Do-it-yourself pond in the country (51 photos): choosing a style, place, size and suitable building materials. Installation work. We build a decorative pond for a summer residence with our own hands A garden pond with our own hands

The beautiful atmosphere of a garden in a country house, painted with exquisite colors of nature, will be ideally complemented by an artificial reservoir sparkling under the rays of the sun, which today is an integral element of landscape design. A quiet water harbor, fish, waterfalls, ornamental plants are emphasized like nothing better good taste owner and his aesthetic nature. How to build a pond in the country with your own hands, so that it brings a minimum of trouble during operation? In this article, we bring to your attention variety of options solutions for creating an artificial pond, near which you, your family and friends will relax your soul and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Varieties of reservoirs

Today there is a large number of various ponds, qualifying according to the principles of construction and various features.

According to the shape and style, the following types of ponds are distinguished:

• formal or with regular geometry;
• landscape or with irregular geometry.

The first type of decorative reservoir is characterized by a strict outline, its sides intersect at right angles, forming diamond-shaped, rectangular or other similar combinations. As facing materials most often they use brick or tile, giving a certain severity to the structure. A formal pond is appropriate in the country, where there are already other buildings, rectangular paths.

Landscape ponds are often also called decorative. According to the device, such reservoirs are similar to formal ones, but their outline most often has a smooth shape in the form of a coastline. Of course, the appearance of such a reservoir can be the most diverse, it all depends on the imagination, the main thing is that the pond should have the most natural look.

According to the water level, decorative ponds are divided into:

• raised;
• buried.

Raised ponds mainly perform a decorative function in the landscape design of a summer cottage, and they are created with a regular geometry. The depth of such a reservoir is quite small - within the borders. The advantages of such a decorative element in the country are minimal physical and financial costs.

However, the disadvantages are immediately visible - in winter, such a pond freezes through, and only annual plants can be bred in it, and there is no place for fish here at all.

To create a buried pond, you will need to perform some earthen work using waterproofing materials. In such a pond, you can grow without problems perennials and start fish.

Choosing a place for a decorative pond in the country

The key to a well-groomed pond is its correct location. A decorative pond is best created near the house or a place to relax, for example, gazebos. So you can watch the playing water surface while drinking coffee or reading a book. However, the main criterion for the location of the pond are the surrounding landscapes.

It should be built in an open area, since large deciduous trees will create problems not only in the fall, but their fast growing roots can damage the pond system. It is also important that the reservoir is protected from strong winds, as they will negatively affect the development of coastal plants.

You also need to consider natural lighting. For a favorable reservoir of development in the rays of sunlight, it should be no more than 10 hours, otherwise small bacteria may begin to multiply in the pond, as a result of which it will become overgrown with mud and algae. With very little illumination, the development of already existing deep plants will be difficult.

Construction of artificial reservoirs based on the bowl

When building a reservoir, mistakes should not be made, as it can turn into an ordinary swamp, the inhabitants of which will be frogs and midges.

Unlike pools, water in a reservoir should not only be ozonated and breathe, but also have a certain acid balance. And only by observing these conditions, the pond will be in a natural state, and growing plants and living fish in it will flourish and multiply.

Choosing a pond tank

The easiest way to make a mini-lake in the country is to build a pond based on a bowl.

Depending on the capacity and material of manufacture for the structure, you can choose the following bowls:

• polyethylene container with a capacity of 150-900 liters

This option is the most optimal for a small suburban area. Depending on your wishes, you can choose a variety of colors, shapes and configurations of the bowl, its service life is about 3 years.

• plastic vessel with a capacity of 1200-1600 liters

Such a base is more durable and strong, the service life is about 10 years.

• propylene or fiberglass form with a capacity of 5000-6000 liters.

With the help of such a bowl, it is possible to equip an artificial reservoir with an area of ​​​​more than 10 m² and a depth of about 1.5 meters in the country house. Service life is approximately 30 years, in addition, if necessary, various types repair.

Having determined your financial capabilities, and having opted for some kind of bowl, you can start building a pond in the country.

Stages of building a pond in a country house based on a bowl

By choosing appropriate place for a mini-lake, we proceed to the arrangement of the pit:

• The first thing to do is markup. To do this, we lay the container upside down on the intended place of the reservoir and make notes along its contour.
• Then we drive in the pegs with an indent of 15 cm from the marking contours, while its outlines should be completely repeated.
• The next stage is digging a pit, and it should be borne in mind that the pit must fully comply with the parameters and shape of the bowl. The depth must be done with a margin of about 25 cm for a sand cushion.

• Thoroughly clean the bottom from various stones and roots.
• It is necessary to carefully level the bottom of the pit, for this you can try to fit a bowl into it and see if you need to carry out land work, or the pit already corresponds to the dimensions of the container.
• If the parameters of the pit correspond, then it is necessary to carefully compact its bottom.
• Then the ditch is completely covered with waterproofing material.
• A sand cushion should be laid at the bottom with a layer of 20-25 cm.
• Now you can start laying the bowl on the sand cushion. Checking her horizontal position, after which the free space is covered with sand. Along with backfilling sand, you need to gradually fill the container with water.
• Then you can already show your imagination and start arranging a mini-lake in the country.

Do-it-yourself pond in the country house based on a flexible insulating polymer

Types of insulating film

If you are planning to build a reservoir large sizes, then a flexible insulating material is ideal for these purposes, thanks to which you will not limit yourself in choosing the shape and size of the pond.

We are talking about polyethylene, PVC film and butyl rubber.

It is possible to build a pond using a plastic film only if it is planned to be made temporary. The thing is that this material is quite fragile and easily damaged. The term of operation of a polyethylene film, as a rule, becomes no more than three years.

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) film is quite in demand in the construction of an artificial reservoir, it is very durable and reliable, its service life is 10-15 years.

Today, the best solution for equipping a pond in a country house with your own hands is butyl rubber rubber. This material is as strong as possible, reliable, not afraid of the sun and frost. It will serve you from 30 to 50 years.

For the price, of course, the most economical option, but not the most durable, is polyethylene film. The most expensive and reliable is butyl rubber. If it is too expensive for you, then stop at the insulating material made of polyvinyl chloride, it is almost half the price, but at the same time strong enough.

Construction stages

It is best to carry out work on the construction of a pond based on an insulating film in summer time when the air temperature is about 20 degrees. In order for the film to become more elastic, it must be kept in the sun for several hours.

• At the first stage, marking is made and a pit is dug.

This is done according to the same principle as when building a pond using a bowl, but here more attention should be paid to the depth and shape of the pit - a correct division into zones is necessary, which are performed in steps. The width of the steps must be at least 40 cm.

The optimal depth of an artificial reservoir:

From 20 to 40 cm in shallow water, or rather the first stepped zone;

From 50 to 100 cm in deep water, on the last step of the pond.

If you plan to grow fish in a pond, then for them it is necessary to provide for a “wintering hole”, which is made about 150 cm deep.

