for the pond with geofelt, then with waterproofing material. Decorate the bottom and sloping banks of the pond with large pebbles. If the slope is gentle (15-25°), then the stones do not need to be fixed, and if the slope is greater, then the stones must be fixed with special glue (FIX-ALL type).
After that, you can fill the pond with water to check its level and the formation of the coastline.
Now you should start building the cascade. First you need to level the slope, creating a sand cushion with a given slope. To create the appearance of a natural flow of water, you can make a slope of only a few degrees or give it the appearance of a sheer slope.
Then, when creating an alpine slide with a pond with your own hands, you need to build a bed by selecting the sand to the desired depth. The choice will depend on the number of stages to be built in the cascade, as well as their length and the total length of the channel. For the installation of steps, it is recommended to use tumbled flagstone with rounded edges so that it does not damage the waterproofing film. Under each step, you need to create a mini-foundation of crushed stone, checking the horizontal level. Next, from the sand you need to form the sides.
After that, you need to remove the flagstone from the step, cover the channel with waterproofing, then return the flagstone to its place, fixing it with aqua-glue so that there are no gaps under the stones.
Next, you need to install pumping equipment. Its parameters will depend on the size of the cascade and pond, the power of the stream. The flow can be rough, medium and weak. After installing the equipment, you need to do a test run. If the flow of water goes around the stones, it is necessary to cut off the ends of these stones with a grinder, then the water will break off them without leaving the artificial channel.
In conclusion, you can decorate the bed of the stream with stones and plants, first of all, hiding the pump in the pond, cable and hoses from view.
When making an alpine slide and a pond located on a dry site, you can use wetland plants, choosing the most similar to each other. For landscaping the area around the pond and hill, it is better to use herbaceous plants, coniferous and deciduous shrubs. Plants with an attractive shape will look spectacular here: weeping apple tree, goat willow, tree-like caragana, European larch. From conifers, thuja Danica, horizontal juniper, miniature species of spruces and pines are suitable. Along the edge of the reservoir, you can plant azalea and rhododendron, low varieties of barberry, shrub cinquefoil, panicle hydrangea.
But do not plant too many plants, otherwise they will divert attention from the main composition - a cascade with a pond.
Here you can see photo alpine slides with ponds made by hand on the garden plot:
How to make a landscape pond with a waterfall in the country with your own hands (with photo)
This version of a small artificial pond is very simple to implement and inexpensive, because, firstly, the pond will not take up much space on the site. Second, it will use homemade filter water purification. Thirdly, the do-it-yourself bowl of this reservoir with a waterfall is made on the basis of a finished plastic container. With all this, the pond will be perfectly equipped for the habitation of fish in it, and also decorated with lighting.
To create a pond with a waterfall in the country with your own hands, you will need the following materials:
- plastic container for 500 l;
- a pump (with such power as to raise the water column by 3 m, but less is possible) and hoses;
- basin (for the filter) for 20-30 l;
- construction waste (broken brick, gravel, rubble and pieces of concrete);
- river sand;
- fittings for the base of the slide (you can use old gratings);
- adhesive mixture Ceresit CM 117;
- lighting (eg. Street lamp in the form of a ball with an energy-saving pink or blue lamp);
- wires, outdoor double switch and socket;
- Luhansk stone;
- pebbles (for backfilling);
- underwater planting containers and the plants themselves.
Tools for making an artificial reservoir with a waterfall with your own hands will require the following:
- pick;
- shovels;
- Master OK;
- putty knife;
- shoe level;
- pliers;
- screwdriver;
- screwdriver;
- perforator.
Work on creating a dacha pond begins with the installation of a plastic container. After choosing a place for the pond, you need to make markings and dig a pit. At the bottom of the pit, it is necessary to pour sand, level it and install a container. The cavities between the walls of the pit and the tank should be covered with wet sand, while simultaneously filling the pond with water.
