How to build a reservoir with your own hands. How to make a pond in the country

How to turn your Vacation home or a cottage in a real paradise? Very easy. You only need to create beautiful place which is pleasing to the eye. One of such bright highlights in landscape design can be a decorative pond, located comfortably among the surrounding greenery.

How to make an artificial reservoir with your own hands?

Varieties of artificial reservoirs

Before starting large-scale work and equipping a whole lake with your own hands, you need to think about the purpose of building a pond in a summer cottage. In terms of functionality, there four types of reservoir:

Given your capabilities and goals, you can determine the geometry of the pond, its parameters and location.

Pond Style

Water can be made in two versions with many different modifications.

1. Regular or formal body of water. This is a structure that has a rigidly defined shape. At the same time, the correct form is more suitable for areas that are designed in high-tech, minimalism or modern styles, or in a classic style. Along with rectangular shapes, broken, square and round also refer to the formal appearance of the reservoir.
2. Landscape pond. The most popular option, since it has an irregular shape, its appearance has the effect of being close to nature and the flight of the creators' imagination is not limited.

An important point that you need to pay attention to when choosing the style of the reservoir is land relief. A flat surface allows you to make a pond of any configuration. Irregularities and drops will require a lot of attention, but they make it possible to create a reservoir with a cascade of ponds or a waterfall.

You can raise the pond above ground level with your own hands. But the difference in the technology of work is the arrangement of the foundation, which makes it possible to prevent the concrete bowl of the pond from skewing.

A high pond is easier to maintain, minimizes excavation and is suitable for a family with children (the edge is equipped with railings and fencing). This pond can be built near a covered terrace, making it a place of relaxation and part of the landscape design.

For this it is necessary take into account such factors:

Reservoir dimensions

It cannot be argued that a large pond is a luxury, and a small pond is an opportunity to save money or a budget option. Everyone has it its virtues. So let's go over the main points:

• Lenght and width. Are determined physical abilities person and area size.
• Dimensions. Depends on the location of the reservoir. Often there are tips on how much area the reservoir must occupy - 4-15% of the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe site.
• Depth. Depends on the purpose of the structure and the dimensions of the reservoir.

Pond material

Today, the market offers a variety of building materials for the construction of a pond. And craftsmen recommend making a pond with their own hands from improvised materials, this makes it possible to build a small pond in the country without large material costs.

Let's describe the materials that are suitable for building a reservoir with your own hands.

concrete bowl. Quite an expensive option, but allows you to operate the reservoir for quite a long time. The use of concrete is an option that is more suitable for arranging a pool.

plastic bowl. The most popular option. A form made of PVC makes it possible to quickly carry out all work on the device. A purchased bowl makes it possible to make a pond in three stages: dig a pit, put a bowl and fill the cavities with sand.

Polymer film. Gives unlimited possibilities in terms of choosing the shape of the pond. The most accessible and simple material in this category is polyethylene film. It is cheap and available, but does not last long.

Equipment and tools

In order to build a simple pond in the country with your own hands, you need to prepare pegs, a cord, a level, a cart for removing the earth, a shovel, a hose for irrigation.

For a capital reservoir in the country it will be necessary special equipment:

• Pump. Allows for pressurized water supply. It is used for watering the garden, pumping / pumping water, arranging waterfalls, fountains, filters;
• Cleaning filter. The installation of a filter in ponds where fish live is very relevant.
• Compressor. Required for plants and fish. Aeration saturates the water with oxygen;
• Sterilizer. Required to eliminate algae.

We build a pond with our own hands

As is clear, there are quite a lot of materials that allow you to make a pond on your own. We will look at how to make a pond from PVC film. The choice is explained by the fact that the film is quite affordable, it takes shape better, the work does not require special skills.

How to choose a film for a reservoir?

Film colors:

When choosing a film, you need to pay attention to:

• thickness. For a reservoir, a film with a thickness of more than 0.5 mm is suitable;
• composition. PVC is stronger, polyethylene is more brittle;
• UV resistance;
• damage resistance.

Film bonding takes place with special glue(e.g. Tangit PVC-U).

Scheme and sketch

Before making a pit with your own hands in the country, you need to find diagrams and photos of reservoirs, make a sketch on paper, and transfer it to the ground. It is also worth specifying the width and depth of the shelves for steps or plants. This technique will make it possible to avoid problems during the arrangement of the reservoir. It is more convenient to make markings with sand or a garden hose.

Digging a pit

The arrangement of the pit includes:

• sod removal;
• digging a pit. It is better to dig from the edge to the middle, gradually deepening in the necessary areas;
• removal of soil, as well as stones, roots, construction debris and anything that can tear the film.

During excavation, it is necessary to ensure that the banks are in the same line at all times. If you decide to make a waterfall, then you must maintain the required height difference.

Backfilling of the substrate

Then, when the pit is made, its walls and bottom are rammed, moving on to waterproofing. It is necessary so that water does not seep into the soil. There are several ways to create an underlay:

Film flooring

The correct laying of the film does not exclude the arrangement of the sand layer. According to experts, this pillow makes it possible to avoid the possibility of film damage by stones or roots.

Taking into account the relief of the coast and the bottom, any person will face the fact that the film will begin to fit in folds. Moreover, users recommend making one large fold than many small ones. The fold can be glued to the main film or pressed down with stones.

The main thing is that the film is on the surface of the pit without stretching. Otherwise, after filling the reservoir with water, it may stretch and break. To fix the film, it is enough to make an auxiliary trench. After laying the film, you can fix it with slats and fill it with gravel. Then, when the film is laid, stones are laid in the pit.

At the end of the work, the pit is filled with water. At the same time, it must be supplied without pressure on the center of the pit. Only after the water in the pit has been infused for several days can the film be cut.

The reservoir will be a full part of the design only when it is finalized. In order to make the pond in the country natural or decorate the pond, you can:

Pond care:

• cloudy water, which lasts for several weeks, eventually sinks to the bottom. In addition, the biological activity of fish will quickly make it transparent;
• protection from leaves can be provided by a mesh construction on a frame;
• to increase the water level, it is necessary to add it from time to time (with a hose without high water pressure or a bucket);
• a net is useful to clean the water from the leaves;
• planted plants to bring into the house or shelter from the cold;
• it is necessary to monitor the growth rate of algae in order to limit their growth, you can plant a nymph or cattail;
• algaecides are an emergency cleaning method. Due to its high toxicity, it should not be handled unnecessarily;
• periodic cleaning will remove bottom debris.

Preparing for winter

A body of water, where a plastic bowl is based, will be able to overwinter, since the bowl can withstand significant temperature fluctuations. And so that the bowl cannot be deformed from the pressure that is created by ice, it is enough to place a couple of empty plastic eggplants in the container. Bottles must be tightly closed. To avoid deformation of the bowl, 1 eggplant per 1 sq. bowl meter.

And what to do, who has a film reservoir? If its depth exceeds the depth of freezing of the soil, then you can not worry. To save shallow ponds, you can also use empty eggplants.