• The next step is a thorough leveling of the bottom
• After removing all large and small stones, roots, etc. the surface is backfilled with a layer of 5 cm with a clean layer of sand and covered with geotextile, due to which it is possible to extend the life of the film coating.
• Now you can proceed to the actual laying of the polymer

Settle the material freely, while securing it around the edges with bricks. It is not worth rushing to cut off the film, since initially you need to fill the resulting container with water in order for the material to take the desired shape.

The dimensions of the insulating film are calculated as follows: the length of the film is equal to the length of the reservoir, 2 depths plus a margin of about 40-50 cm. In the same way, the required width of the polymer can be calculated.

• Underwater design

Immediately after laying the insulating film, you can start pouring water, but it will look very impressive and beautiful if you decorate the underwater part in a special way, overlaying it, for example, with tiles, bricks or stone.

If the angle of inclination of the underwater shore is not more than 30°, then the stones can be laid without fastening them to each other, but with dressing of the seams. To do this, the space between them should be covered with clay. If the angle of inclination of the bank is steeper, then the stones must be fixed with cement mortar.

Decorative design of the reservoir in the country

When all construction works behind, we proceed to the design of the reservoir - the last stage in the arrangement of an artificial pond in the country. The coastline can be laid out with pebbles, tiles, stone or a wide variety of other flooring.

The decoration of the banks with small stones is carried out by backfilling, while the blind area has the form of a gutter, the remaining insulating film is held by poured pebbles.

If you plan to decorate the shore with large stones, then you must first organize concrete base, as otherwise loose stones may slip and ruin the resin.

Ponds look very impressive in combination with fountains, alpine slides, small streams. An excellent option for a small artificial reservoir would be a floating fountain, it is already sold with all the necessary equipment, you just need to turn it on to electricity.

If there is enough free space in the pond, then be sure to make an artificial waterfall with 2-3 cascades, through which water will flow into the bowl.

Its organization will require such main components as powerful pump and a bypass pipe that will supply water from the pump to the top of the cascade. To create cascades, you can use molded pallets or thick waterproofing film. The outlet pipe is best done underground, but if this is not possible, then just carefully disguise it. The following figure shows a diagram of the organization of a waterfall with 3 cascades.

Plants such as reeds, ferns, feces, iris, lake reeds, etc. will perfectly decorate the pond. Plastic or metal vessels are used for their planting. Coat the walls of the container with clay so that water does not wash out the nutrients of the earth.

Flowers and leaves of aquatic plants must be above the surface of the water. For example, for water lilies, the required depth is up to 100-130 cm, and for an arrowhead, 10-20 cm will be enough.

In the pond, be sure to plant aquatic plants - oxygen generators that produce oxygen and prevent the reproduction of various algae.

It is best to plant ground plants in containers dug near the pond in order to prevent the roots from growing under the pond. Put the fish in the water. You can decorate the ground part of the pond with a bridge or other decorative elements let your imagination run wild.

A pond in the country - a photo of beautifully decorated artificial mini-lakes:

Filters, weir and lighting

To ensure that the water in your pond is always clear and clean, you need to take care of its filtration. To organize this treatment system, you will need plastic pipes and reinforcing hoses. The pump and filter system should be selected based on the volume of your mini-lake and the desired degree of filtration.

When arranging a reservoir in the country, you need to think about such an element as a spillway. Thanks to it, it will be possible to regulate the water level, for example, in the spring during rains or when snow melts, our pond will never overflow its banks. A spillway is a small depression at the bottom of a pond filled with pebbles. To this depression are brought drainage pipes, with the help of which and will be given excess water from the mini lake.

Any artificial pond will look more spectacular if it is equipped with various types of lights.

If you choose the right spot lighting, then at night the artificial pond will come to life, fill with new highlights and take on unusual delightful forms.

Lighting can be placed permanently at the bottom of the pond, or it can be equipped with lamps that, using weights of various weights, will float at several levels of water. But the light bulbs located on the fountain nozzle will illuminate each jet of beating streams of water.

At the same time, it is worth remembering that all products that live by electricity must be appropriately labeled, which allows them to be used in water or outside.

A pond in the country - a photo of finished reservoirs with beautiful illumination:

• The ideal depth of the reservoir is about 5 m with an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 15 square meters. m, if you plan to increase the area of ​​​​the pond, then accordingly you should increase its depth, for example, at 20 sq. it is desirable that the depth be more than 1 m.
• In order not to upset the balance of the ecosystem, it is better not to change the water in the artificial lake.
• Plant all plants closer to the shore.
• The ratio of water and vegetation should be 1:4, in which case the ecosystem will not be disturbed.
• It is desirable that the stones in the reservoir are not made of limestone, as it makes the water alkaline, which will negatively affect the fish living there.
• Do not be alarmed if after the first pouring of water into the reservoir it becomes cloudy. This is due to the fact that the stage of colonization by microorganisms is taking place, after some time, after the equilibrium of the ecosystem is reached, the water will be purified.

We maintain order in the pond

Like other structures, the pond needs some care. There is no need to expend special physical strength here, with correct selection water plants in your mini-lake, a biological balance will gradually be established, and the system will control itself, but you just have to help it a little.

Caring for a pond is very simple and logical:

• In summer and spring, regularly remove filamentous algae from the reservoir with the help of sack, and around weeds. If your pond does not have a filtration system, then you can buy special chemicals that will saturate the water with oxygen without harming all its inhabitants. In the summer, when water evaporates quickly, top up as needed.
• In autumn, remove fallen leaves to the surface in time, as they will eventually sink to the bottom. Some plants that do not tolerate frost, transplant into separate containers for wintering. Thin out overgrown plants. To protect the reservoir from various debris for the winter, stretch a special mesh over its surface.
• In the spring, somewhere in April, it is already possible to start the pond - cut off the dried stems, clean the walls and bottom of the silt, if available, turn on the lighting of the fountain.

As you can see, care is quite insignificant considering how many emotions and joy this living wonderful corner brings you.

Many owners of suburban, private, summer cottages dream of having their own pond. As practice shows, it is quite possible to create a decorative pond with your own hands. In this article, we will talk about the main features of making a pond with our own hands, pay attention to the recommendations of experts on this topic, and determine the main criteria for choosing a place for digging a pit for an artificial reservoir on the site.

The main types of reservoirs in your area

Having your own water oasis on a private plot has become a fashionable trend in recent years. As a rule, each owner tries to diversify this type of landscape structures with various original ideas. But, before we talk about specific varieties of artificial reservoirs, let's consider what they generally are. The table shows the main types of reservoirs in summer cottages:

Another criterion, based on which reservoirs are divided into types, is the purpose of this structure. So, the following are distinguished:

• small;
• decorative;
• for swimming;
• ponds for breeding fish.

The creation of an artificial water structure on the site does not require special financial investments. in this case, attention to detail is important, and not to specialists, beginners should familiarize themselves with the advice and recommendations of real professionals.

