Filling in old pond to flower bed, what materials do I need

Counting_Pennies_2

Hi all,

I am in the process of filling in an old stagnant pond that is raised above the patio with bricks.

I have drained it of water and would like to fill it in to make a flower bed.

I am planning on leaving the sludge at the bottom, and filling it in and planting above.

I wonder if you can advise me on what materials I need to fill it in, the cheaper the better.

Many thanks

sobie

Is it a plastic liner pond? if so pierce plenty of drainage holes.

Depending on what you want to plant in it, just get some really cheap "soil" (normally you get sand that is washed of carrots from the fields) then just use decent compost around the plants.

Davesnave

Ask on Freecycle or Freegle for topsoil, perhaps from someone doing a building project. You may even get it delivered.

I had 30 tonnes last year from someone building a garage. You won't need that much!

Don't let them palm you off with sub-soil though.

tanith

I'd pierce the liner as suggested but I'd also fill the bottom with broken pots, rubble or gravel at least 6" or more before putting in some topsoil .

olias

Depends how much you need - local builders merchants usually sell dumpy bags of top soil for about £25. If your patio has access (even if its over a small wall or fence) then they may even be able to drop it right by the pond saving you a lot of work shovelling and barrowing back and forth.

Olias

sobie

olias wrote: »

Depends how much you need - local builders merchants usually sell dumpy bags of top soil for about £25. If your patio has access (even if its over a small wall or fence) then they may even be able to drop it right by the pond saving you a lot of work shovelling and barrowing back and forth.

Olias

Blimey thats cheap (I'd expect to pay that for the rubbishy carrot washings) - 1 tonne of top soil from builders merchants is about £99 + delivery around here.

Davesnave

sobie wrote: »

Blimey thats cheap (I'd expect to pay that for the rubbishy carrot washings) - 1 tonne of top soil from builders merchants is about £99 + delivery around here.

I was going to say the same. A tonne of something from the builders' merchant is about £70- £90 here + £10 delivery. I buy my Cornish grit like that.

olias

Well thats how much I paid at Atkinsons in Penrith - admittedly it was about 6 years ago, but I can't see how it could go up 4 fold in that time.

Olias

Counting_Pennies_2

Thanks all.

I put some large stones in the base, then covered with gravel ordered cheaply from Wickes then some top soil.

Managed to recycle some plants elsewhere in the garden and it looks great.

Thanks