Before you make a pond with a waterfall with your own hands, you need to build the base of the slide. To do this, you need to tamp the ground, lay reinforcement on top, and already lay broken bricks, gravel, rubble and pieces of concrete on it, forming the steps of the slide under the waterfall from Luhansk stone.
When arranging such a pond in a country house with your own hands, remember that the steps of the cascade must be horizontal, otherwise the water will drain along one edge. A slight slope of 3 ° is made from the top step to the bottom.
How to make a filter for a pond in the country with your own hands using a basin? To do this, at the bottom of the tank (without touching the bottom itself) you need to do horizontal hole about 15-20 cm long and 12 cm wide. Insert the edge of the first cascade into this opening. The remaining space should then be filled with mortar and smoothed out so that a drain is obtained on the first step. Next, you need to coat the surface with a waterproofing solution, and when it dries, you should put 3-4 stones 5 cm high, cover with a flat stone, a piece of iron or plastic on top. On the lower part filter, it is necessary to pour rubble, and put a synthetic winterizer on top. Then you can run the hose from the pump. The visible upper part after this must be decorated with pebbles.
As a result, a small geyser should turn out: water from a pump located at the bottom of the pond will pump through the hose, then go outside and filter through the drainage, and then flow back into the pond through cascades.
When arranging such a pond with your own hands on the site, it is better to put the pump on the bottom on a brick. You can impose a basin with a stone on the solution. Next, you need to connect the pump through a double street switch, and make lighting next to it. The base of the lantern can be installed on a flat stone by fixing it with silicone and inserting an energy-saving lamp into it. It is also better to “prosilicone” holes for the power cable and fasteners.
It remains only to decorate everything with stone, sea pebbles, plant ornamental vegetation and launch fish into the pond.
DIY decorative artificial pond with a waterfall
Here you can see another step by step instructions creating a do-it-yourself pond equipped with a waterfall.
For this solid construction, you will need to make a large bowl of cement (at least 10 m2 in area), then overlay it with stone.
A do-it-yourself decorative pond with a waterfall is created on the basis of an artificially built wall 7 m high. So in this case, a significant amount of material and effort will be required, but the result will be capital durable construction that will last more than one generation.
Of course, it would be possible to make a bowl of a pond with a waterfall with your own hands and much smaller sizes, but given the size of the entire structure and the height of the waterfall, this structure would look bad, in general. And in a large pond, the water will constantly stay at the level. If you choose a pump with good filters for the design, then it will be possible to launch fish into the reservoir, which will feel great here even in winter, because a deep pond will not freeze to the bottom.
To create such a pond with your own hands, you will need the following material:
- primer deep penetration Ceresit ST 17;
- waterproofing mixture Ceresit CR 65;
- adhesive mixture Ceresit CM 117;
- cement;
- sand;
- natural stone of arbitrary shape (pebble, torn stone);
- rough ends (fingers) and quartzite;
- pump with a water capacity of 7 m;
- food hose.
With any capital construction, it is desirable to use the material of the same brand, then there will be a full guarantee that all structural elements are securely fixed.
As you can see in the photo, a do-it-yourself pond with a waterfall is carried out in several stages. First you need to build an artificial wall under the waterfall. It is made from cement mortar. It requires formwork. The wall is built in several stages, starting from the bottom of the widest platform, then a step is made higher, etc. One side of the slide will be flat, and the other with small protrusions, thinning towards the top. To create this artificial slide, you need to make a very thick solution. Then the slide must be left to dry completely so that the solution completely hardens.
At the next stage of creating a landscape pond, do-it-yourself bowls of a reservoir are built. It is necessary to dig a foundation pit according to a given size, make a bowl from the solution, which should be very thick, but as elastic as possible, because the bowl will be made by hand. So that the latter does not crack over time under the influence of moisture, it is recommended to add special hydrophobic agents to the solution.
After the whole structure has hardened (it will take 2 days), 2-3 layers of Ceresit CR 65 waterproofing mixture should be applied to its surface. During the construction process, before pouring concrete into the bowl, you need to stretch the hose from the deepest place in the bowl, a pump will be installed there, up to the highest point of the wall of the waterfall, where water will flow out.