The correct location of the reservoir on the site

When choosing a suitable territory for the construction of a reservoir with your own hands, you should be extremely careful not to damage the gas system, etc. while digging a pit. Subject to all common rules artificial pond(or other species) should not occupy more than 3% of the site. In order for the design to become not only an ornament, but also to be practical at any time of the year, the following recommendations should be considered:

• there should be no trees on the territory around the reservoir: the leaves will fall off, this will require frequent cleaning, and strong roots can destroy structures from underground;
• from the aesthetic side, the reservoir should be clearly visible from the house;
• a correctly chosen place implies a convenient approach to a water structure, the ability to equip any path;
• it is also important that sunlight hits the reservoir, ideally it should be illuminated for about 7 hours a day;
• it should be possible to shelter, protect the reservoir from strong, cold winds.

Basic materials and tools for making a pond with your own hands

For the manufacture of a pond on the site with their own hands, as practice shows, they choose a variety of materials. Rigid plastic, PVC film, concrete and other building materials initially lay the foundation for the time required for the work and the budget for the process. Often, the owners use improvised materials available on the farm in order to build a small pond in the yard. This range includes various fiberglass bowls, old sinks and tubs, barrels, etc.

Also used to create an artificial reservoir liquid rubber, butyl rubber film, EPDM membrane, etc.

To work with different kind materials are usually required different instruments, but still for some work there are a number of indispensable tools:

• digging shovel;
• roulette;
• gloves;
• bucket;
• pegs and rope;
• Master OK;
• a hammer;
• rakes and pitchforks;
• scissors of different types;
• copper pipes, grinder, etc.

Do-it-yourself hard plastic pond

The basis for creating a pond in the garden may already be finished construction from hard plastic. The advantages of this option include the minimum time spent on installation work (in comparison with others), the reliability of use at any time of the year, the ability to create a reservoir of any shape, etc. At the same time, one of the main disadvantages is the financial cost of high-quality material, since cheap, not durable material can soon become the cause of defectiveness and unsuitability of the pond. The creation of a rigid plastic pond can be characterized by several steps.

1. The marking of the selected territory is being prepared.

2. A pit is dug, cleaned, with a margin of at least 8-10 cm.

3. A hard plastic container of the desired shape and size is placed in the finished pit.

4. Using the building level, the horizontal installation of the tank is checked.

5. A third of the vessel is filled with water. Then, the fixation of the bowl begins with the help of sand, which falls asleep from the sides.

If you have a ready-made bowl, small in size, it will take no more than 3-4 days to work. A do-it-yourself hard plastic pond is a good alternative along with other options.

Do-it-yourself pvc film pond

Equally well known is the creation of private ponds based on various types of construction film, including PVC. The durability of this type of structure directly depends on the strength, thickness and quality of the selected material.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film is the most best option for production small pond with their own hands on the site. It is known for the following features:

• usually does not contain harmful substances;
• Sold in rolls of various thicknesses and widths;
• resistant to temperature extremes, has good frost-resistant qualities;
• with the right thickness of PVC film, the durability of the pond will be more than 10 years.

When choosing a PVC material for work, you should pay attention to such characteristics as moisture resistance, resistance to ground salts, UV resistance, etc.

Do-it-yourself pond from a reinforced concrete bowl

One of the most difficult technical specifications, options for creating a reservoir on the site is considered a concrete structure. Firstly, it is a rather time-consuming, time-consuming and financially costly process. Secondly, this business requires certain building skills. However, reservoirs made of reinforced concrete material are distinguished by durability, strength and reliability. By creating this type of ponds, you can make the most of any original ideas and create a water structure of any size.

Using this material in the production of your own pond on the site, you should additionally take care of:

• construction waterproofing;
• additional processing of the structure with a frost-resistant agent;
• strengthening the structure with reinforcement, etc.

This type of reservoir requires such building materials like sand, cement, cement primer, gravel, etc.

The main work on making a pond with your own hands. Sketch

The main work on making a pond with your own hands is based on a ready-made, individually created sketch. This construction document allows you to graphically display all the nuances of the future design and work on it. At home, masters, beginners rely on ready-made drawings and ideas that are richer than the Internet. Specialists-builders write that when creating a sketch for the construction of a pond, it is important to pay attention to the presence of steps (ground drops) in the reservoir. The detail in the drawing will avoid huge amount construction problems and inaccuracies.

We have already briefly mentioned the main stages of work on the manufacture of a pond above, but it is worth considering in more detail the issues related to the preparation of the pit, the laying of the substrate and the film.

Digging a pit, laying the substrate and film

Physical work, regarding the manufacture of a pond with your own hands, begins with digging a foundation pit. But before you start digging a hole, you must first clean the area from possible debris, foliage. Next, mark the selected area and only then remove the sod. Experts recommend digging from edge to center, while constantly adjusting irregularities and respecting the edges of the marked area. Do not forget about the reserve of land of 10 cm (even such minor errors in the process can be very significant).

Next, the finished pit must be equipped with high-quality waterproofing. This is done so that the water from the pond does not go into the ground. In construction, there are several options for how to form the so-called substrate in the pit:

1. Using various types of stones, lay and compact the pit;

2. Apply geotextile, which should be covered with sand;

3. Use film.

The most common of the above methods is the latter.

The pillow inside the excavation made of PVC film requires special attention, as improper installation work can result in damage to the film layer, such as tree roots, etc.

When laying this material at the bottom of the pit, it is important to follow some rules:

• usually the relief of reservoirs is characterized by folding, so professionals advise making one large fold, and avoiding the appearance of many small ones;
• in order to fix the film in the pit, it is better to create an additional trench;
• should be monitored so film material stretched in the pit, at this point it is important that the PVC material lies freely, otherwise after filling the pond with water, it may break;
• in order to lay out the film with stones, it is best to use small species. One more moment good option there will be small rounded stones, without ribbed surfaces;
• the edges of the film are recommended to be cut after the pit has stood for more than 2 days.

Do-it-yourself pond care

In order to turn the pond into a multifunctional system, filtration systems, pumps and other equipment are additionally installed. There are several methods for caring for a pond in different time of the year:

• mechanical;
• biological;
• chemical;
• UV.

The mechanical method consists in the use of special filter containers that clean the reservoir from small particles. By choosing a system with fine nozzles, even the smallest particles can be neutralized.

To normalize the biological parameters of water in the pond, a biological method is used. Its principle of operation is to use filters that are able to neutralize biological residues, etc.

The chemical method of cleaning allows you to normalize the acidity of the water in the pond, saturate it with oxygen, etc. However, if fish live in a pond, this method can only do harm.

The last method is the use of ultraviolet lamps, the main function of which, in this case, is the disinfection of water. Ultraviolet light does a great job of killing harmful viruses and bacteria.

To the above methods, you can add the most elementary physical work that will keep the pond clean. Hosts are required thorough cleaning water from leaves, regular water changes, cleaning from silt and algae, etc. Experts recommend breeding a number of waterfowl plants that are considered natural filters. It is not only useful, but also very beautiful.

