At the dacha, city dwellers like to spend their free time on weekends, relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. To make your vacation more enjoyable, create a pond in your yard. In this article you will learn how to do DIY pond at the dacha photo step by step. This work can be done by anyone, regardless of their level of training and knowledge. Construction will take 5-10 days and requires purchase necessary materials. As a result, you will get an aesthetic element landscape design with minimal cash costs for equipment.
Before starting work, decide on the location and type artificial reservoir. The best place- lower part with sufficient solar lighting during the day. It is advisable to start construction away from large trees, which pollute the water with fallen leaves and disrupt the waterproofing. The shape of the pond depends on the wishes and imagination of the home owner. Its depth: 0.5-1.4 m.
Species classification of artificial reservoirs
The shape and size are up to you. Decide on the type of pond:
- mini. An excellent element of landscape design;
- decorative pond. It is decorated with decorative elements and plants;
- water. Designed for fish breeding;
- pool. Used for swimming.
Pay attention to the choice of the shape of the reservoir, especially the mini version. To create it, old bathtubs, deep basins and other containers made of durable durable materials. The choice of base will determine the shape, size and depth. For a bathtub pond and basin, select 3-7 plant species.
Interesting fact! A round pond is easier to make than all other types! It is suitable for decorating the garden and yard country cottage. To form them, use concrete rings, tubs made of wood and molds made of durable plastic. Car tires may be used.
The rectangular shape of the reservoir is combined with flower beds of a similar shape. This The best decision for landscaping the interior of the yard. Use of irregular shapes, curved lines and exotic plants- option for fans creative solutions and modern design.
How to choose a design style
It will seem challenging task. To get the desired result, you should read the relevant literature and our advice. The number of modifications is huge, among them you will find the one you need. For fans of classics and brevity, the formal style is perfect. Such a pond has the exact shape simple design, a minimum number of decorative elements and plants. Arrange it on a site in the Art Nouveau, hi-tech, minimalist style.
Romantic individuals should pay attention to landscape solutions for arranging a reservoir on the site. This is naturalness, irregular shapes. You are not limited by certain rules and can realize your ideas. Take into account the terrain and budget so that unpleasant situations do not arise during the work. On flat terrain it is possible to create all types of ponds, and for sudden changes, slides and bridges are suitable. Here you should be careful at every stage of work, to the choice of materials, laying the film and digging a pit.
Choosing a place to get started
This is a crucial stage. Make sure there is enough depth groundwater on site to prevent unpleasant consequences further. The value is needed to determine the depth of the pond. Proceed to choosing a location by finding an area that gets 5-7 hours of sun a day. This way the planted plants will be able to develop and grow normally. Shady areas and places under tall trees are the worst solution for starting work on an artificial pond.
Make sure that the pond looks aesthetically pleasing, harmonious, and has a proportional shape from all sides of the site. On its surface in sunny weather clouds, a house, and plants will be reflected. This is a beautiful element of landscape design for a country cottage, available to your family right now!
When choosing a place to dig a pit, pay attention to the following factors:
- garden plot area;
- terrain;
- soil and depth of groundwater;
- amount of time exposed to direct sunlight.
Pond area- a place where the sun shines 5-7 hours a day, with good visibility from all parts of the site, a sufficient degree of surrounding landscaping. You can decorate the finished structure with plants in barrels. Provide power to the reservoir to provide illumination at night and connect filters, a pump, and music.
Planning is an important stage of work that should be given attention and the sequence should be considered. Decide on implementable design solutions, buy decorative elements, plants, choose a design style. Plants are planted according to different schemes, having studied which you will create a unique composition.
The sizes of reservoirs vary. For a small area, set the container to 10 liters. It will not dry out, will take up little space and will make the yard aesthetically pleasing. But growing plants and breeding fish in it is impossible. Suitable for him old bath, plastic container, basin. After choosing a location, you should dig a hole 30 cm deep than the height of the container used. Level and compact the bottom of the hole, lower the bathtub into it, filling the free space with earth.
To add naturalness to the created pond, paint the bathtub with paint. It is acceptable to use paint in natural shades, finishing materials, concrete mortar. Pots with flowers on the sides will be a beautiful decorative element of the created composition.
