Do-it-yourself pond in the country. Methods for arranging and beautifully decorating a pond in the country

In summer, we all want to have a good rest by the water, but not everyone has the opportunity to go to the sea. Someone spends a summer vacation at their own dacha, but even in a small area, you can create a comfortable relaxation zone for yourself with the help of an artificial reservoir, made by yourself.

A pond for a summer residence - where to start

So that the issue of constructing a reservoir does not seem so complicated, it is necessary to break the whole process into several stages and carry them out sequentially.

First, decide on a place for the future artificial pond and its size for summer cottage.

How to choose the most suitable site for a reservoir in the country:

Important! It is easier to build a body of water with a small area. If you are confused by the amount of work or the financial side of the issue, start with a small lake.

Perhaps later, having experience and work skills, you will create a fairly voluminous version of the reservoir with your own hands at the dacha, a good experience in the preparation is shown in the video

We decide on the size and shape of the future reservoir in the country

The depth of the reservoir, according to experts, should not be too deep; for an artificial lake, a depth of up to two meters will be enough. The deepest part is usually done in 1/5 of the area of the entire reservoir.

When planning a pond, consider the landscape of your summer cottage area. Designers advise to do it on a flat area of the surface, and if the relief of the territory of the dacha is hilly, with slopes, in this case it is better to opt for the current stream or cascade.

It is necessary to choose which version of the pond is most profitable and interesting to fit into the landscape of your summer cottage area. Landscape designers offer a ton of options decorative reservoirs, you just need to delve into the subtleties and nuances of various projects and choose the best one that is optimal for your summer cottage.

Varieties of the shape of water bodies

The reservoir can be with clear geometric lines of the banks, especially if it is located in the vicinity of a mansion built in a strict aristocratic style, with alleys, paths, flower beds of regular geometric shapes. In this version, a pond or a lake will organically fit into the overall interior of the site.

A small pond in area can be made round or oval, use moisture-loving plants to decorate it.

If you want to get closer to the natural landscape, the coastline is made in a winding or arbitrary shape, so that it resembles a natural reservoir in the country as much as possible.

In advance, it is necessary to think over the design style of the artificial lake so that it is combined with the style of the rest of the summer cottage area, complementing it.

Before starting work in the country, you also need to consider how you plan to use your future artificial pond. If you want to get a place for swimming, then it will not be possible to breed fish in it. The decorative reservoir cannot be used for swimming due to sanitary and hygiene standards.

When choosing the size of the future reservoir, keep in mind that an artificial pond is the same biosystem as a natural pond or lake, with an optimal ratio of flora and fauna, with a water purification system, and self-regulation of microorganisms.

It is easier to monitor and maintain ecological balance in large artificial reservoirs, in small, as well as in small aquariums, it is much more difficult to maintain the necessary balance. But in making it with your own hands, both materially and in terms of labor costs, it is much easier to make a small pond.

The shape of the pit for a pond in the country

It is clear that in order to make an artificial reservoir in the country, first of all, you need to dig a pit of appropriate shapes and sizes. The pit for the pond has its own characteristics. In shape, it resembles a deep plate with wide edges, as seen in the photo.

A shallow coastal zone should be made along the edges of the pit, then there is a ledge that prevents the overflow of water from the coastal zone into the bathing zone, and vice versa. A recess is made in the center to the required size.

To maintain ecological balance, the water in the pond must circulate, otherwise it will quickly become clogged, silted up and lose its decorative effect and attractiveness.

To maintain cleanliness in a small pond in the country, a skimmer is installed to clean the surface layer of water from contaminants, and a UV sterilizer. For this, drainage pipes are installed at the bottom of the reservoir, through which water is pumped into the filter and back to the bathing area, as in the photo.