For more information on how to make a pond on the site with your own hands, watch the video:

As you sometimes want in the summer, on a hot day, to relax in nature near small lake or a pond. It’s great if such a reservoir is located nearby from your place of residence. But, for the most part, we have to relax in our free time in the summer on our personal plots or cottages. And many of us, unfortunately, have money to build even a small country house and payment for services landscape designer. A person has no other choice but to equip a pond in the country on his own. By the way, it is not difficult to make it and it is quite real. It usually depends on your desire, effort and personal imagination. Therefore, the article of the construction portal will tell you how to make a pond in the country with your own hands step by step.

Important information

So, if you are going to build such a structure in your country house, then first you need to decide on the place where you want to place this reservoir. We advise you to immediately determine the size and shape of the future pond. Remember that these configurations and dimensions directly depend on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe future pond. The larger it is, the more convenient it will be for its further operation and maintenance.
A small pond will have to be cleaned and cleaned much more often than a large one. If you decide to plant a large number of plants in it and start a variety of fish, then it is better not to consider a pond with a small area as an option, because the internal microclimate will be disturbed and it will be difficult to maintain the necessary ecological balance in it.

As for the choice of the future place, then the future place for the reservoir should be chosen on open area. Remember that the pond should be in a quiet area and not be subject to gusts strong wind. Do not choose an area with bright lighting. It should be in a place that is protected from direct sunlight into the water (more than 7 hours), because in the future the pond will be subject to flowering. And its inhabitants will be only frogs. But if there is not enough light, then the growth of plants will sharply decrease, and you are unlikely to see beauty from this reservoir.
If your plans include installation small fountain, then it will be necessary to prepare a reservoir diagram for the competent connection of special equipment. With a little work, you can make a circuit yourself.
Do not forget about how far the electrical system is from the pond. If you place a pond under trees, this can lead to the fact that falling leaves from them will lead to water pollution and it will be necessary to clean this pond much more often. Also, tree roots can cause damage to the reservoir, and the pond will begin to dry out.

Pay attention to the publication of the site: How to make a pipe bender yourself

We equip a home pond on a rigid basis

If you want to equip the reservoir thoroughly, then you should dig a large pit and cast a large bowl of the reservoir using cement and reinforcement. This design will serve you for many years (at least 25).
If you have plans to make the reservoir small, then you can stop at the cheaper and lighter option.
Let's find out below how to equip country pond on one's own? So the simplest and accessible method is the purchase of a finished "bowl" in a specialized store. But the big disadvantage of this method is that you have to choose the shape of your future pond, which is offered for sale. From less expensive options you can choose a pond made of plastic, the total area is from 5 to 9 sq.m. Naturally, there are larger forms, but this is no longer a pond, but a pool and their cost is much higher.

Before purchasing the design you like, you should ask the seller about its depth. It must be at least 1 meter deep. The water in this tank will warm up quickly in the summer, and will not freeze to the bottom in winter. Which in this case is one of the main factors. If you are going to equip the pond yourself, on your existing suburban area, and you want to use as the basis of the reservoir finished form, then you first need to familiarize yourself with what materials are used in the manufacture of this product.
A container made of plastic is the cheapest option, but when choosing this product, you will need to take into account its disadvantages. When delivering and further installing this product, you should be careful, as the container can easily burst in the event of a slight impact or bending. A material such as plastic is very susceptible to destruction from exposure to sunlight. Based on this, the operation of such a pond will be small - about 4-7 years. To achieve a longer service life, it is necessary to choose a container made of reinforced plastic. This material will last you much longer than usual. Such forms are less susceptible to ultraviolet radiation and are much more plastic in their properties than products made from conventional plastic.

A more expensive, but also high-quality product is a fiberglass container with a rubber base. This product withstands temperature changes, will not be deformed or destroyed by sunlight, and the components included in it are environmentally friendly and are not dangerous for the inhabitants of the reservoir. The service life of such a pond will be approximately 30-35 years. It is easy to repair, which, in turn, increases its operation several times. The arrangement of such a reservoir is not very hard work. And as a result, you get a beautiful in shape, color and aesthetic in every respect a place to relax.

We build a reservoir on our summer cottage ourselves

This publication will tell each reader about how to make a pond in the country with your own hands. In general, remember that in order to equip a pond on your own, you need to choose a place for it on the site and decide on its future shape. Let's say that this stage of work is completed. Now you need to prepare for the construction work.

• First you need to mark the contours of the future pit. Making them is easy enough. With the help of a shovel, you need to make a border of the silhouette. 25 cm should be added to the prepared contour, so that sand can be poured into the pond. If you bought a container with ledges, you need to dig each finished level separately, gradually reducing them. It should be added to each resulting level of 12-17 cm for future sand addition.
• After you make a pit, its edges will need to be leveled, while tamping with a shovel. It is also recommended to remove all unnecessary debris from the pit, and root system shrubs or trees. If this procedure is not followed, then the form can be spoiled.
• Next, we start pouring sand. Each layer must be at least 15 cm, in which case the pond will not subside in the future.
• Then we do the installation plastic container. It is necessary to carefully carry out this work, using the building level to ensure a smooth installation of the bath.
• After the container is installed, it is necessary to carefully pour water into the container, filling it by a third. The space remaining between the edges of the pit and the tank should be carefully covered with sand. Make sure all voids are filled. To do this, you need to regularly water the soil with water. The water pressure in this case should be small.
• After installing the container, you need to continue watering the soil around the reservoir, and if necessary add sand. After the soil subsidence stops, the container can be completely filled with water. With the help of stones, decorate the edge of the bowl, and plant plants.

Country pond made of flexible materials

Above, we talked about how to make a pond in the country with our own hands. Now we will tell you about what options exist for making a pond yourself, in case you cannot buy a finished bowl, but want to build a large pond of the original form.

So one of the most available options in this case, polyethylene, 600 microns thick, can serve. Although its cost is low, this material has a fairly large number of shortcomings.

Polyethylene is very thin in composition, so it can be torn, and under the influence of ultraviolet light, it begins to quickly collapse. The service life of a reservoir made of a polyethylene substrate will, alas, be very short, approximately 3-3.5 years.

And a material such as PVC film is quite cheap, but its composition is much stronger than polyethylene film. Its service life will be 9-10 years. The PVC coating can also consist of two layers, with a fabric backing. This material also, unfortunately, has a lot of shortcomings. It is also subject to its destruction from the sun, like polyethylene. But there is one main difference - you can always make it repair. On sale there are so-called repair kits. In addition, PVC film has good elasticity, excellent stretch. And a large number of folds created as a result of filling the pond with water straighten out after a while.

One of the most expensive coatings, but also the highest quality is butyl rubber. The service life of this material is 50-60 years. It is not subject to temperature fluctuations. Indeed, neither frost nor the sun are afraid of him. He possesses excellent properties- flexibility and plasticity. Withstands heavy loads. So if your plans include the construction of a large pond of a bizarre shape, then the best material you can't find.

The next step will be marking the pit. To make a reservoir yourself, you will need to use various materials. You will need:

• sand,
• pebble,
• rope,
• felt,
• film,
• shovel,
• repair kit for film coating,
• bricks,
• irrigation hose,
• building level.