In this article, we examined all the main points of building a pond with our own hands, starting from an idea, an example of a photo and ending with care. We hope that we have given you confidence in your abilities and dispelled all doubts. Dare! And by the summer you will have a magnificent water corner in your summer cottage.

Even the smallest and seemingly unremarkable personal plot can be made cozy and interesting if you equip an artificial pond on it. A decorative pond in the garden is not only able to harmoniously fit into the landscape of a personal plot, but also visually expand the space.

An artificial reservoir in the landscape of a personal plot

The presence of a pond or a small artificial waterfall in a personal plot is determined not only by aesthetic considerations, but also by a practical component. On a hot summer day, even from a small pond, it breathes coolness, the air seems much cleaner and fresher, and a calm smooth surface or measured murmur will help relieve nervous tension and fatigue.

The most popular types of artificial reservoirs in landscape design:

• pond;
• Creek;
• the fountain;
• waterfall.

In terms of shape, reservoirs on personal plots can be either round, with an irregular coastline, or regular geometric shapes - square, rectangular and diamond-shaped. It all depends on the style of the site as a whole, its location, the features of the site and your imagination. The main rule in this case is that the reservoir should ideally fit into the surrounding landscape, become its integral element.

The most common shape for an artificial pond is round or oval. This is what natural lakes look like, so if you want to create a corner of nature near the house or in the garden, then this option will be the most acceptable. In this case, the wrong coastline and asymmetric planting of the reservoir with plants may even appear.

If the reservoir is located on a site where everything is done in a classic style, straight lines dominate and there is no space natural forms, then equip the pond correct form. Often, this is the basis for the fountain, which is the center of the exposition. Since such a pool does not have a natural barrier in the form of vegetation and stones, its sides must be placed higher to prevent falling into the water. As an option - to protect such a reservoir with a low forged grate.

It should be noted that the most common and least expensive in terms of labor and financial investments is the pond. But it is quite possible to equip one on your own site without the involvement of specialists.

The key here is experience. When it appears, the pond you created can become the first in the whole complex, connected by waterfalls, streams, decorative bridges.

DIY decorative pond - where to start?

If a wonderful idea came to your mind about how to equip an artificial reservoir on your personal plot, you should not rush headlong after a shovel. First of all, you need to choose a good place. In doing so, the following factors must be taken into account:

• plot size;
• illumination;
• relief;
• degree of landscaping;
• soil type.

It is best to equip the pond closer to home. At the same time, it should be positioned in such a way that the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe reservoir is illuminated by the sun for at least 5 hours a day. Otherwise, the once beautiful pond can eventually turn into just a fetid swamp.

The terrain is also of no small importance. The best place is a low-lying area where the water level in the well or in the well is closer to the surface of the earth.

In the selection process, you should also pay attention to the presence of vegetation - big trees, located along the coast, will pollute the reservoir with fallen leaves in the autumn, and the roots of trees can damage protective film at the bottom.

Soil type is important. For the arrangement of the reservoir, loamy and clay soils, as well as peat, chernozem is less preferable - it contributes to the formation of silt. On acidic soils, it is impractical to equip a reservoir without reliable protection of the side walls and bottom.

After the site is selected, the shapes and sizes are determined - it's time to stock up on the necessary materials and tools. Most often, ready-made rigid containers are used to create a pond, which can be purchased at a specialized store or flexible waterproofing, much less often - concrete (the most costly and time-consuming process).

Types of waterproofing for an artificial reservoir:

• polyethylene film - an inexpensive material that is not resistant to ultraviolet radiation;
• PVD - polyethylene high pressure. Visually, it practically does not differ from polyethylene, but it has greater flexibility and durability.
• PVC - polyvinyl chloride - strong and durable material, the edges of which are welded together.
• rubber and butyl sheets are the most optimal, but expensive option. The service life of this material is practically unlimited.

Experts recommend avoiding polyethylene film for arranging waterproofing. It copes with its function, but it lasts no more than 2 years. If you want the pond to please for a longer time, choose more durable materials.

Materials and tools:

• shovel;
• protective film or reservoir;
• pipes for supply and discharge of water;
• valve;
• geotextile or sand

It's better to see once. The whole process of arranging a pond in pictures looks like this:

Construction of a decorative pond

There is another way to equip the pond - a concrete bowl, but this method is laborious and costly, so it is not currently used. Construction begins with the fact that markings are made on the selected site and the turf layer is removed. After that, you can start digging a pit desired shape. At the same time, be sure to leave the edges slightly sloping (sloping, not steep). Further, if you plan to make a decorative pond using a PVC film, and not a finished tank, you need to lay out the bottom of the future reservoir with waterproof material. For these purposes, clay is quite suitable. You need to lay it in two layers - the second after the first has completely dried (between them you need to lay a waterproof film). After that, the bottom should be covered with gravel.

Important: if you plan to plant a pond with plants, special recesses should be made at the bottom and filled with fertile soil.

How to make a decorative reservoir in such a way that the water in it is always clean and fresh?

In order for the appearance of the reservoir located on your site to always please with its appearance and give freshness and coolness, it is necessary to make sure that the water in it is running. For these purposes, two pipes must be laid: flow and waste. Through the flow pipe, water will flow into the reservoir, and through the waste pipe it will be discharged into the ditch. Please note: the level of the drainage ditch should be slightly lower than the level of the pond. For ease of use, you can install a valve on the sewer pipe or simply close the hole with a plug as needed. The first option is the most practical.

The device of a decorative reservoir with the use of "galoshes"

Labor costs will be much less if you purchase a special tank for an artificial reservoir. The people called these containers "galoshes". Why is that? Everything is very simple: they are made of black plastic, and the shape of such tanks resembles rubber shoes in its external outlines. But if you wish, you can always find and buy a bowl for a reservoir of a shape that suits you.

In order to equip a decorative pond in the country , you will need to purchase a special tank of a suitable size and shape: the cost of such is relatively low.

The main stages of arrangement of the reservoir:

• contour marking;
• digging pits;
• container installation.

In order to correctly mark the contour of the reservoir, it is necessary to install the tank on the ground and vertically install slats along its perimeter with an interval of 40-50 cm, then tie them with twine. Thus, you will get the outlines of the future pond.

The container must be installed strictly horizontally. The tank should be filled with water gradually, while the gaps between it and the walls of the pit should be carefully filled with sand.

Note: if you want to equip a fountain in an artificial reservoir, it is important to purchase a special pump and nozzles in advance, which are installed during the installation of the reservoir.

The final stage is the design of the reservoir. In order for your man-made pond to look really stylish and beautiful, for example, just like the fancy decorative ponds, the photos of which we posted, you need to properly arrange its banks.