Materials for waterproofing the bottom of the reservoir

There may be several options for making a waterproof bottom of a reservoir:

Using a ready-made plastic mold. Such a choice of the bottom greatly simplifies the procedure for making a reservoir for a summer residence, but it limits the possibilities of choosing the size, shape of the banks and the volume of the water space by the shape and dimensions of the selected container. Typically, such a container has a small volume of up to 4m 3;
The bottom of the reservoir in the country can be made of concrete, but this will be a rather laborious procedure, in addition, additional protection from frost will be required to avoid cracking concrete base... In addition, if it becomes necessary to alter or dismantle the pond in the country, it will be quite problematic to do this;
One of the most budget options for a summer residence there will be a bottom of a reservoir of clay, but the process is quite labor-intensive. You will need to apply two layers of clay dough to the bottom of the bowl of the reservoir, and then also strengthen the bottom with fine gravel, pressing it into the layer of clay;
The most optimal and most used method is to use a special film laid on the bottom of the pit.

Important! If the width of the film roll does not allow covering the entire bottom of the pit in one whole piece, it is necessary to weld the seams so that water cannot seep out of the reservoir.

When choosing a film, keep in mind that cheaper options have a significantly shorter service life, are destroyed faster by frost and sunlight, video

Excavation works

Digging a pit under a reservoir of 20-30m 2 or more with your own hands is not an easy task. It may be easier to attract equipment in the form of a small excavator. With a small amount of earthwork, you may be able to do it yourself or hire several workers armed with shovels, video

The main thing is to correctly designate the size and shape of the required foundation pit.

We mark the boundaries of the future reservoir with a rope or hose, you can sprinkle the contours with sand so that they can be easily distinguished. Then, along the contour of the coastline, we dig a trench approximately to the depth of the bayonet, thus, we get the first level of depth - the line of the marsh zone, up to 40 cm deep and 30-50 cm wide.Then we dig inside the next level with a gradual deepening towards the center of the excavation, so that as a result it turned out a bowl, as in the photo.

The second level is made to a depth of 1 meter, the deepest third level is in the center of the pit.

Important! In the process of digging a pit, check the level of the banks, they should be of the same height.

Along the perimeter of the dug pit, another ditch is dug, up to 30 cm deep, so that the edges of the film can be laid and fixed in it.

Laying the film

Before laying the film, the bottom of the pit must be leveled, tamped, removed stones, tree roots, debris. Then a layer of sand is poured, 15-20 cm, carefully leveled and tamped. After that, a layer of roofing material or geotextile is laid, old linoleum can be used, and then the bottom is lined with a film.

The edges of the film are fixed with bricks or stones, and then the reservoir is filled with water. Water is poured in several portions, if there are air bubbles under the film, they need to be removed during the process of filling the reservoir with water, take into account the experience of others in the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlxWYFNrkig. After that, the ends of the film are placed in a prepared ditch, secured with gravel or large stones.

Arrangement of a reservoir in the country with your own hands step by step

When you fill the pond in the country with water, measure how much water was required. This will be the capacity of your reservoir. In accordance with these data, it will be possible to select the required pump power, filters and other equipment for water purification in a reservoir in the country. Usually it can be purchased as a kit and installed by hand in accordance with the instructions.

Then you need to strengthen the edge so that the earth does not crumble into the reservoir, and arrange the coastline in accordance with your project.

A large stone can be laid out on the bottom, it must be of a rounded shape so as not to damage the film and not injure the bathers. Stones can also be used to decorate the shores of the pond in the country, it is better if large boulders alternate with smaller stones. In addition to stones, driftwood, wooden structures, animal figurines and other options can be used in the design of a reservoir in the country.

To decorate the banks of the reservoir in the country, moisture-loving plants with large leaves, for example, incense, as well as ferns, lilies of the valley, coniferous shrubs. In shallow water, you can plant such plants as calamus, reeds, cattail, or water lily as in the video

Water lilies and a lotus are placed in the center of the pond for giving. Interesting design solution will create a flower arrangement floating in the center of the reservoir, as in the photo.

Usually, for the decoration of decorative ponds, plants are used in special containers or pots, it is convenient to remove them while cleaning the bottom and replacing the water.

Conclusion

The creation of a reservoir in the country is within the power of everyone, the main thing is to carefully consider the recommendations of specialists. Of course, you will have to spend time and money, but as a result you will get a wonderful place to relax and will be happy to spend time at your dacha.