Medium sized pond - original solution for owners of a spacious yard. By creating such beauty yourself, you will make your yard a real work of art, turning your design ideas into reality. The device is complex, but you can make it in the following ways:
- The reservoir bowl is made of concrete mortar. This is a time-consuming and expensive method;
- installation of a purchased plastic container. It will determine the size of the pond, its shape, depth. Choose between single-level and multi-level systems;
- film with waterproof properties. Simple and fast. You will create a unique design yourself without significant time investment.
For a PVC pond, prepare a film, a shovel, ropes, bricks and gravel, sand, and stone slabs. You will need 5-7 days to work. First of all, mark the pond using rope and stakes. After marking the dimensions, start digging a hole according to the diagram you made. For a large pit, rent an excavator. Afterwards, inspect the bottom of the hole, remove sharp stones, branches, and roots. Cover the surface with sand, 10-15 cm thick, cover it with the prepared material, level it and secure the edges of the film with stones.
The next stage is filling the prepared pit with water. Only then should you cut off the unnecessary edges of the film 24 hours after completion of the work. Decorate the shores using pebbles, pots, plants, and landscape figurines. Install the pump by connecting the filter. Remove all pipes unnoticed and disguise them with plants, flowers, and stones. The final stage is planting plants from the pond.
Pond sizing
Sizes do not always depend on the financial capabilities of the owner country house. The dimensions of the pit are determined by its location on personal plot, width and length of the allocated land. Also consider the following zones:
- for planting plants (10-40 cm);
- place for deep-growing plants (40-100 cm);
- for fish breeding (from 1 meter). Depends on the number and size of fish.
Interestingly, large ponds are easier to maintain than small ones. Every master will confirm these words to you.
The dimensions can be determined by the parameters of the purchased plastic container or old bathtub, the wishes of the home owner, and the purpose of the artificial pool. Tires, bathtubs, PVC film, concrete mortar, basins, plastic bottles- all this will become material for creating an aesthetic design on a personal plot in your hands talented person. The choice is up to you!
Rules for digging a pit from experts
Having chosen a place for a reservoir, mark the area in accordance with the size of the container. Use sand, rope, paint, stones, and a strong stream of water for this. Then start digging. Do small amounts yourself with a shovel, and for the pool, rent special equipment and hire workers. The depth of the pit will always be 5-30 cm greater than the height of the container used.
After removing the stones from the bottom, level and compact it. Use a layer of sand 5 cm thick. Install the container or lay out a layer of film, securing it with stones along the edges. After completing the creation stages, proceed to improving the area around the reservoir. Try to give the creation natural look using plants, stones, and figurines planted in containers. It is possible to install a fountain to create a harmonious composition.
To achieve an unusual effect, use lighting and music, entrusting the work to a specialized company.
Do not forget to change the water in artificial ponds 2 times a year. This is necessary to maintain its purity and prevent the appearance of unpleasant odor, what will happen after the development of microorganisms begins. The process is natural and cannot be prevented. To improve cleanliness, snails, water striders, and fish are used. You can catch this living creature in a river or buy it in a specialized store. An economical option is to order online.
And a pond. Even a small body of water attracts those around you like a magnet. The 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. 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 (even 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 installing 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 fill in the 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, a little lower maximum level They cut a pipe into the bowl to allow excess water to 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. In them, a pond from an old bathtub is transformed into a truly charming corner.
The platform was also entangled with wire - so that the clay did not float and the platform did not sag. This is already a month later, such beauty - 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 one side part. If the resulting edges are sharp, they need to be processed sandpaper. 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 polyethylene film, you can fold it 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 from film, you almost exactly repeat the work described above, only without installing a bowl:
- mark the shape of the future pond;
- dig a pit, forming ledges if necessary;
- 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 can be of a more substantial size. Important point: on loose soil, simply making a pit and laying down a 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 good 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 Canadian elodea, hornwort and swampweed. They are in the photo below. Planted in water, these are aquatic plants.
Even if a dacha is a place where work comes first and then rest, we do not forget about the beauty that helps us not to lose heart and enjoy every day spent there. Therefore, today we invite you to feel like landscape designers and build a pond in your dacha with your own hands.
Rules for creating a pond with your own hands and requirements for materials
A pond in the country is not a luxury, but in some ways even a necessity. As the ancient philosophy of Feng Shui says, water near your home brings financial well-being and calms you down.