After that, you can proceed to finish the reservoir and slides with stone. First, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the entire structure from dirt and dust, and then apply 1-2 layers of Ceresit CT 17 deep-penetrating primer. Only in this case, the structure will be ready for stone decoration.
To glue the stone, you will need the Ceresit CM 117 adhesive mixture. This process should be started from the side walls, moving towards the front part.
The side wall must be faced with "fingers" with elements of torn stone. In this case, it is very important to observe the approximate horizontal. It is also important to avoid sharp depressions and bulges. Real natural look it will only work if the effect of smoothly wagging walls is achieved, although you can add a little non-standard lunges, but in moderation.
The front side of the waterfall with steps is made mainly of torn stone. On the sides, it should be tightly connected to the facial stones. Stones need to be glued one on top of the other, from the bottom up.
You can add some pebbles and large bright stones for a change. Special attention it is necessary to give the sides - they must be without gaps so that the water does not flow out of the waterfall. This is a very delicate and painstaking work.
The pond also needs to be overlaid with large pebbles. Start gluing the stone from the bottom of the bowl upwards.
For the pump, it is recommended to make a “fortress” of small stones from pebbles, where it can then be hidden, and covered with a sandstone lid on top. It must be remembered that in winter the pump must be pulled out. Therefore, it should be done so that it is freely pulled out of its house.
At first, the water will be dirty, so you need to pull the hose from the top of the small bucket and point it to the side, turn on the pump to circulate the water so that it is clear.
In the future, the reservoir can be decorated with aquatic plants, launch fish and snails, arrange lighting and enjoy the creation of your own hands.
Water cascade with a pond and a stylized recreation area
This project is also more convenient to implement if the site has a steep slope. However, if there is none, you will have to create it artificially. This structure differs from the previous one not so much in dimensions as in the elements that make up the entire structure. It is planned to complete a whole site paved with decorative tiles from torn edges.
One side of the platform should be framed by a high stone wall in the form of a semi-oval with descending steps, located closer to the middle of the platform, where it will finally be level with the ground. In the central part of this wall, a cascading waterfall should be arranged: the water below will fall into a small bowl, and then flow into the reservoir in a stream. This is the central part of the ensemble. On both sides of the stream and the reservoir, on a platform paved with tiles, you can equip a recreation area with sun loungers for taking sunbathing or a table and benches for relaxing, a playground or a garden with exotic plants in tubs.
Of course, to create such a water area, at least 20 m2 and a lot of money and effort will be required, but suburban area will turn into a real resort, and a trip to the country will take on a new meaning.
For the construction of this structure, you will need several sacks of cement, sets of natural stone various colors and dimensions, some red brick and sand, a pumping station, finished container for a reservoir, a tile for finishing of a platform (combined with finishing stone waterfalls and walls), plants and other decorative elements - to taste and depending on the purpose of this site.
Initially, you need to choose a place, make markings, clear the ground, then dig a hole under the pond and a shallow trench for the stream. You also need to dig a trench under the foundation of the vertical wall, from which the slope of the cascade will begin. After that, it is necessary to make a foundation, filling the trench with broken bricks, fragments of ceramic tiles, and then pour everything cement mortar. As soon as the foundation hardens, it will be possible to begin the construction of the wall. In this case, it is made of brick, and outside it is lined with natural stone. The wall should line up in the form of a semicircle.
Then you need to lay out a niche for pumping equipment, install it and mask the niche.
Next are performed plumbing systems. It is necessary to arrange a system of pipelines for the water cycle. A niche with a pump in the wall is already ready, now you need to dig a trench for pipes and install artificial reservoirs. One reservoir should be located right at the foot of the slope, where the waterfall water will flow, the other - a little further away. A small plastic barrel will be used as the first reservoir, for the second reservoir you need to use a shallow, but wider container, with a free shore line. The containers should be installed in the pits prepared for them, constructing a drainage cushion and waterproofing. Next, you need to make a winding trench from the first small reservoir to the second. This duct must also be protected with waterproofing.