When arranging an artificial reservoir at a summer cottage, there is no need to keep your imagination - there is a lot: both small rapids and fountains, and large stones decorated with various green spaces.

How to decorate a pond in the yard depends on how your site looks like as a whole and in general, how you imagine it. However, there is no need to be afraid to let your imagination run wild, because even a simple mess can look like a design idea.

The design of an artificial reservoir can be divided into two types:

Embossed, or one that looks like natural
Designer, or one that uses atypical for nature color combinations, but looks like a specially laid down design idea.

There are also swimming pools for summer cottages - this is a pond that is like a natural reservoir, however, in addition, swimming is provided in it.

How to make a pool in the country with your own hands (video)

Making a pond in the country with your own hands in a landscape style

If the general picture of the site allows the creation of its own pond, close to the natural one, then in this case the shape of the reservoir can be any, usually it is a curved coastline, which is then formed by stones.

It will be better if the stones are either granite, or river pebbles, or decorative onyx.

Beige sand, patterned tiles and the like will look quite beautiful. The size of the stone should be determined depending on the size of the pond itself: if the pond is small, then the stones should be either small or medium in size; if the made reservoir is large - correspondingly large stones, but in harmony with small ones. Thus, the overall appearance of the decoration will be natural, as opposed to if the stones were the same.

The decoration can be based on the Japanese garden style. In the gardens of ancient Japan, the pond was built in a strict style, but with a meticulously thought out combination of stones. There should be no bright plants here. Due to the fact that Japan has a small territory, a culture of minimalism has developed in it, as we see in the arrangement of reservoirs.

Tradition requires the presence of all the elements that water enters into. Usually this is a small vessel, near which a stream of bamboo tubes flows. On the sides of such a stream, dwarf trees are planted.

Often, such a pond was built in the shape of a rectangle, which also emphasized the strict style of Japan.

You can get a special effect if you put stones on the bottom of the reservoir when arranging the reservoir. In this case, the depth of the artificial pond should be small so that the stones are visible through a small layer of water.

Graceful bridge over the pond

Also, in a pond, instead of a stone, you can lay out the bottom of a beautiful patterned tile. A beautifully designed monolithic bridge over the pond will also fit very well into the overall picture.

Arrangement of the pond with green spaces

The combination of beautiful stones needs to be complemented by well-chosen plants to make our landscape look like in the natural wilderness.

Before planting, you need to sketch out an approximate layout of the plants. It is important to take into account such factors as the level of the landscape, the combination of pond elements, free space, etc.

It is very important not to overdo it with the number of plantings. Water lilies on the surface of the water and ferns on the shore will fit very well into the overall picture.

There are a variety of crops that differ in shape and size. It is important to select them carefully in order to avoid a large accumulation of objects and, if possible, to clean out overgrown growths.

When the pond is more than 0.5 m deep, the algae must be placed in baskets, and only then placed in the pond itself. Such vegetation grows well where there is shade and cleans the water quite effectively if planted at the correct depth.

If your pond is small, you need to approach the design even more seriously so that the overall landscape is not overloaded with various elements. The use of simple plants is recommended. Here you can plant junipers or bushes with hanging shoots, grasses or wild vegetation that can be found near the water.

When arranging a home pond with vegetation in a small pond, it is recommended to have frogs or snails there that will create the desired fauna

The frog usually eats the midges that live in the ponds, and the snail eats the garbage at the bottom of the pond, which will be quite useful for you.

Making an artificial reservoir with your own hands

If your body of water is large enough, it is recommended to divide it into several main zones:

Plant area on the shore
Plant area at shallow depth
Deep planting zone

At a sufficient depth, you can settle fish that will fit well into the overall picture of the landscape reservoir. If the pond is shallow, then in order for the fish to overwinter, you can dig a depression of one and a half meters.

You can also decorate your home pond with an artificial stream that will flow down the steps. It is important to make the shore and the path to the pond from the same material, so that it is made in the same style.

You can also create a pond with your own hands from several levels, thanks to which the water in it will pleasantly murmur

Also, not far from the reservoir, you can place a gazebo, from which the entire conceived picture will be visible.