In addition, it allows you to maintain relative humidity in a particular area, pleases the eye and allows you to create an original solution in a designated area. Therefore, more and more often, summer residents create ponds and small ponds with their own hands, as in the photo.
Not everyone has a pond on their territory that can be tidied up, surrounded with stones and made an element of the landscape. More often, we create a pond at our dacha with our own hands from scratch, faced with many issues that have to be resolved during construction.
Let's start with the fact that you need to decide on the location of the reservoir. For this the following factors should be taken into account:
- relief of the territory;
- the location of trees and other plants with a powerful root system and foliage;
- illumination of the selected area.
Carefully study the terrain of the area. You may already have well-placed indentations, holes, or ruts that you have made in the past. All of them will simplify the process of digging the pond itself.
In addition, do not forget that plants tend to grow and occupy everything underground. more space. Over time, the roots can spoil or even destroy the bottom of your pond, and the leaves, falling into the water seasonally, will rot and emit an unpleasant odor. Which will require more attention from you to care for the pond, but not the joy of having it. Therefore, before you start digging, it is worth considering how far away the trees and bushes are located.
Most landscape designers recommend placing a pond near the house. This will make it easier for you to illuminate it without requiring separate lanterns and lamps. In addition, there is always enough free space near the house with natural light, because not nearby tall trees and dense vegetation blocking the light.
If you have found a place that meets the above requirements, then you can begin work.
But first, you should stock up on materials and a rough design for your future artificial reservoir.
Exists several ways to create a pond with your own hands in your dacha area:
- from the finished bowl;
- made of PVC film, polyethylene or rubber;
- using available materials.
Besides in addition to materials to make the bottom, you will need:
- shovel,
- measuring instruments,
- finishing and decorative materials,
- water.
After creating a pond, you can put fish there. But then the depth of your artificial reservoir must be at least a meter so that the fish do not freeze in winter.
The procedure for constructing a pond
If you have decided to arrange a landscape, have chosen a location and are thinking about the appearance of your future pond, then first decide the main question - what will it be like? Will you choose a ready-made bowl or cover the dug pit with film? It's up to you to decide. And we will help you create it according to all the rules.
Dig in the finished bowl
A ready-made mold cast at the factory is an excellent and simple solution for those who want to enjoy a charming and calm view of the pond after a busy day at the cottage.
Nowadays, specialized stores offer bowls different sizes, type and content. They may be:
- simple plastic baths;
- containers with several depth levels;
- bowls with complex contours of the shore.
Therefore, everyone will be able to choose the form that best suits the territory and landscape without extra costs by time.
In addition, there are others advantages of ready-made bowls:
- the plastic form is durable and not susceptible to ultraviolet radiation;
- the bowl is non-toxic and easy to install;
- The average shelf life of this form is tens of years, which makes the pond durable and of high quality.
The main thing is not to damage the bowl when installing it in the future pond. The form cannot be repaired or restored. However, if you are building to last, you can choose a fiberglass bowl; it is famous for its strength and lasts 2-3 times longer.
So, you have chosen a bowl, found appropriate place, cleared it and are ready to create a pond with your own hands at the dacha. What's next?
First you need to transfer the contours of the bowl to the ground so that it fits exactly into the dug pit. For this you will need:
- bowl;
- pegs;
- shovel;
- rope.
To make the contour as similar as possible to the shape of the bowl, you need to place it on the ground and retreat 10-20 cm from its edge. Following the shape of the bowl, stick the pegs into the ground and stretch the rope along them.
This way you will get the outlines of your future pond, under which you need to dig a pit 20-30 cm more than the height of the bowl.
Don't forget to keep an eye on the top level. It is very important that the surface of your pit is level, otherwise the ground around the pond will always be wet and sticky, spoiling appearance shores.
When you achieve the desired depth and shape, be sure to sprinkle everything with sand and compact it thoroughly. This sand bed will become the foundation for your pond. Afterwards, you can install the mold and fill the free space between the side of the bowl and the ground with sand.
When your future pond becomes stable, you can begin filling and decorating it.
You can line the shore decorative stone, plant water lilies or other water-loving plants along it. Install small figurines of swans or others created by yourself.
Making a pond from film
If for some reason you do not want or cannot buy a ready-made bowl, then you can always make a pond with your own hands without it.
Enough to stock up:
- Shovel;
- a rope or hose to outline the contour of the future pond;
- thick film.