Using the use of pegs and rope, it is necessary to mark out the shape of the pit that you want to make. For arranging a large reservoir during land work, you can use excavators. Care should be taken to ensure that the levels and alternate with each other.

This method is necessary to create more stable shores of the reservoir. You should also not forget about the terraces (about 25 cm wide) needed for planting. The descents of the ledges from each other should be gentle. The angle of inclination in this case should correspond to 45 degrees. Do not forget that the depth of the future reservoir should be 90 cm. If this distance is less, then with the onset of winter, all the water in the pond will freeze, and the inhabitants of the reservoir will all die. It follows that it is necessary to make a pit 20-25 cm larger than the planned size of the pond. This is necessary for pouring sand on its bottom and on the terraces, in order to eliminate future subsidence of the soil, damage to the base of the film. The mound of sand must be thoroughly leveled and properly compacted, removing all debris, stones and roots from the bottom in advance.

Drainage and waterproofing

1. After the embankment is ready, you can proceed to the next job. In order to preserve the integrity of the film intended for the reservoir as long as possible, geotextiles should be laid on a layer of sand, preferably in several layers.
2. After that, we level the film and fix its edges on the banks with the help of bricks. No, it makes no sense to try to smooth out all the wrinkles that have appeared on the film. Water will straighten them out later. Try to knead the irrigation hose so that one of its edges is placed in the center of the pond, and gradually, with a small pressure, we begin to supply water. With a uniform filling of the reservoir with water, it is necessary to partially release the edges of the film and level it along the ledges of the pit. After the pond is completely filled with water, it is necessary to stop any work for 2-3 days. During this time, the film will begin to gradually smooth out under the action of water and, as a result, all voids in the pond will be filled.
3. After its final subsidence, we proceed to cut off the remaining parts of the film, while leaving 45-50 cm for further decoration of the banks. We fix the edges of the film with pegs and small metal arcs. Later they will be hidden. ornamental plants and various stones and pebbles.
4. Now we are installing the pump and starting to plant ornamental plants.

Pond above the ground in the country

From this article, each reader will be able to learn how to make a pond in the country with their own hands step by step. In addition to useful information in this article, we will show an interesting video.

If there are small children in the family, then the most important task in the construction of a reservoir is to ensure children's safety. In this case, it is necessary to equip the pond slightly above the surface of the water. This method will not only facilitate its further operation, but also make the reservoir safe for children. It will be necessary to use a reinforced concrete foundation for this. Let's describe in detail how to build such a pond.

1. To begin with, you should dig a pit in the very deep place pond, and then make terraces for future plants, as described above.
2. Along the banks of the reservoir, with the help of formwork, it will be necessary to fill the foundation of the required height.
3. After it has completely dried, the wooden formwork can be removed, and the inner parts of the resulting walls can be treated with plaster to make them smooth. By using this method, you will avoid damage to the film.
4. We cover the finished bottom of the pit with a film and begin to fill it with water.
5. Fixing the edges of the film, we leave them behind the manufactured fence. After the pond is filled with water, we give it some time to settle.
6. Then we begin to cut off the excess edges of the film, fix it, and create a decor for the edges of the pond.

It should be noted that arranging a pond on your own is not an easy task. But if you approach this correctly, then the result can exceed all your expectations and please you for more than one year. In such a case, one must also try to conduct the correct and regular care behind your pond. Here are a few examples that you will probably need:

Equipment designed to clean up debris from the water in your pond. It can be, as a rule, all kinds of scissors, nets or devices for cleaning the bottom.

You will also need radio sockets in order to connect to the network of fountains installed in the reservoir, or a filter for water purification.

If you want to put fish in a pond, then you will definitely need devices such as water filtration units and various UV lamps.

You can not do without a pump designed to pump water from the pond. It also ensures its constant renewal, and in winter it drains the reservoir.

Rules for the care of a country pond

There is no dispute - a pond in the country is wonderful. But if you do not want to see a small swamp on your site with its inhabitants croaking, then it is necessary to properly care for your pond.

The first step is to regularly monitor the purity of the water in it. You can resort to an expensive purification method - for example, buy a purification system for ponds. But if this option is too expensive for you, then there is another, cheaper remedy: using ordinary peat. In order to clean the pond in this way, it is necessary to fill a canvas bag with it and lower it to the bottom of the pond. The water will not bloom, and the algae that have appeared will disappear.

Maintain overall cleanliness in the pond. Regularly remove various debris accumulated on the surface of the water from leaves, branches, etc.

If you are the owner of a small pond, then it should be drained to the bottom in winter. And if you have a reservoir of a sufficiently large size, then at least 3 times a year it is necessary to completely purify the water, completely pumping it out.

Instead of a conclusion

From this publication, everyone can learn how to make a mini-pond in the country with their own hands. But, what can be done if the site you have is very small to accommodate the reservoir? Do not fall into despair. In this case, you can place a small pond in any front garden, using a metal barrel or a large basin for this. Such a reservoir can be easily equipped even on a balcony in own apartment and then produce beautiful decor containers with stones or mosaics.

How to make a greenhouse with your own hands from ... We equip the water supply of a private house from a well ...

As mentioned at the beginning of our express course, a landscape pond - a reservoir organized according to a natural pattern - is the most popular among all possible water devices. This is understandable: stylistically, it fits into any garden, the work is done easily and quickly, the pond looks absolutely natural and exists autonomously, self-cleaning, that is, without requiring burdensome complex care. Previous articles in the series can be found at the links below:

I want to warn you that my author's way of creating such a pond is not the only one. Some specialists working in this direction offer their own technologies - for example, the cultivation of aquatic plants in containers, the keeping of exotic fish species that require warm wintering conditions, and the use of a large number of filtering equipment - multi-stage and, accordingly, expensive to maintain water purity. I propose to build garden pond as in nature to minimize, firstly, energy and time costs for complex care and, secondly, which is important for many, to minimize costs. I'm sure these are pretty serious arguments.

A place under the sun

So let's get started. It is advisable to start work on the device of the reservoir in the spring or early summer, when the melt waters descend to the required depth. Depending on the characteristics of the site and weather conditions, as a rule, this time is from mid-May to mid-June.

Having agreed that we are building a garden pond “as in nature”, first of all we will choose the most suitable place. The pond should naturally fit into the surrounding landscape and be located so that it is convenient for you to observe it. To do this, an open area is usually arranged next to it, where you can, if desired, install garden furniture, sun loungers or a wide stylish umbrella, under the canopy of which the whole family will fit on Sunday lunch.

You should not place the pond in a lowland, as the streams of melt and rain water will clog it. In addition, cold air always collects in a low place, and harmful midges swarm in heaps. It is not at all necessary to arrange a pond in an open place, it can also fit into the structure of a shady garden, bringing a special subtle note to the collection of ferns and rhododendrons. But if you want to admire the flowering of water lilies, you will have to choose a place for it that is illuminated by the sun for at least 6-7 hours a day.

Therefore, the place of your pond under the sun depends on what kind of decorative effect you ultimately want to get.