Decoration of the banks of an artificial reservoir

On the this stage work, you can not limit the flight of your imagination. To decorate an artificial reservoir, you can use ceramic tiles, marble, granite, artificial stone, pebbles, wood, etc. These materials need to mask the edges of the reservoir, in appearance close to natural. It is important to fix them with cement mortar. If you plan to additionally equip your pond with a fountain, during work you need to make sure that the pump hoses are hidden under tiles or stones.

Then you can sprinkle the bottom of the reservoir with pre-washed sand, lay small pebbles and plant aquatic plants in pots or baskets. Can be bred around a pond ornamental shrub or just a flower bed.

Decorative inhabitants of ponds are always a joy. It can be both aquarium fish and dwarf turtles. And if you hold a backlight along the bottom of the pond or place floating lanterns on batteries on the surface, you can create a real extravaganza of light and water.

Pond Care

• To support artificial pond in good condition, it will need care.
• First of all, you need to get a bottom vacuum cleaner for collecting garbage.
• During the period of leaf fall, you will need to cover the pond with a net so that the foliage does not fall into the water.
• If fish live in a pond, then they will need filtration and aeration of the water.
• To avoid greening of water, it is either filtered and purified (for this, the reservoir must be flowing), or planted with oxygen-producing plants: swamp, hornwort, elodea.
• If water lilies or capsules are planted in the pond, then with their wide leaves they will prevent the sun's rays and overheating of the water.

An artificial pond in your backyard is important element landscape design, the arrangement of which must be approached with sense, feeling, arrangement! And then the beauty created by your hands will delight both you and your guests!

The pond should begin with choosing a suitable location and determining the size of the future pond. The best place is at the lowest point, but at the same time make sure that it is well lit by the sun throughout the day. It is important that there are no widely developed crowns nearby. Otherwise, they will constantly fall into the water, and large roots can seriously disrupt the waterproofing of the reservoir.

The size of the pond depends on the scale of the entire site and the intentions of its owner. A pond with a diameter of about 3.5 m and a depth of about 100-120 cm is considered a classic. But if the site is small, you can make a pond about a meter in size and no more than 50 cm deep. It is important to remember that if you plan to breed some aquatic plants, the depth should be a little more - about 100 cm.

The next step in the construction of the pond will be the preparation of the pit. In fact, it is just a pit of a certain depth with a relatively flat bottom and walls. Almost any shape of the pit can be made. If it is subsequently intended to use a ready-made form for waterproofing, then the foundation pit should follow its lines. If there is no rigid form, you can give the future pond the contours of a circle, oval, figure eight, etc. The walls of the finished pit are cleaned of protruding roots and sharp stones, and the bottom is covered with a thick layer of sand, which is well compacted.

Creating a good waterproofing is a very important stage in the arrangement of the pond. If the choice is on a purchased rigid form, it is important to make sure that it is made of quality material. Cheap plastic will quickly crack and crumble under the influence of sunlight and temperature changes. Homemade waterproofing is usually made either from concrete, filling the bottom and walls of the pit with it, or from a film laid in several layers. For flexible waterproofing, you should choose PVC film or, if the budget allows, butyl rubber. Such material can last from 15 to 30 years. The bottom and walls of the pit are lined with a film, leaving small allowances for fixing at the edges.

The finished pond is decorated along the edges with natural materials: large cobblestones, plants, lined with turf. To replenish with fresh water, it is good to draw an artificial stream to the pond, the edges of which can also be lined with natural stone. The bottom can be decorated with a variety of stones (necessarily with blunt edges) and aquatic plants planted in baskets or small permeable containers. The most suitable colors are water lilies (nymphs), which beautifully cover the surface of the water.

Recreation in the country is an opportunity to dedicate yourself to nature, relax, forgetting at least for a while about city everyday life, and this is best done on the shore of your own pond. It all depends on your imagination and size. suburban area. Is it possible to make a pond in the country with your own hands? Of course. Follow the instructions below and you'll be fine.

Man-made pond in the country

Of course, I want to spend time in a well-equipped dacha, on the territory of which landscape design and complete landscaping are done - after all, resting in a dacha, which is a rickety house with a small courtyard overgrown with weeds and thistles, will definitely not contribute to peace of mind.

At the same time, a green, well-groomed lawn and neat trees, flower beds and artificial reservoirs will turn the territory of the cottage into a real earthly paradise. And ornamental ponds will take not the last place in it. Your own pond in the country can be of almost any size - from a couple square meters to a large reservoir.

First of all, you need to understand the very purpose of an ornamental pond: unlike pools, the water in which must be subjected to special treatment (chlorination, ozonation, etc.), a garden pond will require the creation of a certain biological balance. Otherwise, the water in it will bloom and become cloudy, the plants will wither and they will take a fancy to it, except that midges and frogs are a dubious pleasure for the owner of the pond.

Types of garden ponds

Garden ponds having a geometrically regular shape - rectangular, round, diamond-shaped, etc. - look especially good in suburban areas, landscaped in the correct geometry (smooth lines, ideal shapes). As a rule, such decorative reservoirs are edged along the edges with tiled stone (artificial or natural), they are arranged near buildings, thereby emphasizing straight lines.

Ponds with correct geometry can be made above ground level: this type of ponds minimizes excavation during their construction, simplifies their care, and reduces the risk of small children falling into it. The sides of such a pond protruding above the ground are suitable for a flower garden, you can install seats on them, and arrange a fountain in the pond itself.

Artificial ponds imitating natural reservoirs - they are characterized by rounded shapes and a coastline of arbitrary shape. Plants that are natural for marsh flora are planted along their banks. A gentle slope under the water, covered with medium-sized cobblestones or pebbles - landscape designers usually place this type of pond in the far part of the garden, near the lawn. Such natural ponds are especially successful in arbitrary garden improvement.

Choosing the size and location of the garden pond

Of course, the size of an artificial pond directly depends on the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe summer cottage. If we talk about building a pond ecosystem, then large ponds are more convenient for this. Balancing vegetation and aquatic life in a large body of water is easier than in a small one, and larger ponds are easier to maintain. The smaller the artificial reservoir, the more often it will have to be cleaned - the lack of space for the inhabitants of the reservoir will not allow establishing a full-fledged ecological balance.

The place for the future pond is chosen from the point of view of aesthetics, the placement of an artificial reservoir near the main building is especially successful - it will be possible to observe the water surface from the windows or sitting in an armchair on the terrace.

The best place for a pond would be open space, not subject to strong winds - a strong wind will prevent the development of tall plants on the shore of the reservoir. It is necessary to calculate the illumination of the pond: the direct rays of the sun should not illuminate the reservoir for more than 10 hours (6 hours of illumination is optimal). With greater illumination in stagnant water conditions, the active development of aquatic bacteria and green algae (for example, mud) will begin. At the same time, in those parts of the pond where the illumination is insufficient (shading), the growth and development of aquatic plants will slow down.

The proximity of an artificial reservoir to the crowns of trees will lead to its pollution during seasonal leaf fall, in addition, root system trees can damage the pond bed, breaking through the underlying film or displacing the edges of the bath.

