Filling in a hole and grassing over?!

milliebear00001

Hello there.

I am a completely novice gardener and am about to buy a house with a pond. As I have two young children, the pond needs to go. It is built using a liner at ground level and I will need to empty it, fill it and grass it over. Can anybody advise the best way to a. fill in a fairly large hole! and b. turf/seed the area to match in with the existing lawn?

Thanks.

SailorSam

I think i'd look around the neighbours for any that are getting some building work done, they'd be glad to get rid or some of the rubble and possibly top soil if they've been digging footings.
The people next door to me asked did i have objections as they plan to build an extension and i want want to make a raised bed so we're both happy, they'll need less skip space and i'll get the best of the soil.

Lotus-eater

You can just stick a solid mesh over the pond, instead of getting rid. I'm sure the children would love playing with it when they get a bit older.

jaxx46

My sister in law just filled hers with soil and planted flowers in it. That way she can have the pond back when the kids are older.

JDPower

I had to do similar a while back at an ex gf's house. I removed all the pond lining, filled the majority of the space with rubble and sand, then a foot or so of soil on top of that and grass seeded. One tip I would give however is to over fill the hole, I didn't and over time the area sank quite significantly. From my experience (of a pond about 3 foot deep) I'd suggest using about a foot more soil than would bring it level.

payless

There is a much easier way see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2636903

Savvy_Sue

payless wrote: »

There is a much easier way see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2636903

Only go there if you have an hour or so to waste, although it is very funny.

I'm sure on Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time I've heard them suggest a bog garden in such situations, but I've no idea how you'd start.

The mesh would be quickest, easiest and probably cheapest short term, but ponds can take a fair bit of maintenance longer term.

How young are the young children?

milliebear00001

LOL at that link!

My two are 6 and 3, and while a pond could be educational for the older one, the mesh would have to be extremely safe and non-removeable for me to trust my monkey three year old near it! Don'tknow whether I'd be able to sleep at night if it was left in.

Ms_Chocaholic

Sorry to hear about your dog !

milliebear00001

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your dog !

Huh? Not sure what this means. The dog in the other post isn't mine (or anybody's I suspect!)

lizzyb1812

Have you thought about emptying it of water and filling it with sand for a sand pit? I know it's a bit of an old-fashioned thing but at 3 and 6 I would have thought they would love it and it would be less work/worry for you?

Lizzyb