You will need the rest (water, decorative elements and figurines) later, when the main stage is completed - creating a pit for a pond.
As when creating a pond with a finished bowl, first you need to decide on the size of the future reservoir and its contour. Afterwards, mark its borders on the ground using a rope or hose, which can simply be laid along the drawn border, or can be wrapped around driven pegs.
Once you are sure you like the shape and approximate view future pond, you can start digging. Here the process will always be the same, because we just need a foundation pit.
The pond level should be the same. Therefore, check the evenness of the banks using a building level or timber laid on both sides of the pit.
When you reach the desired depth, fill the bottom with sand, compact it well, and then lay it with geotextile so that the film does not tear over time. To do this, you can use a special material sold in construction stores, or you can do it on your own. Take, for example, old carpets, rugs, roofing felt or linoleum that fit the area of the dug pit.
Now that the bottom is ready, measure your future pond and calculate the size of the film you need to create it. Usually for this it is enough to know the area of the pit and its depth. Then add an allowance of 50 cm on each side to strengthen the film along the shore. And you can already go shopping.
The film must be very strong and dense in order to withstand the weight of the water that we will eventually pour into the pond. Therefore, do not skimp on this primary material and choose it wisely - the film thickness should be at least 300 microns so as not to tear under constant pressure.
So, as soon as the film is laid out on the bottom:
- Level it out it so that there are no folds and swellings.
- Line the shore with stones so that when filling it does not gather at the bottom.
- Prepare the plants, if you want the pond to have water lilies or other living decorations.
He will share with us a trick on how to arrange plants and flowers in a film pond. Maxim Maximov in your master class:
The film pond is quite economical and allows us to create it of any shape and depth, which is impossible to do with a ready-made mold cast at the factory. That is why many choose this option to create their own pond in the country with their own hands.
But do not forget that the deeper you want to make the pond, the more likely it is that the shore may crumble. That is why we recommend that after the pit is dug, you strengthen its walls. Depending on their height, you can use tiles or slate. And how best to do this, he will tell us Talla Khukhrianskaia in your master class:
When all technical points solved, the pit can be filled with water. To do this, just throw a hose connected to the water supply into it.
In addition to the stone, which has an important function and holds the film on the shore, you can place decorative figurines, flower pots and crafts that you made for your garden with your own hands. Design the pond so that it reflects your creative nature and pleases the eye.
Don’t get carried away with the decor, because the pond needs to be cleaned periodically so that the water in it does not die out and turn a beautiful country pond into a large puddle. And to do this, be sure to leave a place on the shore so that you can approach the pond. Better yet, provide a stream that will drain the water.
We create a pond at the dacha from scrap materials
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to find the right and high-quality Construction Materials, but if the desire to create a pond with your own hands does not go away, do not despair. Simple materials at hand will also come to the rescue, of which any summer resident has enough.
A pond can be made from a variety of things:
- from an old car tire;
- from an old bathtub left after renovation;
- from a barrel, basin or bucket.
Bath pond...
...from old tires...
...and from an old barrel
If you truly want to create an unusual and original pond, then the lack of capacity will not stop you.
We use old containers
As we have already said, a pond can be made even from an old bathtub. After all, in essence, it is no worse than the finished form.
The process of creating such a pond will be similar to the previous ones:
- dig a pit for the form;
- fill it with sand and make a cement screed;
- insert bathtub;
- fill with water.
Due to its weight, the bathtub will sag greatly in the pit, which is why it is recommended to tighten its bottom with cement to strengthen it. So that over time the pond does not go deeper.
Also, use sand and soil to stabilize the bathtub inside the pit. To ensure a tight fit of our improvised bowl to the banks, fill in all the voids.
And do not leave the side of the bathtub open, it will not look aesthetically pleasing and will spoil the appearance of the future artificial pond.
And he will clearly show and tell you how to dig a bathtub and shape it into a pond with your own hands. Vitaly KIY in your video tutorial:
However, if your summer cottage plot is not large enough to place full pond, don’t be upset - you can make a pond with your own hands at the dacha from small containers, as in the photo.
Take an old metal or wooden basin, a small barrel or tub. All of them can become an original decorative pond, which does not even have to be submerged below ground level.