Owners who are planning to illuminate a pond at night, or a pump for a waterfall cascade or fountain, should consider the location of the pond from the standpoint of power supply.

Artificial Pond - Materials

A man-made reservoir can be made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or butyl rubber film, use a ready-made container made of reinforced plastic or fiberglass, or create a reinforced concrete pond bowl.

In terms of the speed of creation, the first place is occupied by purchased containers made of fiberglass - all that is required is to dig a deep enough pit for them and place the container in it on a prepared and compacted sand cushion (it resembles a plastic basin of large size and, often, a bizarre shape).

True, it will not be possible to arrange a large fiberglass pond - serial production tanks, as a rule, have a small quadrature (usually an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 4 m 2, depth - 500-800 mm). Larger fiberglass tanks are intended more for swimming pools (above 10 m2) and are therefore more expensive. However, a small pond made of plastic or fiberglass for small suburban areas is quite suitable. The cost depends on the volume, shape and color.

A large pond and a “free” (i.e., not tied to any standard forms) layout can be arranged using a film (PVC or butyl rubber) - the film is needed to waterproof the reservoir. The cost of such material is low, in retail outlets it is widely represented both in terms of quality and manufacturers.

Do not use ordinary polyethylene in creating an artificial reservoir, it will serve you for a maximum of 2 years, then its density will be broken under the influence of physical and temperature influences.

PVC film or butyl rubber is suitable for creating a garden pond. The first material has sufficient strength and elasticity, has a high-quality structure - the reservoir formed by it will last at least 15 years. However, the undisputed leader in the field waterproofing materials for artificial ponds is butyl rubber - it has high resistance to sunlight, high and low temperatures, and is not prone to cracking. Among other materials, butyl rubber has only one drawback - it is not cheap, but its service life exceeds 50 years.

If we are talking about complete reliability and durability, then there is only one material left - reinforced concrete. Unlike pond bowls formed by film or cast materials, you can walk along the bottom of a concrete reservoir without fear - it is difficult to damage such a bottom. However, it is more difficult to work with concrete, full compliance with the technology will be required (rebar welding, formwork manufacturing), double waterproofing (on both sides concrete casting, both outside and inside) - to protect against ground water, i.e. the cost of such work will be the highest. You can use concrete of special grades, not affected water, but it will cost even more and its use will require precise adherence to casting technologies.

Let's summarize the characteristics of materials for artificial ponds

The main advantages of film waterproofing: the ability to form the required shape, change the shape of the reservoir bowl in the future, ease of repair (if the film breaks). Minus: in winter, water from the reservoir will have to be poured out, if it freezes and expands, it will inevitably tear the film.

Advantages of reinforced concrete: high reliability, independence from external climatic factors(subject to the technology of concreting), resistance to physical influences (falling stone, rodents, etc.). Cons: high labor intensity, extremely difficult rework. As a rule, the creation of artificial ponds from concrete is not popular, since the film is much easier to use. But if it is planned to build bridges over a reservoir and sculptural compositions on its banks, reinforced concrete would be the best choice.

When creating garden ponds, it is necessary to make sure that the materials chosen are completely non-toxic, otherwise the fish and plants in the pond will not survive.

Pond in the garden based on a finished (rigid) container

Choosing a rigid container to create a pond with total area up to 4 m 2, it is worth stopping at a fiberglass or plastic bath. The minimum depth of such a tank should be about 800 mm - the water in such a pond will warm up evenly in summer, and in winter it will not freeze to the bottom.

A ready-made container as a basis for a garden pond will allow you not to engage in cutting and fixing (activities performed when installing the film base of the pond), there is no need to build a general configuration - everything has already been done, the container is equipped with terraces for planting aquatic plants. The choice should be taken carefully - it will not be possible to change it.

Ready-made bathtubs for the pond are sufficiently durable, they are not afraid of winter frosts. And yet, when transporting the pond tank to the site, it must be handled carefully and not stepped on. The wall thickness of such a tank is 3 mm, and in case of mechanical damage, cracks will appear, which will be difficult to seal.

Cheap plastic bathtubs have the shortest service life - they are gradually destroyed by sunlight, and the surface of such containers cracks when bent. Unlike them, tanks made of reinforced plastic are more resistant to ultraviolet radiation, have a greater margin of safety (they are more plastic) - the service life of such tanks for ponds is up to 20 years.

The best and therefore the most expensive are fiberglass tanks with a rubber backing. A reservoir based on them will last more than 30 years and, unlike plastic containers, they can be repaired without compromising general characteristics. Fiberglass is the most resistant to low / high temperatures and exposure to sunlight, it has high environmental performance and is completely safe for the flora and fauna of an artificial reservoir.

In addition to quality characteristics, fiberglass containers also have an aesthetic appeal: they can be of three colors - black, brown and green; a decorative coating is applied to their edges, imitating natural materials, which makes it easier to give the artificial pond a natural look.

Fiberglass bathtubs are made not only for ponds, but also for streams. Containers for imitating a stream have an outwardly “stone” texture and easily fit into the overall landscape, and a multi-stage shape allows you to conveniently plant aquatic plants. The bed of such a stream is fenced on the sides with protrusions that protect the roots of plants from washing out.

Artificial reservoir with film waterproofing

The laying of flexible coatings is carried out both in a prepared pit and between erected walls raised above ground level. Such a decision in creating a pond in the country is justified if the estimated size of the future reservoir is larger than the parameters of the rigid shells offered by specialized stores. The film coating is also used when creating reservoirs of complex shape - the use of a waterproofing film will greatly facilitate this task.

To create a reservoir, you can use polyethylene (thickness 500 microns), laid in two layers, among other film coatings, its cost is the lowest. Although the characteristics of polyethylene are more than minimal: it is easy to tear (by sharp stones, claws of animals, etc.), becomes brittle under the influence of the sun, and when damaged, it is practically impossible to repair. Polyethylene coating will provide waterproofing of the reservoir for no more than 5 years (on average - 3 years). This is rather a temporary solution for those summer residents who do not like constancy - after three years there is an excellent reason to change the place of the pond.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coating will cost more than polyethylene, but it will also last longer - on average, about 8-10 years. Manufacturers offer two types of PVC coating: the usual two-layer and reinforced, in which a woven mesh is laid between the layers of the film (for strength). In general, such a coating has all the disadvantages of polyethylene. Solar ultraviolet damages the strength of the PVC film, it is easy to perforate. But, unlike polyethylene film, damage to PVC film can be repaired using a special repair kit. In addition, this film stretches better - after filling the reservoir with water, most of the folds will stretch and even out.

The best pond film is made from butyl rubber - this material is durable (service life of about 50 years), strong and indestructible by ultraviolet light. Butyl rubber film comes in three colors: black, stone-like and charcoal-like. If the soil in your area contains big number stones, or it is planned to build a reservoir with a high load on the base (great depth and considerable width of the pond) - choose a butyl rubber coating and you will not be mistaken.