Size and shape

Having picked up a place, of course, you need to decide on the size and configuration. The sizes can be very different, but the larger the pond, the faster the biological balance will be established in it, which means that the water will be clean and healthy without additional effort on your part.

The issue of depth worries many. It is solved in the same way as everything else: by the method of logical reasoning. If the pond is needed solely for decorative purposes, a depth of 1 m is sufficient. When planting water lilies on the bottom, their rhizomes will be located at a depth of 60-80 cm, which in conditions middle lane Russia is optimal. If the pond is intended for keeping fish: mirror carp, silver carp, sterlet, Japanese koi carp, the depth of such a reservoir should be 1.5-2 m with the corresponding dimensions of the water table. I can not call a luxury the predilection of some (including me) for float fishing. Therefore, if the size of your garden allows, why not treat yourself to your own pond for this purpose?

From experience, I can say that all owners of garden ponds dream of expanding their pond over time, so if the size of the area allotted for it and your financial capabilities allow, it is better to take this into account right away.

Marking on the ground

The easiest way to "draw" the line of the future pond with a flexible water hose. But it happens that in parallel with the work on creating a pond, general soil and planning work is carried out on the site, lighting equipment and irrigation systems are laid - that is, the final level of the soil horizon is not defined. In this case, for marking, you have to use wooden pegs or metal studs, on which the rope is fixed.

When the configuration of the future pond is drawn, it is necessary to clear the site of plants that may have fallen into this zone, remove the sod, if any, and check the general slope of the earth. If there is a noticeable distortion along the periphery, at this stage it is necessary to level the entire site. Subsequently, this indicator can be slightly adjusted, but it is more difficult to correct serious distortions when all the work is almost completed.

Pit - depth and shape

It is more convenient to dig from the edges to the center, gradually deepening, and form a shallow water zone, referring to the project. Don't forget to leave the planned terraces. You will plant plants on them that need an immersion depth of 5 to 30 cm. Terraces should be horizontal and wide - at least 30-40 cm. For the normal functioning of the reservoir, it is enough to arrange two or three levels of terraces: at a depth of 10, 20 and 40 cm , if there are three of them, or 20 and 40 cm, if there are two. In any case, it is better to make the coasts gentle, stepped, with smooth transitions - it is easier to decorate the coastal zone this way.

When working with soil, it is advisable to use a wheelbarrow, and not to put the excavated soil here in a huge pile, which will also have to be disassembled. With a wheelbarrow, you are not constrained in time, since a huge pile of earth will not spoil the lawn or flower garden nearby, and the soil being removed is most likely heterogeneous on different depth and can be mobile and logically used right here on the site. Part of the dense clay soil can be folded in the immediate vicinity of the pit in order to use it later for decorating and planting aquatic plants.

When working with soil, construction debris, sharp fragments natural stone, chopped off tree roots and even entire foundations of former buildings. All hard and especially sharp objects must be carefully selected so that they do not cause damage to the film in the future.

Film - size and laying rules

After the pit is ready, the bottom and walls should be tamped, checked for level and, if necessary, correct the banks. They must be on the same plane in order to ready-made no part of the shore was higher than the water table. With subsequent decoration, it is necessary to ensure that the film is completely hidden by sand, soil, gravel, plantings. This condition is important not only from an aesthetic point of view: if the film sticks out openly on the surface and is exposed to the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes, its strength in this place is reduced.

Then you need to use a flexible tape measure or a strong cord to measure the length and width of the prepared pit in the longest places and add 20-30 cm on each side, depending on the method you choose to decorate the coastline. It is better to bring the obtained value to an even measure, knowing the possible parameters of the length and width of rolls of PVC film and BC membrane, so that there are no problems when buying. For example, 4x4 m, 5x6 m, 12x8 m and so on. You can adjust the parameters by pulling them under an even measure if you slightly increase or decrease the depth, length or width of the pit.

The finished pit should be filled with fine, if necessary sifted, sand with a layer of 3-7 cm, which depends on the thickness of the insulating coating (the thinner the film, the thicker the buffer layer of sand). In order for the sand to hold well on sloping surfaces, it must be slightly moistened. If the soil is heavily clogged with small stones or there is a possibility of damage to the film by the roots of closely spaced trees, additionally cover the bed with a soft underlying protective material (fleece). Improvised means can replace it - thick lutrasil, spunbond or any other soft material.

Before use, you must first spread the film on flat surface, better on a sunny warm day, give her a couple of hours to lie down and straighten out - she will become soft and plastic. After that, if the size of the film is relatively small, it should be rolled up in the form of a pie evenly from all sides to the center - this will make it easier to distribute it in the pit. If the pond is large, and you are using heavier BC rubber, it is more expedient to roll the rolled film into a long roll on the smaller side and, placing this roll in one of the ends, gently roll it out gradually.

Trying not to stretch, distribute the film in the pit. So that it does not move during operation, especially if the wind rises, press it down in some places with a brick or stone. Carefully straighten the creases, form folds, trying to evenly distribute them around the entire perimeter. Sometimes it is advisable to lay a few deep folds, sometimes it is worth leaving a lot of small assemblies - it all depends on the specific situation.

The smaller the pond and the more complex the configuration of the bed, the more difficult it will be to lay the film. Imagine for comparison, which is easier: line the bottom of a cup or soup plate with a sheet of paper? Main condition: the film must lie freely, do not pull it under any circumstances. At this stage, it is advisable to have one or two assistants (depending on the size of the pond), since insulating materials for ponds are very heavy, and they need to be laid as carefully as possible. When the pond fills with water, the film will sag, smoothly rounding all the bends of the pit.

Finishing touches and - water!

After the film is laid, another layer of sand must be poured on top of it on the bottom and terraces. Dense garden soil - put loam in those areas where it is supposed to plant deep-water and shallow-water plants. Peat and composts should not be used: peat only clogs the water, and composts contain excess organic matter, which will cause the water to bloom.

We plant plants in stages, as the pond fills with water. First on the bottom - nymphs, then on the lower terrace - other deep-sea plants and oxygenators, and, finally, on the upper terraces - shallow-water plants, taking into account the individual planting depth of each. The soil layer varies from 10 to 40 cm, taking into account the growth capacity of the plant and its root system. A clod of earth with a seedling taken out of the container is installed in the recess of the poured soil, the earth around it is compacted, and the soil can be sprinkled with gravel on top so that young, unrooted plants do not emerge, and so that the fish cannot dig the soil around the base of the bush.

We pour water with a hose. In order for a powerful jet not to erode the landings and not to raise excess turbidity, the end of the hose can be inserted into the one fixed with electrical tape plastic bag with cut bottom. All plantings, especially in the coastal zone, should be covered with a layer of pebbles or gravel from above. This will avoid cloudy water during heavy rains and winds.

To complicate and decorate the bottom topography, several large, better light boulders can be laid out at different levels. Pour heaps of medium and large gravel in places. This is beneficial for some of the fish that you will later introduce into your pond.