By a small pond from an old basin there are many advantages, so don’t deny yourself the joy of creating a modest artificial pond if the area of the site does not allow for more:
- does not require excessive costs - everything necessary for its installation is at hand;
- it will take a little time to arrange it - from a few minutes to a couple of hours, but not a day or more;
- it can be placed anywhere;
- if you installed the pond on the surface and did not dig it in, then you can always move it to another place by simply pouring out the water and filling it again after moving it;
- he doesn't require special attention for care - it is enough to change the water from time to time and wash it from the inside so that the bottom is clean.
Ponds made from a basin or small barrel can be installed on a reinforced, flat surface, filled with water and decorated with decorative figures or flowers.
But if your basin has long lost its decent appearance and there is no way to return it to its former luster, then simply dig a small pit to suit its size, install it there like an old bathtub and cover it with pebbles along the shore.
As you can see, old containers allow us to fantasize and create incredible ponds with our own hands in a dacha of any size. And this helps us realize our creative potential.
Pond for the dacha made from a tire
However, if renovations in the apartment are not planned, and the old basins have long since become leaky or turned into flower beds, do not despair, you still have a chance to get your own pond.
And for this you will need the most irreplaceable and available material – car tire. Tires in modern country society have long turned into a universal substitute for building materials.
And it’s not surprising - the strength and shape of the tire allows you to make anything out of it, including a pond. And the size of the future reservoir will depend only on the size of the tire you choose.
First you need to prepare your future container - cut it along the top edge so that only the sides remain. For this you will need a jigsaw or sharp knife(if you chose a tire from a passenger car).
Afterwards you can move on to the pond itself.
Installation steps:
- Outline the outline of the tire and dig a pit to the height of the prepared bowl.
- Fill the pit with sand and compact the bottom.
- Insert the tire inside.
- Cover the tire and the bottom of the future pond with thick film.
- Fill the edges of the film with sand, and then decorate with turf, stone or embankment so that the film is well fixed.
- Fill the pond with water and decorate it with pre-designed decor.
Your tire pond is ready. And it is not inferior in beauty to either ready-made bowls or large film ponds located over large spaces.
In addition, it is easier to care for and keep it clean, and it does not require a lot of water or effort to arrange it.
As you can see, if you have long wanted to feel like a landscape designer in order to turn your dacha into a nice place a vacation where you can not only work, but also enjoy nature away from the noisy city - you can always create a pond with your own hands without much expense.
If you liked our ideas, read other articles in the series!
Even the presence of the smallest pond on a summer cottage allows you to create a unique picturesque landscape. An artificial reservoir, by the way, can also change the microclimate. In dry areas it will increase humidity, which will have a beneficial effect on all plants.
How to create small pond in the garden or at the dacha with your own hands? We will try to answer this question in this article.
Choosing a place
First of all, you need to determine exactly where the pond will look best. A suitable area looks like this:
- there are no trees on it (their leaves clog the pond, and the roots can damage the bottom);
- enough sun (at least 6 hours) for the development of aquatic plants;
- there is free space in case of possible expansion of the pond;
- the surface is as smooth as possible.
Also remember - the reservoir cannot occupy more than 3 percent of the total area of the entire site.
In order for a variety of aquatic plants to feel good in it, it is necessary to create a special zone for them. In general, the bottom is always made with steps:
- water lilies are planted in shallow water;
- Ornamental fish spend the winter on the lower level.
You should not make a hole more than 180 centimeters deep. In terms of size, the largest depth ideally is no more than 20 percent of the total area of the reservoir.
It is also necessary to leave room for coastal plants.
Base options
The least amount of problems will come from arranging a pond using ready-made plastic container. It can be selected in construction stores. Such tubs are relatively inexpensive and are very easy to install. Disadvantages include the inability to change the shape.
If you have an old bathtub on your farm, you can also use it in a decorative pond. Its shape, however, will be quite primitive, but it will be suitable for small areas and will last for decades.
A very small pond can also be easily made from tires (for example, from a tractor).
More beautiful landscape ponds are constructed using polyvinyl chloride film. Its thickness is up to 0.5 millimeters. It is ideal for a small pond. Its indisputable advantage is the ability to freely choose the shape of the reservoir - even a very fancy one can be created very simply.
Since installing the first options will not cause difficulties even for an inexperienced person, we will talk about the last method.
Step-by-step execution of work will allow you to avoid mistakes and unnecessary waste of time and money.
Materials
Even on small pond you will need to prepare a lot:
- PVC film;
- large stones (preferably round);
- roofing felt;
- slate slabs;
- bricks;
- sand;
- fine gravel or screenings;
- aquatic plants.
Pit
To make your work easier, draw a drawing of the future pond and indicate everything on it required dimensions, including:
- width of curtains;
- side size;
- depths.
Photos will help you decide on the shape better. artificial ponds, which are easy to find on the Internet. Consider an accent piece. It can be a large fancy-looking stone, a sculpture, a ceramic vessel, etc.
Draw the contours of the reservoir on the ground. We mark them either with twine on pegs or a sand line. It is important that the shore on all sides is located at the same level. After this, we remove the turf and fertile soil.
The pit is initially dug to the depth of the first level - it is approximately 40 centimeters. Along the bottom we mark the line of the next recess - here the hole is made 0.9 meters deep. And finally, we dig a depression for wintering fish - 1.8 m. If there are no living creatures, then we skip this stage. The soil must be immediately removed from the site; in particular, it should be used to create an alpine slide.
Upon completion earthworks the bottom is cleared of:
- roots;
- sharp stones;
- unevenness.
This ensures the safety of the film.
Along the shore, about 30 centimeters from the edge, a ditch 20 cm deep is dug. It is necessary to strengthen the film. After this, the pond along with the ditch is measured in length and width. We add one meter to the results obtained. It is with this margin that you should buy polyvinyl chloride coating. If its width is not enough, then the film is soldered.
Bottom arrangement
The entire bottom must be covered with sifted sand. The thickness of the pillow is 15 cm. It needs to be compacted well. Roofing felt is laid on top of it with an overlap of up to 100 mm.
Then comes the turn of the film. It is unrolled over the pit and laid as loosely as possible, but so that it remains normal stock on the shore. The edges are pressed against the perimeter with bricks. This stage is easier to carry out on a hot sunny day - the polyvinyl chloride will become more elastic and easier to work with.
Finally, water is poured into the pond. It is left in this state for a day - during this time the film will take the required shape. Only after this is the excess cut off, and the edges are placed in the prepared ditch and covered with gravel.
Coastal decoration
To make the reservoir durable, it is not enough to simply lay the PVC sheet correctly; it is also important to prevent the bank from collapsing. To do this, it is necessary to strengthen the edge. This is done using:
- concrete blocks;
- PVC pipes and stakes;
- bricks
We lay out tiles along the edge natural stone. We additionally decorate one of the banks with a composition of large boulders. One big one will do here too.
We fill the bottom with pebbles or crushed stone. We place prepared plants in containers along the clumps. For a pond, those that saturate the water with oxygen are suitable:
- water lily;
- hornwort;
- swamper.
After the banks are constructed, the reservoir is filled to the top.
A submersible pump is installed at the bottom. We lay the tubes from it to the source and connect them there to the filter.
With this video you will get a better understanding of pond construction:
Reading time ≈ 10 minutes
To improve your plot, you can build a beautiful pond in your dacha with your own hands, using modern landscape ideas with examples of photos and design techniques. An artificial pond will bring harmony to the surrounding space and add originality to the landscape design.
Natural green pond on the territory of your own dacha
Pond at the dacha
Sometimes an artificial pond suburban area is more of a necessity than a decoration. If there is a long stream running through the area or waterlogged soil is present, the disadvantages can be turned into advantages. A pond in the country, built with your own hands, will create an atmosphere of calm and relaxation.
What type of reservoir can be created at the dacha:
The first garden ponds appeared in the countries of the Ancient East, and only then this fashion reached Europe and Russia. Fountains and mini-waterfalls with massive stone borders began to be built near the palaces.
The pond can be:
The pond can be made in different styles:
Landscaping of a picturesque pond at the dacha, made with your own hands using landscape design ideas, shown in the video below with photo examples and detailed instructions.
Smart planning
When arranging an artificial pond in the garden, it is necessary to draw up a detailed project plan and comply with certain conditions.
Actions must be planned step by step:
- Selecting a location.
- Determination of sizes and shapes.
- Selection of necessary materials.
- Stylistic decision.
- Plants and flowers.
- Decorative elements.
First, you should walk around the territory of your dacha, carefully examining every corner and sketching out the shape of the future reservoir on paper.
Place for a pond
This is an important planning stage in which several criteria should be taken into account:
- Soil features.
- Landscape relief.
- Climatic conditions.
- Illumination.
- Green vegetation.
- The presence of a natural reservoir on the territory.
In such a pond it is unlikely that it will be possible to keep large fish or swim in hot weather, but there should be enough space for the location of the structure itself and the drainage of water. The home eco-system should resemble a mirror pond, not a swamp.
How to choose a place:
Reservoir zoning:
- Coastal part. Occupies approximately 12-30 cm, used for shallow water vegetation and arrangement of the entrance area.
- Shallow part. Zone for plants and flowers – from 30 to 90 cm.
- Deep water part. The size can be from 1 meter and must be below the freezing level of the soil. Fish for decoration or breeding may live here.
A great idea would be to add beautiful lighting musical accompaniment. This design looks impressive and impressive.
Material
Construction materials must be strong, reliable and durable. Concrete is most often used, but today lighter materials and structures have appeared, for example, polyethylene or butyl rubber.
The most popular options:
To protect the film when laying out the bottom, you should lay a small layer of geotextile under its surface. This way, crushed stone and sharp stones will not be able to damage the film structure.
Step-by-step instructions for arranging a “flexible” pond
A pond on a film basis is easier to build than from concrete and more reliable than from plastic mold. The recommended length of the film should be equal to the length and double depth of the reservoir itself + an additional 40-50 centimeters just in case. The desired film width is the width, double the depth of the pond and 40-50 centimeters for the remainder.
Main stages of arrangement:
- Soil preparation and marking.
- Excavation work to create a pit.
- Installation of bowl or film flooring.
- Filling voids with river sand.
What may be required for work:
- Construction shovel.
- Irrigation hose.
- Pump for determining water filling pressure.
- Compressor (for a fish pond to saturate the water with oxygen).
- Cleaning filter (for fish farming).
- Cord, rope, pegs or light sand for marking the territory.
- Sterilizer for water purification.
- Construction wheelbarrow for earth.
- Butyl rubber film.
- Adhesive for film (“Tangit”, adhesive tape etc.).
Making a reservoir:
- Creating a sketch. Drawing on paper the shape, all details, decor and location of auxiliary equipment, taking into account the size and depth of the bottom.
- Transfer the mini-circuit to the soil using a garden hose or river sand. The contours should be marked with sand that differs in color from the ground. According to the drawn outlines, a groove should be dug to a depth of 25 centimeters.
- Removing the fertile layer and digging a hole. To do this you will need a shovel (a construction excavator for a swimming pool or big pond with a fountain) and a cart for removing soil from the territory.
The hole is dug according to the depth of the coastal, shallow and deep water zones calculated in advance. The deepest part should be in the center and be dug last. Each time you should fix the depth line using markings. 
- Measuring the size of the pit. The walls of the pit are well compacted, and an additional 40-50 centimeters need to be added to the edges to determine the future size of the covering material. The parameters are measured with a cord or rope and then transferred to film.
- Waterproofing film. The bottom of the pit is covered with a small layer of sand and geotextile to ensure reliable protection film surface. When the substrate is ready, the film is carefully laid, tightly fixed to the base with glue and pressed well to all surfaces.
- Filling with water. Water is poured in carefully and gradually using a hose, avoiding sudden pressure.
- Consolidation. The edges of the waterproofing are fixed in a pre-dug trench along the contour with a depth of 25 cm and covered with earth and crushed stone, after which they are well compacted.
The edge of the reservoir is secured with rods, stones or large boulders. This stage is suitable for placing and planting plants and flowers. Be sure to leave a small fold at the bottom so that the film does not tear when filled with water. 
- Standing water. The finished reservoir should be left for 1-2 days so that the water settles well, after which the excess ends of the film are cut off. During this period, you can form beautiful sides, arrange the remaining decor and complete the landscaping work.
To strengthen a gently sloping bank, you can use a geogrid or geomat in combination with clay and black soil to make the pond look neat and well-groomed.
The size and shape of an artificial reservoir depends not only on the dimensions of the site, but also on the imagination of the owners themselves. The aesthetic and decorative components undoubtedly play an important role here. If you follow all the recommendations and strictly follow the instructions, you can create the pond of your dreams in your country house. How to make a pond in the garden with your own hands, using landscape ideas with photos and diagrams, is shown step by step in the video below.