When choosing a style solution for arranging a home reservoir, it is important to take into account ready-made architectural, plant and design ideas, however, if you have your own vision of the landscape, you will not commit any crime.

Design of a decorative reservoir in a designer style

The forms of the design style of the reservoir differ from the natural one and its design is more strict. Often, it incorporates some one concept and is decorated in the same way as the entire summer cottage.

If you do not have enough imagination in the design of a pond, we recommend making a pond in a free landscape style.

The shape of a designer reservoir is usually made in the correct shape or in the form of some kind of drawing, but always keeping the geometry of the lines.

A pond with straight edges in the courtyard looks very stylish and minimalistic, and when round-shaped flower beds are planted around such a pond

All kinds of material can be used - from reinforced concrete rings to rubber tires... In turn, such materials require high-quality refinement.

Plants for arranging a reservoir can be used any, even the most rare - which blooms magnificently and brightly or deciduous with an unusual shape. Clay pots with plants planted in them also look beautiful.

Pond styles

You can also do Japanese style reservoir. You cannot use here big amount flowers. If you run a reservoir in chinese style , then lush vegetation is encouraged and bonsai should be accentuated.

In the ancient England the gardens were reminiscent of the Chinese, because they had the same strict geometry, but were not decorated with lush plants.

For a garden decorated in French style distinctive breakdown, flat geometry on the flower beds, shrub fences that rise above the ground. The atmosphere in the garden is reminiscent of the days of medieval palaces.

The pond looks very austere in celtic style... Only stones are used here, and a combination of stones of different sizes is encouraged.

Lanterns by the water in the country

Additionally, you can decorate the pond with small lanterns. It's like a special decoration for your pond. Also, the backlit fountain looks very impressive. How to build such fountains is described in other articles.

The most common artificial ornamental ponds in summer cottages are ponds and pools. Everyone can afford a small pond. It all depends not so much on financial capabilities, but on desire and hard work. The form of an artificially created pond can be absolutely any, as in nature. Swamp plants are usually planted along the perimeter of such ponds; it goes well with any type of landscape design. You can make a pond of a certain geometric shape, such a pond will fit well into the design idea, in which clear regular forms also prevail.

To create an artificial reservoir in the country, the most important task is to choose its future location and size. It should be remembered that the condition of the pond is badly affected by direct sunlight for more than 6 hours a day (prolonged exposure can stimulate the reproduction of bacteria), as well as the close proximity of trees - foliage, getting into the water, will pollute the pond, and the roots of trees can generally destroy the structure of the reservoir ...

The size of the pond depends directly on how much free space there is in the garden. But it is worth remembering that the larger the pond, the easier it is to create a sustainable ecosystem, that is, the balance between flora and fauna in the reservoir, therefore, it is easier to care for a large reservoir than for a small one.

At the base of the future reservoir, there can be either a ready-made container (for example, an old cast-iron bath or any plastic container), or a film of polyvinyl chloride or butyl rubber, or in general a reinforced concrete bowl.

Of course, with the help of a ready-made container, it is easier and faster to make a pond. For the existing container, they simply dig a hole and place it there. Of course, it is impossible to make a large reservoir in this way.

With the help of the film, you can make a reservoir of any shape and depth. Although this option will have to tinker a lot, but it is more economical and convenient. It is not recommended to use ordinary polyethylene for film reservoirs, since it has a short service life, after a couple of years it will lose its properties.

A reinforced concrete bowl at the base is the most reliable way to create a pond. However, this option is the most costly, and then it will be very difficult to remake such a decorative pond in the country with your own hands.

So, due to the many options in size and shape and economy, the most common type of summer cottage reservoirs are reservoirs created with the help of film.