Characteristics of butyl rubber coating: high plasticity, ease of installation, regardless of the season and air temperature. Low temperatures do not affect this coating, so it is not necessary to drain water from the reservoir for the winter.

Film for the pond - which color is better

The color of the film will seriously affect general form reservoir. The black bottom will turn the reservoir into a kind of mirror, reflections of the sky and clouds, plants planted along the coastline will be clearly visible in it. A film of black or brown color will serve as a good imitation of natural bottom soil. A cream or blue bottom will look unnatural, but colorful fish look great against such a background. If you choose a grayish or bluish tint, the pond will look like a swimming pool. Choose the color of the film depending on the functions of the reservoir: if it is a pond - black or brown, if the pool - white or blue.

Create a decorative pond using a film

We draw the contour of the future pond at the selected place and determine the required film size. The calculation of the film coating is done as follows: the width and length of the canvas will be equal to the sum consisting of the size of the width (in the second case, the length) of the future reservoir, twice the size of the depth and 600 mm allowance for fixing the film along the edges of the pond.

It must be taken into account that the standard parameters of a roll of butyl rubber film are as follows: width from 4.5 to 15.25 m (more precisely, then 4.5; 6.1; 9.15; 12.20 and 15.25 m) , length - 20-25 running meters. Sometimes it is easier to make adjustments to the parameters of the future pond than to glue pieces of film together. If there is a need to glue a film for a pond, this is quite possible, only special adhesives and adhesive tape produced by the same manufacturer as the selected film will be required. To obtain a high-quality seam when gluing a butyl rubber film, use mastic followed by hot vulcanization.

In addition to the waterproofing film, when forming the bowl of the reservoir, geotextiles will be required (optimal density - 350 g / m 2) - for the insulating coating, it will act as a protective layer (from the roots of trees, teeth and claws of animals, sharp stones, etc.).

To create a reservoir with your own hands, you will need: sand (for the underlying layer), spirit level (building level), a coil of cord (or twine for marking), wooden pegs, a garden hose, shovels.

We create a pit of a reservoir

First of all, evaluate the future shape of the reservoir, for this with a hose of sufficient length and pegs - change the position of the hose fragments until the shape of the reservoir bowl suits you. When planning a free-form pond, try to get rounded lines without sharp corners - such a pond will look better. In the process of planning the pond, mark out terraces for pond plants along its edges, they are performed at a depth of 300 mm.

Having decided on the shape of the reservoir and completing the markup, proceed to work on the pit. First, three-hundred-millimeter terraces come off (after filling the reservoir, the distance from the terrace to the water level will be about 200 mm). The banks of the future pond should have a slope of approximately 45o. In the process of creating a pit, try to remove all plant roots and stones that come across to you. Having completed work on the terraces, check the horizontality of the banks using a board with a spirit level laid on it.

The next stage of work is the formation of the main bowl of the reservoir, its deep part. Remember: the minimum required depth of the reservoir is 600 mm. Such a reservoir will not freeze completely in winter, and in summer pond fish will be able to find shelter at such a depth from the scorching rays of the sun. Then, along the coastline, it is necessary to dig a ledge with a depth of 60-70 mm, for the subsequent laying of a blind area of ​​tiles, bricks, natural stone or laying turf.

We form a drainage layer and waterproofing

Having completed work on the pit, it is necessary to pour washed sand over its entire area with a layer of 30-50 mm - the sand is placed on the bottom, banks and terraces, carefully rammed. After making sure that the sand drainage is done well enough (no unevenness), place a geotextile on top to isolate the film coating from damage.

The next step will be laying the prepared sheet of film. Do not try to align the film along the contours of the reservoir - let it sag over it - lay it loosely. Align the sheet of film along the banks, securing the edges with a sufficient number of bricks (stones).

Connect a garden hose to a water source and feed it in the center of the film laid over the pit - it will gradually sit down, taking the shape of a reservoir. Watch for drawdown by moving holding stones along the banks. After the artificial reservoir is completely filled, you need to wait a day, then cut off the excess film, leaving a margin of 250-300 mm along its edges (a blind area will be laid on them). Secure the edges around the perimeter of the pond using wooden wedges or wire arcs.

The next step is laying the blind area. Its width must be at least 600 mm, it is made of tiles, bricks or natural stone. The blind area must be laid on a cement mortar - if it is laid only on a pillow of sand, a person who steps on the tile can move down into the pond with it.

Summer residents planning a waterfall or fountain in an artificial reservoir need to lay and close the blind area with a water supply hose before laying the tiles on the cement mortar. The same should be done if there is a need for power supply to the pond (underwater floodlights, water pumps), passing a plastic or copper tube for the subsequent pulling of an electric cable.

Creation of a reservoir raised above ground level

For such a reservoir, at least one retaining wall is required. The foundation for such a reservoir is required, otherwise the pond bowl may be distorted.

The construction of a reservoir above ground level is carried out in the same way as the construction of an ordinary garden wall: the place and parameters of the future pond are determined, trenches are dug out for laying the foundation. After casting, the foundation must harden within two full days.

When creating a body of water that is half buried in the ground, dig a pit in the deepest part, then form terraces for planting (roughly at the level of the concrete foundation). Then carefully remove all the stones and lay a pillow of sand on the bottom of the pit.

Build retaining walls around the perimeter of the pond, carefully tracking the position of each row. Before laying the waterproofing film, wait 48 hours - the wall mortar must completely harden.

Lay the film in such a way that its edges protrude evenly from all sides of the supporting wall. If your future pond is rectangular or square, shape according to inside corners folds from the film in the form of a neat accordion. The film panel must be temporarily pressed on top of the supporting walls with bricks.

Gradually fill the film hanging over the reservoir with water by moving or removing the pressing stones on the supporting walls, aligning the corner folds. After the reservoir is completely filled, cut off the excess film along the edges, keeping the indentation at half the size of the supporting wall (it will be covered with stones when forming the ridge). Remove water from the reservoir. To protect the edges of the film, we install ridge stones. The pond is ready - fill it with water, place plants and fish.

Decorating a country pond

In itself, a garden pond is not bad - you can put a gazebo near the water and relax on a hot afternoon in the shade and coolness, watching the game of fish in its depths. But you can turn it into something enchanting and colorful - fountains created by a system of pumps and underwater lighting will help here.

Pond pumps are produced in two versions: surface and underwater. Let's say you want a two-meter jet of water to come out of the pond - you need an underwater pump. If a two-meter fountain is not enough, choose a surface pump and you will be provided with a really high column of water.

The underwater pump is mounted at the bottom of the pond: first, a stone plinth is placed, the pump is placed on it and closed on top with a ceramic casing made to look like natural stone. Full set(pump, plinth and casing) can be purchased from one retailer.

How an underwater pump works: it draws water from the bottom of the reservoir and sweeps it over the water surface with the help of special nozzles. If a fountain or waterfall is installed separately from the reservoir, water is supplied through supply pipes. Some models of pumps can simultaneously supply water to both a waterfall and a fountain. The pump is powered by an electrical cable with waterproof insulation.