All water pipes at this stage must be installed and hidden underground. The pumping system will take water from the last reservoir and transfer it to the top of the waterfall. Along the way, the water will be purified by a filtration system, will fall down the hills along the steps into a small reservoir, from there it will overflow into a large stream, collect in the drain to the pump and again flow to the waterfall.
When the base of the structure is built, you can proceed to the construction of the site. It must be paved with flat stones with torn edges, laying the material on a sandy base - according to the principle of laying paving stones.
When paving the site, you can build several flower beds, in which moisture-loving plants will then be planted, or you can pave the entire site without recesses, and then install the plants in tubs along the coastline of the waterfall and stream.
In any place of the structure, if desired, you can install lamps, then arrange everything in accordance with the purpose of this recreation area.
Watch the video "Pond in the country with your own hands" before proceeding with the construction of the structure:
How to turn your Vacation home or a cottage in a real paradise? Very easy. You only need to create beautiful place which is pleasing to the eye. One of these bright highlights in landscape design may be decorative pond nestled among the surrounding greenery.
How to make an artificial reservoir with your own hands?
Varieties of artificial reservoirs
Before starting large-scale work and equipping a whole lake with your own hands, you need to think about the purpose of building a pond in a summer cottage. In terms of functionality, there four types of reservoir:
Given your capabilities and goals, you can determine the geometry of the pond, its parameters and location.
Pond Style
Water can be made in two versions with many different modifications.
- Regular or formal body of water. This is a structure that has a rigidly defined shape. Wherein correct form more suitable for areas that are designed in high-tech, minimalism or modern styles, or in classical style. Along with rectangular shapes, broken, square and round also refer to the formal appearance of the reservoir.
- Landscape pond. The most popular option, since it has an irregular shape, its appearance has the effect of being close to nature and the flight of the creators' imagination is not limited.
An important point that you need to pay attention to when choosing the style of the reservoir is land relief. A flat surface allows you to make a pond of any configuration. Irregularities and drops will require a lot of attention, but they make it possible to create a reservoir with a cascade of ponds or a waterfall.
You can raise the pond above ground level with your own hands. But the difference in the technology of work is the arrangement of the foundation, which makes it possible to prevent the concrete bowl of the pond from skewing.
A high pond is easier to maintain, minimizes excavation and is suitable for a family with children (the edge is equipped with railings and fencing). This pond can be built near a covered terrace, making it a place of relaxation and part of the landscape design.
For this it is necessary take into account such factors:
Reservoir dimensions
It cannot be argued that a large body of water is a luxury, and small pond ik is an opportunity to save or a budget option. Everyone has it its virtues. So let's go over the main points:
- Lenght and width. They are determined by the physical capabilities of a person and the size of the site.
- Dimensions. Depends on the location of the reservoir. Often there are tips on how much area the reservoir must occupy - 4-15% of the total area of \u200b\u200bthe site.
- Depth. Depends on the purpose of the structure and the dimensions of the reservoir.
Pond material
Today, the market offers a variety of building materials for the construction of a pond. And craftsmen recommend making a pond with their own hands from improvised materials, this makes it possible to build a small pond in the country without large material costs.
Let's describe the materials that are suitable for building a reservoir with your own hands.
concrete bowl. Quite an expensive option, but allows you to operate the reservoir for quite a long time. The use of concrete is an option that is more suitable for arranging a pool.
plastic bowl. The most popular option. A form made of PVC makes it possible to quickly carry out all work on the device. A purchased bowl makes it possible to make a pond in three stages: dig a pit, put a bowl and fill the cavities with sand.
Polymer film. Gives endless possibilities in terms of choosing the shape of the pond. most accessible and simple material in this category, polyethylene film is considered. It is cheap and available, but does not last long.
Equipment and tools
In order to build a simple pond in the country with your own hands, you need to prepare pegs, a cord, a level, a cart for removing the earth, a shovel, a hose for irrigation.