To create such a pond, you need to go through several stages:

Preparation of the bottom of the future reservoir (pit). The main thing for film reservoirs is to create an even bottom, without stones, roots and other sharp protrusions, so as not to damage the film.
Drainage. To prevent shrinkage, a layer of sand is placed on the bottom. To protect against rodents, it is also recommended to lay a geotextile layer.
Laying the film.
Pouring water.
Registration. It all depends on the imagination of the designer.
Pond care. It should be remembered that artificial reservoirs need filtration to prevent water stagnation. For these purposes, either special filtration systems are used, or plants are placed in the pond that can saturate the water with oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and mineral salts.

A combination of these methods can be used. On winter period the water should be removed from the pond, while the plants are sent to winter in an aquarium or a large pond nearby.

DIY artificial decorative ponds

Summer is just around the corner, which means it's time to open the summer cottage season. To make it easier for yourself to work in the country and improve your summer cottage, you can build an artificial pond on it. An artificial pond will decorate your site, as well as a source for watering plants, swimming, fish breeding.

Ponds on the site can be of different geometric shapes, but at the same time they must be raised above the soil level. When building a pond, as with any other construction, you need to adhere to a certain algorithm. First, you need to determine the location of the artificial pond in the summer cottage. It is recommended to place it not far from trees and shrubs on an area with turf.

Trees and shrubs should be at least 1.5 - 2 meters away from the pond, so that the roots of the trees do not distort the landscape of the pond, and the fallen leaves do not clog it. Provide free access to the pond from all sides, make paths around it. The paths can be lined with stones or plastic corks.

This will make the appearance of the pond more aesthetically pleasing. The pond should be located on the sunny, but slightly darkened side, so that the water in it does not get very hot. Strong heating of the water will encourage the pond to bloom and algae to grow rapidly.

After the location is selected, you can start building. First, you need to dig a pit of the desired shape. Its depth should be at least one meter, the total area is 3-4 sq m ..

During the construction of an artificial reservoir, not a simple dilemma arises: "What to make the bottom of?" You can make the bottom of the reservoir, fill it with concrete, lay it out with granite or even marble. But this will require large financial investments and will make the reservoir unnatural, and it will be problematic to change the position of such a pond when redeveloping a garden.

Therefore, the planning of the bottom must be taken very seriously. The following design will be convenient and practical. Pour sand at the bottom of the pit and distribute it evenly. On top of the sand we cover the bottom of the pit with a waterproof film. Fix the edges of the film along the coastline.

Be sure to use heavy stones for strengthening, and then cover the edges with river pebbles or gravel. Ready-made plastic containers are also very convenient for organizing the bottom, which already have recesses for planting plants.

We install a pump for water circulation in the pond and carry out artificial lighting... So that in the evening the pond will please your eye. After the pond is built, it must be ennobled with plants and decorative elements. For this, we plant the plants in baskets, which we fix at the bottom of the pond. Water lilies, lilies, egg capsules can also serve as a good element for the decor of your pond.

Lilies on a decorative pond

If you wish, you can populate the reservoir with fish, but keep in mind that the fish will need to be looked after and cleaned in a timely manner. A properly equipped and organized artificial pond will beautify and ennoble your site.

How to make a reservoir - a pond on the site, giving a video instruction

How to care for an artificial pond

It is not enough to create a small pond on your summer cottage - it still requires care, without the master's care it will turn into a dirty swamp that will then dry out over time. To prevent this from happening, experts advise what and when to do so that the pond is always colorful.

Spring
The first inspection of the year is advised to be carried out as soon as the ice melts - from the middle to the end of March. This is the most favorable time - work in the garden and in the beds has not yet begun, so you can thoroughly and slowly inspect the entire pond. Everything is subject to inspection - starting with appearance- how the shores survived the winter, are they intact?

If the fish overwintered in a deep spring, their condition is checked, whether they are alive. It is necessary to pay attention to all electrical devices - how filters and pumps work. The integrity of the bottom must be checked - if a leak or crack appears, the fish will be temporarily resettled and the damage is repaired.

At the same time, at the end of March, you can take care of plants. If the owners are satisfied with the plants that were last year - to plant them, if it is necessary to update the plants - new ones are purchased. Also don't forget about the garden.