The surface pump is installed in a disguised brick chamber on the shore of a reservoir, not far from a fountain or waterfall. Water is supplied to the pump from the reservoir through a pipe with a mandatory filter at the inlet. Surface pump needs more technical equipment than underwater - drain system, filters (on the suction pipe), suction system. Otherwise it will overheat.

The greatest effect from the work of fountains is achieved in reservoirs of the correct form. Fountains are placed in the center of the reservoir in such a way that the water thrown out by them does not fall on coastal plants.

The type of fountain and the height of the jet ejection depend on the type of nozzle installed on the submersible pump. The jet of water itself, depending on the installed nozzle, may have the shape of, say, a bell or a beating key. A boring fountain tube can be decorated with fiberglass, stone, bronze or ceramic cladding. If a cladding is used, then the water nozzle is attached to the brass connector with which the cladding is equipped. The cladding body is exposed either to the bottom of the reservoir, or to a special stand.

Lighting will help create a magical atmosphere in the evening and at night. Lighting equipment for private reservoirs is designed for power supply at 12 V. The power of halogen lamps in lamps can be from 5 to 75 W - it is enough for bright lighting, because the luminous flux of such lamps is 3 times higher than household ones.

Mini spotlights are installed on a special support or on a fountain nozzle, highlighting the scattered spray of water. There are floating lanterns, they consist of a light bulb placed in a sealed ball of glass. They can be lowered to a certain depth in a reservoir, suspended on a load, or installed at the bottom. Thanks to the equipping of the spotlights with colored light filters and rotary devices, the night pond will take on a simply stunning look.

How to take care of the pond

The natural balance of the reservoir will be formed quite quickly. To maintain it, it is necessary to remove all wind-blown debris and fallen leaves before this mass falls to the bottom and begins to decompose. It is possible that the bottom of the reservoir will have to be cleaned with a net every autumn, eliminating bottom debris.

To protect the water area of ​​the pond from falling leaves, you can use a fine-mesh net - it should be stretched over the mirror of the pond before autumn leaf fall and removed closer to winter. Or use a skimmer - a special pump for collecting floating debris.

To clean the bottom, a bottom vacuum cleaner is useful - its design resembles a regular one, but there is no filter in it. Water from the bottom of the pond is sucked into the device, as the chamber fills up, the device automatically turns off and the container with mud must be emptied into the drainage system.

If you have settled fish in your decorative pond, then they will need oxygen. If it is lacking, use aerator pumps - they resemble aquarium ones, only bigger size and power.

The main problem facing the owners of reservoirs with the beginning of the warm season is that the water in it becomes green, which is caused by the active reproduction of protozoan algae. Most often, this problem is faced by owners of small reservoirs with a shallow depth and therefore quickly warmed up by the sun's rays. Water overheating can be prevented by using aquatic plants with large floating leaves (water lilies and capsules), as well as by planting oxygen generators - plants that fill pond water with oxygen (Canadian elodea, hornwort, swamp).

In early spring, when the plants have not yet had time to develop sufficiently, the use of chemical control agents (algicides) is required. However, these drugs are harmful to both humans and aquatic life, so they should only be used as a last resort.

The danger for fish in the pond can be birds and cats, for them the fish is a subject of hunting. To protect pond fish from birds (for example, herons), you need to tighten the space above the shallow areas of the pond with a net or black threads (the latter solution is especially successful - black threads are practically invisible against the background of the water surface). An obstacle for cats will be decorative fence from wire (not less than 150 mm high), usually used for fencing flower beds.

The main threat to aquatic life in areas prone to frequent frosts is ice. The ice shell, which steadily covers the reservoir for more than a day, will lead to the accumulation of poisonous gases formed by the decaying remains of vegetation and, as a result, the partial or complete death of fish. It is necessary that part of the pond is always free of ice, best solution there will be a special small heater. You should not try to break the ice using force - hitting the ice shell can stun and even kill the fish.

If your artificial reservoir has a great depth, use a pump to pump warm water from the depth to the water surface - this measure will prevent the formation of ice. As a last resort, in the absence of other methods and means, arrange an exhaust hole in the ice shell - with wormwood, for this, put a pot of boiling water on the ice (after the formation of the wormwood, do not forget to remove the pan!).

How to green up a pond

Aquatic plants perform an important task - they are a kind of water filters. The biological balance will be established when at least a third of the artificial reservoir is devoted to plants. Moreover, each type of aquatic plants requires planting at a certain depth.

So, the reservoir is finished, filled with water - it needs to be allowed to settle for 10 days and only then proceed to planting. Optimal time for planting aquatic plants is the beginning of summer.

You can plant plants in the laid soil at the bottom of the reservoir, but it is best to place them in mesh baskets, setting the latter to the bottom. It is easier to take care of plants in baskets - move them to a warm room for wintering and reproduce. The soil in the baskets is ordinary soil from the garden, its enrichment with manure, fertilizers or peat is not required. To keep the soil layer in the baskets from being washed away by water, a clean burlap or other coarse fabric laid on top will help. Place medium-sized gravel over the cloth to protect the roots from pond fish.

Before planting, remove especially long roots and old leaves from plants. After planting, compact the soil around the stem of the plant so that the distance between the soil and the edge of the basket is 40 mm.

Some types of pond plants do not require planting - they float freely on the surface of the reservoir, keeping themselves afloat. Representatives of such plants are water lilies and lotus. Such plants must be carefully monitored, because in favorable conditions they will multiply quickly and occupy the entire pond - periodically some of them need to be removed. The main plant problem for any closed reservoir is duckweed, which reproduces rapidly and tends to capture the entire area of ​​​​the reservoir - do not plant it on purpose!

When buying aquatic plants, be sure to ask the seller at what depth they should be planted. When planting, stick to the measure - plants need light, and dense thickets on the water surface do not look attractive.

During the winter season, aquatic plants, whose natural habitat is a temperate climate, remain in the reservoir. If you have planted exotic plants from warm countries in the pond, then they should spend the winter outside the pond. Take them out and place them in a body of water indoors - an aquarium or a bath, before doing this, pruning especially overgrown plants.

An important point: when transferring plants for wintering indoors, do not forget to provide them with sufficient lighting.

Pond fish care

For the full existence of fish in a country pond, its depth should be no less than 1200 mm. At shallower depths, fish need to spend the winter outside the pond, otherwise they will die. Just bought fish should not be placed in the pond, give it time to acclimatize - it should get used to the temperature of the water in the reservoir. Let the container with the fish swim in the pond - this measure will avoid the shock state of the fish.

If you purchased fish not in specialized stores, then you should not immediately release them to garden pond. Place them in an aquarium by filling it with pond water. The time of such quarantine should be at least seven days - so you find out if the fish is sick.