To decorate the coastline, it is desirable to use stones that are similar in shape, structure and color and varied in size. It is advisable to avoid such an arrangement that is contrary to nature, that is, to string them like beads. Try to place them in separate groups that are not equivalent in mass. I want to draw your attention to the fact that the stones not only decorate the shore of the pond and make it easier for us to decorate the film, but they are also reference points where you can step in order to reach objects that are far from the shore in the process of leaving. Therefore, regardless of where such supporting stones are installed: on the shore or in shallow water, they must be securely fixed.

It is desirable to avoid the use of limestone and dolomite submerged in water. They alkalize the environment, the ph value increases, and this is undesirable for the health of the flora and fauna of the reservoir. However, these materials can be used on the coast to decorate the coastal zone.

Water - but what kind?

Many are interested in the question of what water to let into the pond. Of course, the most suitable water for these purposes is rainwater, but where can you get so much of it? Therefore, we use the one that is available. In some areas, tap or well water contains too much iron and other salts. It is advisable to pre-defend it in open containers, but when it comes to very large reservoirs, this is almost unrealistic.

In such a situation, it is advisable to purchase special biochemical agents that improve the quality of the “new” water. In order to choose the right desired packaging(that is, the amount of the necessary preparation) - and there are many of them, they are different and very effective - you need to know the volume of the pond. To do this, even at the construction stage, try to calculate this value. You will have to remember school geometry lessons or get advice from a seventh-grader son, because this is not easy to do in pits of complex configuration. I will make it easier by saying that approximate accuracy is needed here. That is, you just need to know that the volume of the pond is, for example, 3 cubes, 10 or 25.

As the pond fills with water, do not forget to touch up the film from time to time, because when it is full, it will be much more difficult to do this. It is recommended to add one or two buckets of "live" pond water from a natural reservoir to the "new" water, so the adaptation process will go faster.

It should be borne in mind that at first the water from disturbed sand and soil particles will be cloudy, this lasts only a few days. But if the weather is hot, the water will definitely bloom, while it will turn brown or green. You can avoid annoying trouble if you immediately add a portion of the appropriate drug. And if you don’t want to spend extra money, then you just need to patiently endure the first natural flowering, like childhood illnesses. I assure you, it's not difficult at all. This is an absolutely normal process that lasts no more than two to three weeks. During this time, a biological balance is formed in the pond, and subsequently the water in it will almost always be transparent and clean.

Coastal decoration

Lastly, in accordance with the chosen style, the coastal zone is formed: soil, gravel are poured, plants are planted, boulders, flagstone are laid, floorings are installed. Excess film can be cut off or wrapped tightly by digging into the ground.

If you decide to equip an observation deck or a place for family recreation on the edge of the pond, then when using limestone, it must be fixed to the cement mortar. And when designing wooden flooring, accurately calculate the possible load and think over the technical side of the structure.

In conclusion, I would like to add: the proposed technology has been tested at many facilities in the Moscow region and is fully justified. Having learned how to work with film when constructing a landscape pond, regardless of its size, I am sure you will want to try your hand at creating other water devices. We will try to help you with this in our subsequent publications.

How pleasant it is to spend a few hours by a shady pond or lake in the hot summer time! Of course, it's great if there is one in the neighborhood. However, most often we spend free summer days in the country, and not everyone has the money for a big Vacation home and landscape design services. In this case, there is nothing left but to make a pond with your own hands, especially since it is not so difficult.

It all depends on your imagination, the size of the site and what is at hand. If you make a little effort and money, then the country pond will not only delight you, but also cause burning envy among your neighbors.

The size and shape of yours primarily depend on the area allocated for these purposes. But what more area pond, the easier it is to take care of it - a small one needs to be cleaned more often. If you plan to have fish and plant a lot of aquatic plants, then a small reservoir will not suit you either, because it is very difficult to maintain the correct eco-balance in it.

by the most the best place for a home pond there will be an open part of the site, at the same time protected from strong winds. You should not place the pond in a well-lit place: the location should be such that the sun's rays do not fall into the water for more than 6 hours in a row, otherwise it will bloom, and only frogs can live there. Dubious prospect, right? At the same time, if the lighting is insufficient, the plants will develop slowly, and a beautiful corner for relaxation will not work.

If you decide to equip a small fountain, you will definitely need a pond diagram in order to properly connect the pump and other equipment. With a little effort, you can sketch out the plan yourself. Of course, in this case, it will be necessary to consider the proximity of the location of the power supply network.

Do not place your home pond under the crowns of trees. Firstly, this will lead to additional water pollution with fallen leaves, and the pond will have to be cleaned much more often, and secondly, tree roots can damage the reservoir bed, and it will dry out quickly.

And, of course, the whole idea will become useless if you cannot enjoy beautiful view from the window or from the terrace, so when planning to make a pond on the site with your own hands, do not forget about the aesthetic side of the issue.

Home pond on a rigid basis

If you are a supporter of solid, durable construction, then you can approach the process on a grand scale: dig a foundation pit of sufficient size and cast a reinforced concrete bowl of the pond using metal fittings and cement. Such a design, of course, will cost a lot, but it will last for many years (at least 30). If you are not an adherent of a global approach, you can get by with an easier and cheaper option.

So, how to make One of the most elementary ways to make a dream come true is a ready-made “bowl”, which can be purchased at the store. Perhaps the main disadvantage of this option will be that it will not be possible to come up with your own original shape of the reservoir, you will have to be content with the offered assortment.

The cheapest solution is plastic pond small size, from 4 to 8 m 2. Of course, there are larger molds, but they already belong to the category of pools and are much more expensive. When choosing a container, you should definitely pay attention to its depth - it should be at least 0.8-1 meter. In summer, the water in such a pond will warm up completely, and all its inhabitants will be comfortable, but in winter such a pond will not freeze to the bottom, which is also very important.

If you decide to organize a pond on the site with your own hands and want to use a ready-made base for this, then first of all you need to study the materials from which the molds are made - there are also a few nuances here.

The simplest and cheapest option may be a regular plastic container, but it has its drawbacks. First of all, you need to be very careful during transportation and installation - such a tank can crack even with a slight bend. Also, plastic tends to break down from sunlight, which means that the service life of such a product is not too long - 5-10 years.

If you want your pond to last longer, choose forms made of special reinforced plastic - they have a much longer service life (up to 20 years). Such tanks are more plastic and less exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

The highest quality and, of course, the most expensive are products made of rubber-based fiberglass. This form is resistant to temperature changes, does not collapse from exposure to sunlight and does not release harmful substances into the water, which is very important for the inhabitants of the reservoir. Such a tank will serve for more than 30 years, in addition, it can be repaired, which extends the time of use by an almost unlimited period.

Building ponds from a fiberglass bath is a simple process, and its result is quite aesthetic, as these forms are different colors, and some are even coated to mimic rocks, sand, or small pebbles. This allows you to beautifully mask the edges of the reservoir and give it the most natural look.