After the autumn winds, a lot of foliage was applied to the pond - in the spring it must be removed so that rotting foliage does not spoil the quality of the water - this can affect the health and life of the fish. If the pond is small, they practice pumping out water, resettling the fish and cleaning the walls and bottom with a regular brush. Dirty water merges and changes to clean.

Summer
The most important and actual problem for the summer period in the pond - maintaining the water level. The spring maintenance of the pond ended with the stabilization of order, and in the summer it is only necessary to maintain this order. When the water level drops from the vapors, water is pumped up, if the days are too hot, they artificially increase the oxygen level in the water with the help of compressors and creating shade.

The second action near the pond in the summer is to check the condition of the plants - their growth, cut if necessary. If there are weeds in the plants, they are removed. The fight against insects is also carried out - it is better to wash them into the water - the fish will receive fresh food and the leaves of the plants will get rid of dust. After each feeding of the fish, the remainder of the feed in the pond is checked - it is removed so that it does not spoil the quality of the water.

Autumn
With the onset of autumn and the beginning of leaf fall, the most important thing in the care of the pond is its preservation from pollution by foliage and debris that is carried by the wind. Fallen leaves are systematically removed, the plants are cut on the shore and a fine net is hung over the pond to prevent the foliage from falling into the water.

Plants that have released their buds are removed to a warm room until spring. If there are pots with plants near the pond, they are also brought into a warm room. The fish is fed - for the winter, it must have reserves of nutrients and fat reserves, since the fish is not active in winter - this is quite enough for the winter.

Winter
A shallow pond that can freeze to the bottom and kill the fish is pumped out. The fish are temporarily moved indoors until spring. If fish are hibernating in a pond - it is necessary to provide for the creation of wormwood - either by placing a hot object on ice or drilling with wormwood. In winter, water can be heated if necessary.

The garden pond is a wonderful place to relax on a hot summer day. Those lucky people whose dachas are located on the banks of a river or lake are incredibly lucky. If there is no natural reservoir nearby, you will have to build an artificial pond yourself.

We outline an action plan

First, let's try to figure out where to place a man-made reservoir in the country. It is advisable to set aside a place for it even at the design stage of the suburban area.

Photo: marking the territory for a decorative pond on the site

Users often search:

The pond must meet the following criteria:

be in an open place - foliage and branches from trees will clog the water, and the roots will damage the artificial bottom of the pond;
do not come under prolonged exposure to direct sunlight - constantly heated water provokes the rapid development of microorganisms and algae. The pond will quickly become cloudy and begin to exude an unpleasant musty smell.

Photo: a small reservoir on the site with a wooden bridge

It would be useful to provide for the option of expanding the surface of the man-made lake over time. Perhaps, the mini-pond would like to be transformed into a full-fledged water complex - with a bridge and a small fountain.

Experienced builders recommend making the pond shallow, because it is used primarily as a beautiful detail of the surrounding landscape. In addition, immediately think about how you are going to care for the reservoir. Take a comfortable approach to the pond - of course, not through the garden or the alpine slides.

The water will have to be changed on its own, because it is not purified naturally, as in natural lakes and rivers. Therefore, make sure that the tap in the country is located in the immediate vicinity of the artificial reservoir.

Choosing the base material

Before grabbing a shovel, decide what will serve as the basis for the artificial pond. There are several standard solutions. Consider the pros and cons of popular options.

Reinforced concrete structure

With this material, you can create a durable pond. The bottom and the banks, filled with concrete and reinforced with reinforcement, will withstand various additional loads - the installation of a fountain, for example, or sculptural compositions on the banks.

The laboriousness of the process makes it impractical to use this technology for the construction of small reservoirs or decorative ponds in the country. The negative aspects of this decision include the high cost of building man-made lakes from reinforced concrete. We'll have to use a lot of building materials, rent special equipment. Dismantling the structure will also cause difficulties, so it is immediately necessary to carefully consider the location of the pond.

PVC film

This is a budget solution for creating a simple summer cottage. The shape and depth of such a structure can be easily changed; it is also possible to expand or reduce the size. A pond with a PVC base is often made seasonal - for example, they fall asleep for the winter and redecorate in the spring.