Now about fish nutrition. In principle, there should be enough food for them in the pond: duckweed, algae, mosquito larvae and other insects living at the bottom of the reservoir. However, if there is not enough food or the number of fish increases, it needs to be fed. Purchase fish food in specialized stores - it contains everything necessary for pond fauna, in addition, such food is enriched with oxygen and will not become a source of pollution for the pond, it will float on the surface for some time. Give the fish as much food as they will eat in 10 minutes, otherwise it will still sink and rot.

A special need for vitamins occurs in fish in the spring, during this season increase the number of feedings. In autumn, when the temperature in the reservoir drops below 10 ° C, stop the feed supply completely.

Constantly monitor the condition of the fish, do not overfeed them, control their numbers (optimally: for 50 liters of water - one fish 100-150 mm long. Keep in mind that the fish is growing!).

Sick fish can be identified by its behavior: as a rule, it swims in circles and at the same time “staggers”, rubs its sides against objects in the reservoir, lies on its side on the surface. The presence of diseases is evidenced by “glued” fins, white coating on the eyes, snout, fins or gills. Having found a sick individual, immediately isolate it from the rest and place it in an aquarium. Then visit the pet store, describe the signs of the disease to the specialist and buy the necessary medicines.

Decoration of a summer cottage with a decorative pond - good decision. Particularly pleased with the cool pond in the summer heat. Even a small pond in the country can be equipped with a fountain or a waterfall, plants and flowers can be planted, ennobled with stones and placed next to chairs or benches. Get a great seating area. Any summer resident can make this beauty with his own hands in 1-2 days without significant financial costs.

What can you make a decorative pond from?

There are many materials for the manufacture of garden ponds. You can choose more expensive ones and build an impressive deep lake, or you can find improvised materials for free and make a small decorative pond.

From a tire

Old used tires from heavy trucks construction machines or tractors can be bought for a penny or found for free. According to its properties, the rubber from which they are made perfectly withstands seasonal temperature changes from frost to heat and does not let water through. This material has long term operation and finished perfectly round shape. You can find this material at tire shops or car dealerships.

From tires you can make a multi-level pond with a small "waterfall"

From an old bath

A well-used bathtub made of cast iron, steel or acrylic has an oval or angular shape and a shallow depth, just right for a country pond. If the color of the enamel does not suit you, you can paint the bath in a blue tint for the effect of clear water or brown to match the soil.

If you surround the bath with stones, no one will guess what the pond is made of.

From a plastic container

Special ready-made plastic containers for creating reservoirs are on sale. different size and depth. These bowls can be of very different configurations with steps and separate areas of shallow water and deepening. Durable material will withstand all loads and last for many years. A wide range of colors allows you to choose a bowl for every taste. For the winter, it is not required to drain the water and dismantle the pond.

Blue and blue containers look more positive than black

PVC film

Flexible roll waterproofing materials and membranes for swimming pools are excellent for creating a reservoir of complex multi-stage shape, due to their flexibility and softness. PVC film is the most affordable of all produced. Only polyethylene is cheaper, but it quickly collapses under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, it will have to be laid in 2-3 layers. Polyethylene film is recommended to be used in this capacity only for temporary structures.

From PVC film, you can make a spring of any shape and any size.

Other

Butyl rubber pool membrane costs a lot, but it is specially designed for waterproofing, does not freeze, does not rot. The service life of this film is 50 years, it is capable of tenfold stretching under significant loads without the risk of tearing.

A monolithic concrete bowl is considered the strongest and most durable, you can walk freely on it if you need to clean the bottom or transplant pond plants. To create such a pool, it will take more time due to the time of solidification and curing of the material. Additional costs for reinforcement and drainage will pay off with interest, especially in the case of a large reservoir.

A pond from a monolithic concrete bowl is more practical and effective than others

Choosing a place for a reservoir in a summer cottage

In the process of designing and design ideas, it is important to determine a good place to place the future pond and the adjacent recreation area. Small volumes of water quickly heat up in the sun, they are best placed in the shade. The sun's rays should not fall on the surface for more than 6 hours a day. In the shade, the water will not overheat, and biological pollution will occur more slowly. In hot summer days evaporation from the surface of a small pond can reach 5 cm, which is dangerous for animals and plants.

Leaves and fruits that have fallen from trees pollute the surface of the water, and the growing root system can damage the waterproofing layer. Therefore, it is better to place the bowl away from deciduous and fruit trees and shrubs.

Choosing plants for a pond in the garden

A bare pond without plants does not look aesthetically pleasing, it does not look like a real one. natural reservoir. Suitable plants should be chosen, which in nature live near ponds and lakes, in swamps. They are divided into three groups:

• floating in the water;
• immersed in water;
• coastal.

The first group includes free-floating plants that are not fixed by the root system in the bottom soil. The depth of the water is not important to them. The following plants are popular in this group:

• eichornia (water hyacinth) - perennial, with large blue flowers and leaves immersed in water;
• pistia (water rose) - has light green rosettes of leaves, similar to roses;
• vodokras is recommended to breed in small ponds, this plant with small white flowers and round leaves floats in the water, and in autumn its foliage dies off.

A healthy microclimate is formed in water protected from overheating by large floating leaves.

Submerged in water and growing at the bottom in the ground, in a special container or pot, cultures are included in the second group. The following plants are popular:

• water lily is one of the most beautiful and popular aquatic plants. planted water lily in pots that are placed at the bottom of the pond. Water lily flowers are white, pink and yellow;
• the hornwort is an oxygen generator, it floats in the water column and contributes to the natural preservation of the purity of the pond and oxygenation;
• The arrowhead got its name from the shape of the leaves, it is planted to a depth of about 10 cm.

Coastal plants are planted around the reservoir, they grow well in waterlogged soil, decorate and shade the coastal zone. Popular plants:

• calamus is a tall grass with sharp arrow-shaped leaves, an excellent companion for flowering crops;
• marsh marigold - unpretentious bushes with a scattering of small yellow flowers;
• marsh iris looks like garden varieties, has yellow flowers, grows along the banks of rivers and lakes in large bushes.

Swamp iris can become the main focus in the composition of a country pond

How to build an artificial pond in the country with your own hands

This garden decoration is easy to make yourself, and you do not need to spend a lot of money on it. If you strictly follow the technology and find the necessary materials at hand, prepare the tool, then in a couple of days you will be able to admire your creation - beautiful pond. The large deep pool will be ready in 2 weeks due to more thorough base preparation.

From a plastic container

Polypropylene, polyethylene or fiberglass bowls are available in various depths and shapes. The most popular is an irregularly rounded configuration that mimics a natural body of water. To install the tank, you will need the following materials and tools:

• tape measure, pegs and string for marking;
• shovel;
• level;
• sand and gravel, water, cement;
• fittings.

The design of the object includes a sketch on the site plan, a drawing with the placement of boulders, plants, technical communications. There are ready-made schemes and design options for a country pond.