For a capital reservoir in the country it will be necessary special equipment:
- Pump. Allows for pressurized water supply. It is used for watering the garden, pumping / pumping water, arranging waterfalls, fountains, filters;
- Cleaning filter. The installation of a filter in ponds where fish live is very relevant.
- Compressor. Required for plants and fish. Aeration saturates the water with oxygen;
- Sterilizer. Required to eliminate algae.
We build a pond with our own hands
As is clear, there are quite a lot of materials that allow you to make a pond on your own. We will look at how to make a pond from PVC film. The choice is explained by the fact that the film is quite affordable, it takes shape better, the work does not require special skills.
How to choose a film for a reservoir?
Film colors:
When choosing a film, you need to pay attention to:
- thickness. For a reservoir, a film with a thickness of more than 0.5 mm is suitable;
- composition. PVC is stronger, polyethylene is more brittle;
- UV resistance;
- damage resistance.
Film bonding takes place with special glue(e.g. Tangit PVC-U).
Scheme and sketch
Before making a pit with your own hands in the country, you need to find diagrams and photos of reservoirs, make a sketch on paper, and transfer it to the ground. It is also worth specifying the width and depth of the shelves for steps or plants. This technique will make it possible to avoid problems during the arrangement of the reservoir. It is more convenient to make markings with sand or a garden hose.
Digging a pit
The arrangement of the pit includes:
- sod removal;
- digging a pit. It is better to dig from the edge to the middle, gradually deepening in the necessary areas;
- removal of soil, as well as stones, roots, construction debris and anything that can tear the film.
During excavation, it is necessary to ensure that the banks are in the same line at all times. If you decide to make a waterfall, then you must maintain the required height difference.
Backfilling of the substrate
Then, when the pit is made, its walls and bottom are rammed, moving on to waterproofing. It is necessary so that water does not seep into the soil. There are several ways to create an underlay:
Film flooring
The correct laying of the film does not exclude the arrangement of the sand layer. According to experts, this pillow makes it possible to avoid the possibility of film damage by stones or roots.
Taking into account the relief of the coast and the bottom, any person will face the fact that the film will begin to fit in folds. Moreover, users recommend making one large fold than many small ones. The fold can be glued to the main film or pressed down with stones.
The main thing is that the film is on the surface of the pit without stretching. Otherwise, after filling the reservoir with water, it may stretch and break. To fix the film, it is enough to make an auxiliary trench. After laying the film, you can fix it with slats and fill it with gravel. Then, when the film is laid, stones are laid in the pit.
At the end of the work, the pit is filled with water. At the same time, it must be supplied without pressure on the center of the pit. Only after the water in the pit has been infused for several days can the film be cut.
The reservoir will be a full part of the design only when it is finalized. In order to make the pond in the country natural or decorate the pond, you can:
Pond care:
- cloudy water, which lasts for several weeks, eventually sinks to the bottom. In addition, the biological activity of fish will quickly make it transparent;
- protection from leaves can be provided by a mesh construction on a frame;
- to increase the water level, it is necessary to add it from time to time (with a hose without high water pressure or a bucket);
- a net is useful to clean the water from the leaves;
- planted plants to bring into the house or shelter from the cold;
- it is necessary to monitor the growth rate of algae in order to limit their growth, you can plant a nymph or cattail;
- algaecides are an emergency cleaning method. Due to its high toxicity, it should not be handled unnecessarily;
- periodic cleaning will remove bottom debris.
Preparing for winter
A body of water, where a plastic bowl is based, will be able to overwinter, since the bowl can withstand significant temperature fluctuations. And so that the bowl cannot be deformed from the pressure that is created by ice, it is enough to place a couple of empty plastic eggplants in the container. Bottles must be tightly closed. To avoid deformation of the bowl, 1 eggplant per 1 sq. bowl meter.
And what to do, who has a film pond? If its depth exceeds the depth of freezing of the soil, then you can not worry. To save shallow ponds, you can also use empty eggplants.
In this article, we examined all the main points of building a pond with our own hands, starting from an idea, an example of a photo and ending with care. We hope that we have given you confidence in your abilities and dispelled all doubts. Dare! And by the summer you will have a magnificent water corner in your summer cottage.
The pond in the garden is a wonderful place to relax on a hot summer day. Those lucky ones whose dachas are located on the banks of a river or lake are incredibly lucky. If there is no natural reservoir nearby, you will have to build an artificial pond yourself.
We outline an action plan
To begin with, let's try to figure out where to place a man-made reservoir in the country. It is advisable to take a place for him at the stage of designing a summer cottage.
Photo: marking the territory for a decorative pond on the site
Users often search:
The pond must meet the following criteria:
- be in an open place - foliage and branches from trees will clog the water, and the roots will damage the artificial bottom of the pond;
- do not fall under prolonged exposure to direct sunlight - constantly heated water provokes the rapid development of microorganisms and algae. The pond will quickly become cloudy and begin to exude an unpleasant musty smell.
Photo: a small pond on a site with a wooden bridge
It would be useful to provide for the option of expanding the surface of the man-made lake over time. Perhaps you want to transform a mini-pond into a full-fledged water complex - with a bridge and a small fountain.
Experienced builders recommend making the pond shallow - after all, it is used mainly as beautiful detail the surrounding landscape. In addition, immediately think about how you are going to care for the pond. Make a convenient approach to the pond - of course, not through the garden or alpine slides.
You will have to change the water yourself, because it is not purified naturally, as in natural lakes and rivers. Therefore, make sure that the tap in the country is in close proximity to the artificial reservoir.
Choosing a base material
Before you grab a shovel, decide what will serve as the basis for an artificial pond. There are several standard solutions. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of popular options.
Reinforced concrete structure
With this material, you can create a durable pond. The bottom and banks, filled with concrete and reinforced with reinforcement, will withstand various additional loads- installation of a fountain, for example, or sculptural compositions on the banks.
The complexity of the process makes it inappropriate to use this technology for the construction of small reservoirs or decorative ponds in the country. TO negative sides Such a solution includes the high cost of erecting man-made lakes from reinforced concrete. You will have to use a lot of building materials, rent special equipment. The dismantling of the structure will also cause difficulties, so it is immediately necessary to carefully consider the location of the pond.
PVC film
This is a budget solution for creating a simple country pond. The shape and depth of such a structure is easy to change, you can also expand or reduce the size. A pond with a PVC base is often made seasonal - for example, they fall asleep for the winter and re-equip in the spring.
The disadvantages of such a solution include the fragility and fragility of the film coating - this material can be easily damaged, and if the tightness is broken, the water from the pond will quickly go into the ground. Therefore, swimming or indulging in such home lakes is not recommended, they are intended to decorate a summer cottage.
Photo: decorative pond with a bridge in the landscape design of a summer cottage
Artificial shop ponds
This option is the golden mean for those who dream of their own pond and at the same time do not want to bother with the materials to create it. Shop forms for artificial reservoirs are made from strong and durable materials - PVC or fiberglass.
The latter option is much more expensive. But the cost of such a product is fully offset by high operational characteristics material. It is easy to install such a form on your own, without involving friends or acquaintances in the process. The disadvantage of the option is that the pit will have to be dug under the form, and not vice versa.
In this case, the opportunity to use the unevenness of the relief to create natural coastal outlines is lost. In addition, the method will cost much more than using a film or improvised materials. The photo below shows a finished form for arranging a pond in the country.
We make a reservoir from improvised materials
One more interesting option- the use of various containers that have become unusable. old cast iron bathtubs, troughs, vagans - all unnecessary containers are useful for construction.
The advantages of this method are that you do not have to buy standard forms or build bulky reinforced concrete structures. The disadvantages include the low decorativeness of old containers - you will have to show imagination and skills in order to make, for example, a small Japanese-style pond out of a dilapidated trough.