The disadvantages of such a solution include the fragility and fragility of the film coating - this material can be easily damaged, and if the tightness is broken, the water from the pond will quickly go into the ground. Therefore, it is not recommended to swim or indulge in such home lakes, they are intended to decorate a summer cottage.

Photo: decorative reservoir with a bridge in landscape design suburban area

Artificial store ponds

This option is the golden mean for those who dream of their own pond and at the same time do not want to bother with materials for its creation. Shop molds for artificial reservoirs are made of strong and durable materials - polyvinyl chloride or fiberglass.

The latter option is much more expensive. But the cost of such a product is fully compensated for by the high performance characteristics of the material. It is easy to establish such a form on your own without involving friends or acquaintances in the process. The disadvantage of this option is that the foundation pit will have to be dug under the shape, and not vice versa.

At the same time, the opportunity to use the unevenness of the relief to create natural coastal outlines is lost. In addition, the method will cost significantly more than using film or scrap materials. The photo below shows a finished form for arranging a pond in the country.

We make a pond from scrap materials

One more interesting option- the use of various containers that have become unusable. Old cast iron baths, troughs, wagons - all unnecessary containers will come in handy for construction.

The advantages of this method are that you do not have to buy standard forms or build bulky reinforced concrete structures. The disadvantages include the low decorativeness of old containers - you have to show imagination and skills in order to make, for example, a small pond in the Japanese style from a dilapidated trough.

Mini Tire Pond

For those who have a sorely lack of space in the country, craftsmen recommend using a simple and convenient pond made of tires. Old automobile rubber is dug in, a film is laid inside, and the banks of the mini-reservoir are made out at their own request.

The result obtained sometimes surprises even experienced landscape designers - the finished pond in the country becomes an exclusive detail personal plot... For example, who can say that this body of water in the photo is made from an old car tire?

Pit

After the material is selected, it is time to start excavation work. It is best to do this in the summer when groundwater will leave as much as possible. The depth of the pit is calculated based on the material chosen as the basis. If this is a ready-made form or an old bath, they dig a pit 20-30 cm deeper than the parameters of the container.

If you plan to build a pond made of PVC film, you will have to dig to a depth of about 80 cm, since a shallow pond will completely freeze in winter and dry quickly in the summer heat. For ponds made of reinforced concrete, they dig a foundation pit more than one and a half meters deep - here you cannot do without special equipment.

Film reservoir construction technology

When the pit is ready, it remains to clean up the bottom and make small terraces on the sides of the future mini-lake about a third of a meter deep and up to 20 cm wide.The bottom of the reservoir is tamped, stones, rubble, pebbles are removed, foreign objects... The cleaned surface of the pit is sprinkled with washed sand and lined with geotextile fabric. Such preparation of the bottom will significantly increase the strength and service life of the coating.

The next step is laying the film. The size of the canvas is calculated as follows: it is necessary to add the length of the coastline to twice the depth of the reservoir. The material is fixed on the terraces with a margin of about 50 cm. The laid film is laid with bricks or stones - this is done to maintain its shape.

Then the pond is filled with water, the film is checked for leaks and work begins on the design of the coastline. Do not cut off the remaining film under the bricks too quickly. It will serve as a hydro-sealant in the construction of the blind area.

We build a pond from an old tank

To equip a summer cottage mini-lake from an unnecessary bath or other container, you will need:

a piece of netting;
some rubble;
decorative stones;
a coil of aluminum or steel wire;
cement, sand or ready-mixed concrete.

After the pit has been dug and a bath is installed in it (30 centimeters below ground level), they begin to arrange the coastline. To do this, around the entire perimeter of the future pond, they remove upper layer soil with a width of at least 40 cm and dig a trench, the depth of which reaches the upper edge of the installed container.

To give naturalness to the man-made lake, tile adhesive is applied to the bottom and walls of the bathtub. After processing, the container is allowed to dry well - usually this requires at least two days.

Then, a mesh-netting is laid around the entire perimeter of the bath, which is necessary to reinforce the sides and bottom of the pond. They put on it concrete mortar or a sand-cement mixture and let dry. