DIY

What would you do with a Pond? Repair or start over?

The previous home-owner built a nice 3 tiered pond, one 3′, the next is 4′, last is kidney shaped pond about 4′x8′. The problem is that its was a DIY project and they had no idea what they doing. There are several issues several different types of rock used, the angles and drops between ponds being too steep, and sections of pond liner that were cut too small, edges that were built up with clay and erode, etc. It requires weekly mainentance just to replace stones that have slipped out of place.

I want to discourage you from “fill it in and forget it”! However, if that would be your final stance, take a look at the water table in that area. Generally, property owners do, what may appear to be crazy, DIY’s to curb and cover issues. One of them is putting in ponds to concentrate the flow of water over an area. If this area has a high water table, filling in the ponds will result in the area reverting to what could possibly have been a flat wet area and even wetter in the wet seasons with the rise of the water table.

Having a series of pond, great addition to the landscape… would say much gentler on the eye than a large water sapping willow tree. As you said, “nice 3 tiered pond.”

“Tear out and start again” equals time you don’t have. Rather, fix what exist and enjoy it. The source of the water seems to be continuous and it has to vent somewhere. Where does the water runs once it goes over the edge… got to let it out somewhere… that will not be inconvenient to you or a possible neighbor. There could be a “natural run” prior to the past owner creating the ponds… try to find it and allow the last pond’s overflow to go back this way, if feasible. You can also create one if you have a suitable place to which it can vent… like a ditch to somewhere. Here, if it had a natural run before, you are simply correcting the error they made by stopping the water’s flow in its entirety or slowing down its flow too much.

At pond #3, a piece of “not too narrow” pipe with good extended length, rest at the edge of the liner, held in place by rocks, could be a fix. (Point here is to get the water out before it starts washing away your stones). It is going in the pond(s), it has to vent out… cannot hold back water and you need that ditch or old natural flow ditch.

You may also forget the pipe by cementing stones together over and around a gap before you fill it back with water… just give it a place and direction to run before it gets to overflowing over the edge. No more weekly effort in replacing the stones.

Steep drops between the ponds may be related to a trial of creating waterfalls (nice). Perhaps you could use pipe again… say 1 or series of closely placed pipes to create a wider flow, held by rocks, with none or very little show through to up this simulation!

If the use of different stones are an eyesore to you… could be costly if you don’t have an abundance on your property, replace those that show for a consistent look.

You can definately bring it to an almost maintenance free state without too much cost and time.

Small Backyard Pond Cheap Part 1

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