Mini pond of tires
For those who have a catastrophic lack of space in the country, craftsmen recommend using a simple and convenient tire pond. The old car tires are dug in, a film is laid inside, and the banks of the mini-reservoir are drawn up at their own request.
The result obtained sometimes surprises even experienced landscape designers - a finished pond in the country becomes an exclusive detail personal plot. For example, who will say that this pond in the photo is made from an old car tire?
foundation pit
Once the material is selected, it is time to start earthworks. The best time to do this is in the summer when ground water will leave as much as possible. The depth of the pit is calculated based on the material chosen as the basis. If this is a finished form or an old bath, they dig a pit 20-30 cm deeper than the tank parameters.
If the construction of a PVC film pond is planned, it will be necessary to dig to a depth of about 80 cm, since a shallow reservoir will completely freeze in winter and dry quickly in the summer heat. For reinforced concrete ponds, they dig a pit with a depth of more than one and a half meters - here you can’t do without special equipment.
Film reservoir construction technology
When the pit is ready, it remains to clean the bottom and make small terraces about a third of a meter deep and up to 20 cm wide on the sides of the future mini-lake. The bottom of the reservoir is compacted, stones, rubble, pebbles, and foreign objects are removed. The cleaned surface of the pit is sprinkled with washed sand and lined with a geotextile. Such preparation of the bottom will significantly increase the strength and service life of the coating.
The next step is the laying of the film. The size of the canvas is calculated as follows: it is necessary to add the length of the coastline to twice the depth of the reservoir. The material is fixed on the terraces with a margin of about 50 cm. The laid film is laid with bricks or stones - this is done to preserve the shape.
Then they fill the pond with water, check the tightness of the film and begin work on the design of the coastline. Do not cut off the remaining film under the bricks too quickly. It will serve as a hydro-sealant during the construction of the blind area.
We build a pond from an old tank
For the arrangement of a country mini-lake from unnecessary bath or other containers you will need:
- a piece of chain-link mesh;
- some rubble;
- decorative stones;
- coil of aluminum or steel wire;
- cement, sand or ready mix concrete.
After the pit is dug and a bath is installed in it (30 centimeters below ground level), they begin to equip the coastline. To do this, along the entire perimeter of the future pond, the top layer of soil with a width of at least 40 cm is removed and a trench is dug, the depth of which reaches the upper edge of the installed container.
To give naturalness to the man-made lake, tile glue is applied to the bottom and walls of the bath. After processing, the container is allowed to dry well - usually this takes at least two days.
Then, a chain-link mesh is laid around the entire perimeter of the bath, which is necessary to reinforce the sides and bottom of the pond. Concrete mortar is applied to it or sand-cement mixture and let dry. Next comes the turn decorative design banks: planting plants, decorating with stones, paving paths, installing figures and other design techniques.
Thematic material:
Pond from the finished mold
The pit prepared for the reservoir is cleaned from branches, piles of earth and other debris. The bottom and walls of the pit are rammed. If the countryside has too loose soils, they are strengthened. Ideally important for the finished form Smooth surface excavation. The plane is leveled with a building level.
The bottom of the future pond is covered with clean washed sand, which is also compacted. This layer ensures the integrity of the finished form.
After that, the container is placed in a pit and filled with water. Empty spaces between the sides of the mold and the walls of the pit are filled with sand, and this is done gradually. First, a layer of 25-30 cm thick is poured and watered. After a uniform distribution of sand, the actions are repeated until the space between the installed bowl and the walls of the pit is completely filled.
Carrying out this procedure is mandatory, since the form for an artificial reservoir is quite fragile and easily deformed. Even pressure from all sides will prevent warping.
After 24 hours, the gap between the sides of the tank and the walls of the pit is checked: if there are voids, sand is added to them. Then the water is pumped out of the pond, the mold is finally washed and filled with clean water.
The final stage is the decoration of the finished mini-lake at your discretion. There are no strict rules and trends here. Just make sure that the country pond brings pleasure and joy. After all, that's what it's set up for.