We build ourselves

So, in order to build a pond on the site with your own hands, first of all you need to decide on the location and shape of the reservoir. Decided? Let's start construction work:

1. To begin with, we mark the contour of the pit. It is very easy to do this - set the shape in the right place and outline its silhouette with a regular bayonet spade, firmly pressing the handle in the edge of the bath.
2. Add about 20 cm to the resulting contour to fill the plastic pond with sand.
3. If you have acquired a form with ledges, then each level must be marked and dug separately, from larger to smaller, while remembering to add 10-15 cm on each floor for a sandy substrate.
4. When the pit is ready, its edges should be well leveled and compacted, all glass, stones and tree roots should be selected. Failure to do so may damage the mold. Then you need to pour and carefully compact the sand with a layer of at least 10 cm - this will save your pond from subsidence.
5. Install the plastic mold and make sure it is level, you can use the rule for this. Then carefully fill the pond with water to about a third, being careful not to budge it.
6. Fill the gaps between the edge of the pit and the mold carefully with sand. At the same time, you need to make sure that there are no voids left. Why periodically water the soil with water, but try not to make the pressure too strong.

For a week after installation, regularly water the ground around the pond and add sand as needed. After the subsidence of the soil stops, you can completely fill the reservoir, decorate the edges of the pond bowl with stones, flagstone and plant ornamental plants.

Country pond made of flexible materials

Now let's talk about how to make a pond on the site, if it is not possible to purchase a ready-made container or you want to equip a large pond of a bizarre shape.

by the most budget option in this case, ordinary polyethylene with a thickness of at least 500 microns will be used. However, despite the fact that it is quite inexpensive, there are quite a few disadvantages of such a coating. The fact is that polyethylene is a rather thin material, it is very easy to damage it, and under the influence of sunlight it becomes completely brittle and quickly collapses. A pond on a polyethylene substrate will last you a maximum of 2-3 years.

PVC film for the pond - the material is also not too expensive, but much more durable, such a coating can withstand 8-10 years. Polyvinyl chloride coating can be ordinary and two-layer, in which a woven mesh is laid for strength. Of course, PVC has the same disadvantages as polyethylene - it is destroyed by ultraviolet radiation, it is easily cut and torn, but, unlike the latter, it can be repaired. For this, special kits are sold. Besides, pvc is better stretches, and after filling the pond with water, most of the folds stretch and straighten out over time.

The most expensive, but at the same time, the highest quality is a coating made of butyl rubber: the service life of such a material is about 50 years, and it does not care about the sun's rays. In addition, butyl rubber is not afraid of low temperatures, so you do not have to drain the water from the pond in winter. This is a very flexible and plastic material that can withstand significant loads, so if you decide to equip a spacious pond unusual shape, you simply cannot do without it.

We mark the pit

To equip a pond on the site with your own hands, you will need:

• pegs;
• rope;
• film coating;
• geotextile or felt;
• sand;
• crushed stone or large pebbles;
• shovel;
• special kit for film coating repair;
• bricks;
• garden hose for watering;

With the help of twine and pegs, you need to mark the desired shape of the pit and proceed to earthworks. If you plan to break a pond of a fairly large size, you can bring an excavator. In the process of work, it is necessary to ensure that ledges and slopes alternate, this will make the banks of the pond more stable. It is also necessary to provide terraces (at least 30 cm wide) for planting plants. Descents from one level to another must be made quite gentle, with an inclination angle of up to 45˚.

It is worth remembering that the depth of the pond should not be less than 80 cm, otherwise in winter the water in it will freeze to the bottom, and its inhabitants will die. Thus, you need to dig a pit, about 15-20 centimeters larger than the estimated size of the reservoir. This is necessary in order to be able to fill the terraces and the bottom of the pond with sand, in order to avoid subsidence and damage to the film. sand cushion you need to carefully level and tamp, after removing all the pebbles, sharp sticks and plant roots from the bottom.

Drainage and waterproofing

When the drainage cushion made of sand is ready, we proceed to the next stage of work. In order for the pond film to remain intact for as long as possible, geotextiles should be laid on a layer of sand, preferably in 2 layers. Next, we straighten the film itself and fix it on the banks with bricks or large stones. Do not try to straighten and expand all the folds - let the water do it for you.

We place the flexible one in such a way that its end is in the center of the future reservoir, and we begin to supply water, making sure that the pressure is not too strong. As the pond fills with water, partially release the edges of the film and straighten it along the slopes of the pit. After the reservoir is filled to the brim, leave it for 1-2 days. During this time, under the weight of water, the film will straighten out and fill all the voids.

After it completely sags, you need to cut off the excess parts, leaving at least 40-50 cm for arranging the banks. The edges are fixed with pegs or special metal arches, and then masked with flagstone, large stones and pebbles. It's time to install the pump, decorate the hoses from the fountains and start planting plants.

Pond above the ground in the country

When there are kids in the family, one of the main problems when building a pond is how to make the pond safe. It is best if such a reservoir is slightly raised above the soil surface. Firstly, it greatly facilitates its care, and secondly, the risk that small children or pets accidentally fall there is significantly reduced.

In this case, you can not do without a reinforced concrete foundation. Dig a pond pit in its deepest part, form terraces for plants, as well as in the previous case. Along the banks of the reservoir with wooden formwork pour concrete foundation the desired height, for strength it can be reinforced with a metal mesh. After the foundation is completely dry and settled (this will take at least two days), the formwork can be removed, and the inner walls can be plastered to smoothness. This will help prevent tearing of the film. We line the bottom of the pit with it and fill the bowl with water. At the same time, we fix the edges of the material so that they are behind the concrete fence. After the pond is full, let the water settle, cut off the excess film, fix it and decorate the edges of the bowl.

Inventory: what you need

Of course, the construction of ponds is not an easy task, but what you can’t do for yourself, because if everything is organized correctly, the result will please the eye for more than one year.

However, it is not enough to build a home pond - you also need to take care of it. Here are some technical tools that will be very useful to you:

Rules for the care of a country pond

The pond in the garden is, of course, very beautiful, but if you do not want to become the happy owner of a personal swamp in which frogs croak in the evenings, then you need to properly care for it. First of all, you need to ensure that the water in it does not bloom. Of course, it is best to purchase a special purification system, but this, unfortunately, is not a cheap pleasure. However, there is another, more available remedy: take a bag of canvas and stuff it Place such a "surprise" under the water, and there will be practically no algae at the bottom of the pond.

It is also necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the reservoir - regularly remove debris from the surface and add water as it evaporates. If your pond is small, it is recommended to drain it completely for the winter period, and for large tanks, a complete cleaning is necessary at least 2-3 times a year, while the water must be completely pumped out.

From what's at hand

And what about those who do not allow the size of the site to accommodate even a small reservoir? Don't get upset: small pond can be arranged in the front garden by adapting the cropped metal barrel Or just a big bowl. Such a mini-pond can even be placed on the balcony of a city apartment, decorating the container with glued pebbles or mosaics. Of course, you won’t hear the murmur of a fountain near such a “reservoir”, but you are provided with coolness and lush greenery of aquatic plants.