Garden Noob, Ponds and Edging.

Abbymoo

I've never had a garden before, and O.H. is slowly transforming into Percy Thrower's clueless grandson, and I could do with some advice!

Firstly, he wants a pond. Not a pond to keep fish in, or a wildlife pond, just a pond with a fountain and a few floating lights. As it's not (hopefully) going to have anything living in it, will it need a pump or filter or something to keep the water fresh? We already have the liner, it's sitting in the living room being used as a fort by the cats.

Secondly, he wants this edging http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Shield-EE-01-Edging/dp/B00CAV0VF6/ref=sr_1_3?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1368795955&sr=1-3&keywords=metal+edging for the borders so he can mow over it, but even though it's a small garden it'd still cost the best part of £300, does anyone know of anything similar but slightly less painful to the bank balance?

Thanks!

wallbash

1) pond , if you are going to have a fountain i.e electricity , go for an UV light and filter, not expensive and guaranteed to work. Pump that works fountain will move water thru filter.

2) Its a mowing strip ....... a very very expensive one.
I used pavers , on a bed of mortar. Guessing depending on size of garden , cost saving of 90%.

wellused

Unless you treat the water with chemicals you will definitely have something living in it, probably gnats or other biting insects that's why people have a few goldfish to keep the bugs down.

forgotmyname

Even a dish of water will attract the bugs.

Attracting the wildlife that eat these bugs helps, Or planting items that deter them also.

cyclonebri1

You will have wildlife, that's why it's called a wildlife pond:D:D

Frogs and newts, certainly all types of insect especially gnats etc

Birds?, the local pigeons will love it but leave you with a little fertiliser;);)

NO, you don't need a filter, not even if you are keeping a few goldfish in there, the simple balance between plants and fish will provide healthy if not clear water.

Two things to be aware of, pond keeping, (I should know), can be a compulsive hobby or it can go disastrously wrong. You could end up ripping the whole lot out as you want better or filling it in for the later reason.
Either way, bear that in mind considering this is a 1st time project.
I'm actually saying don't spend to much initially until you see which direction this takes.

I can heartily recommend the Pond Life forum, I'll post the link shortly.

The 2nd point is consider safety, small children and ponds are not a great combination, even if you don't have any there may be a time when there are children in the garden.

There are many ways around this so don't rule it out for that reason alone.

I should add that dogs love ornamental ponds, even other peoples dogs as I have found :eek::eek:

Here you go;
http://www.pond-life.me.uk/home/index.php

wallbash

NO, you don't need a filter,

If you get the balance right , you don't need a filter BUT
why do many of have a uv light and filter because its much easier and it works . As i said , you can now buy a combination uv light / filter / pump / fountain ....... what could be easier.

Rummer

Remember to use a spirit level, obvious I know but when we made ours we did it without using one and filled it before realising that it was an inch or two out. Never got round to fixing it and it still really irritates me :rotfl:

wallbash

Look at this

http://www.watergardeningdirect.com/acatalog/Hozelock-EasyClear-Pond-Filters.html

cyclonebri1

wallbash wrote: »

if you get the balance right , you don't need a filter but
why do many of have a uv light and filter because its much easier and it works . As i said , you can now buy a combination uv light / filter / pump / fountain ....... What could be easier.

because they keep koi carp as i do, not goldfish or a wildlife pond

cyclonebri1

Forget any pumps that purport to have inbuilt filter systems, as in the link.

It simply is a source of trouble, any filter will block from garden debris and sunken leaves plus rotting plant matter from within the pond, if you want a filter it has to be external to the pond to allow maintenance.

Another consideration is this, do you actually want a fountain?, if you don't then you don't even need the pump, a simple aquarium oxygenating pump that runs at about 2-4watts will keep the water healthy.

If you want the sound of running water then a waterfall or stream is probably much more in keeping with a natural, or waterlife garden;);)

PM me if you are serious and want specific advice.

wallbash

If you want it simple , follow my advice.

Internal filter versus external , would suggest the external but that advice will greatly increase cost . But its not rocket science to wash out the filter a few times a year.