Installation of a bowl for a decorative pond

Depending on the planned purpose of the pond, you can buy a container required dimensions. If the reservoir will perform a purely decorative function, then it is recommended to make it multi-stage, shallow and small. For breeding ornamental fish and amphibians, you should choose a bowl with a central area deeper than the freezing point so that the living creatures can overwinter.

A small fountain will decorate any country pond

Before installing a small plastic bowl in the chosen place, it is necessary to prepare the base by making a sand cushion. For this you need:

If a container of impressive size is purchased, then a sand cushion is not enough, a concrete base is required. For this you need:

1. Mark the outlines of the sides of the bowl, sprinkling the contour with sand. At a distance of 15 cm from the sand line, drive in pegs to mark the edge of the pit.
2. Clear the surface of grass, turf and stones.
3. Dig a hole 30 cm deeper than the height of the reservoir.
4. Level and compact the bottom and fill it with 5 cm of sand.
5. Pour a 10 cm layer of crushed stone of medium fraction on top, lay a reinforcing mesh and pour concrete mortar 5–7 cm thick. Pillow curing time is approximately 2 weeks.

The bottom of the future pond should be flat

Installing the bowl on the base takes several steps:

1. Pour water into 1/3 of the volume, fill in the gaps between the bowl and the walls of the pit with wet sand, compact it.
2. Gradually add water and pour sand into the pit until the entire container is dug into the ground.
3. After 2 days, the sand will settle, and the form will firmly fall into place.

Now you can mount the technical part: fountains, additional equipment, pipes, filters. An excellent option for a country pond would be a floating fountain, which simultaneously acts as a filter and saturates the water with oxygen. Such a model will not only decorate the pond, but also clean it, ensure the health of fish and coastal plants. Installation is done like this:

After doing technical work you can start decorating and planting plants:

PVC film

The best choice for the price and durability of the rolled material for creating a pond is PVC film. For installation you will need:

• PVC film with a margin of 50 cm width on each side;
• roulette, level;
• shovel, rake;
• film welding machine building hair dryer with nozzle;
• sand, water.

When designing film structures, you can show more imagination and come up with a complex shape. Flexible and soft membrane will allow you to embody the design idea. The stepped structure will allow you to plant plants or enter the water for swimming. To get started, do precise drawing to scale and a sketch with design and decor options.

A waterfall will fit well into the design of the pond

The base should be as level as possible, clean and without sharp stones and clods of earth. A sand cushion device is enough.

Stages of work:

Now you can lay tiles or stone that can be cemented together, decorate the pond with boulders and coastal plants, which are exposed in pots on underwater steps near the surface of the water or in the ground in the coastal zone around the boulders. Floating oxygenator crops saturate the water with oxygen, water lilies and lotuses decorate the surface with magnificent flowers.

Light shades of the film will allow you to see fish and plants better, while dark ones will create a complete imitation of real bottom soil.

You can decorate a pond with a dark base with plants and decorative figures.

Floating filters and UV flashlights help keep the water clean longer. Snails will clean the walls from plaque, frogs and fish will reduce the number of mosquitoes and other harmful insects.

From a tire

Having available material at hand, for example, old tires, you can equip a pond absolutely free of charge in one day. The round shape is predetermined. An interesting version of this design consists of three tires of different diameters, which are installed at different heights. It turns out a natural cascading three-stage waterfall.

To work with rubber, you need to prepare:

• shovel;
• level;
• waterproofing film;
• knife with a metal blade;
• sealant;
• sand and gravel;
• stones and plants for decoration.

When designing, it should be taken into account that the tire can be dug into the ground completely or only up to half the height, or it can be completely placed on the surface. The frost resistance and durability of rubber will allow you to leave the pond for the winter in its place. The largest diameter of 3 m and a height of 1 m are tires of the Belarus tractor or tires from BelAZ equipment. You can even swim in this pond.

Several individual ponds can not be combined - the composition will turn out to be harmonious from several tires of different sizes

Foundation preparation:

1. Mark out the site by laying and circling the tire around. Remove the sod and remove the plants.
2. Dig a pit, expanding it by 15 cm from the size of the tire and deepening it to the height of the tire plus 15–20 cm.
3. Remove stones, clods of earth and debris, level the bottom of the site according to the level, tamp. A layer of geotextile can be laid to stabilize the ground and prevent the growth of weeds and tree roots.
4. Pour a layer of 10 cm of crushed stone and 5 cm of sand, spill with water and tamp, check the level.
5. This item is performed if it is decided to make a concrete platform for the reservoir. A reinforcement grid or reinforcing mesh is laid on top of the sand cushion and poured with a 7 cm thick concrete solution. Cover polyethylene film and wait for the screed to dry after about 2 weeks.

The base is ready, and now you can start installing and decorating dacha reservoir. The work includes the following steps:

A wonderful ensemble with a pond will turn out if you equip a small one next to it. alpine slide. Pour a hill of soil, compact it a little and give it the desired shape, then lay it out picturesquely with stones. You can use driftwood, old ceramic pots and vases. Plant unpretentious in the ground between the stones, creeping plants, and closer to the water - moisture-loving crops. Over time, the plants will grow, and the hill will take on a wild natural look.

Video: do-it-yourself small pond with a fountain

Arrangement ideas

The style of the reservoir should be in harmony with the general style direction the entire suburban area, garden. On a small estate, a pond can be made a central decoration and a recreation area for the whole family can be arranged around it. There are many landscape design ideas - everyone will choose the perfect option for themselves.

leaves and debris should be regularly collected from the surface with a special long-handled net. If finances allow, for medium and large volumes it is advisable to buy a skimmer - a floating filter that collects debris from the surface and purifies the water;

after wintering, you should inspect the integrity of the bowl, the performance of the pump and filter, wiring, remove ice residues, fix rickety stones and decor, check how the fish overwintered in the deep part of the pond;

during the winter, a lot of debris and dirt accumulate on the bottom and walls, so you need to pump out almost all the water, leaving a little in the fish pit, temporarily transplant small animals into another container and clean the bottom and walls of the pond. In small bowls, change the water completely;

overwintered plants should be transplanted into large pots, remove dead parts, feed. The soil should be clay and heavy;

in summer, evaporation and overheating of the water can become a major problem. It is necessary to monitor the level and top up water in a timely manner. The easiest way to do this is with a hose;

so that the pond does not overgrow with duckweed and mud, other weeds, they should be removed, the remains of fish food, garbage and rotten fruits that have fallen into the water should be removed;

for successful wintering fish in autumn require increased nutrition and a wintering pit with non-freezing water. For large reservoirs and with sufficient financial resources, it is recommended to install a winter water heating system to make the temperature in the reservoir comfortable for wintering exotic fish and animals. If there are no such conditions, it is better to move the fish to the aquarium for the winter. water from small pond you need to drain completely, and cut and cover the plants or put them in the basement.

By following the simple rules of care and paying attention to animals and plants, you can create a wonderful corner of freshness and coolness, which will become a favorite vacation spot for the whole family. Construction does not require a lot of time and money, and the result will be impressive.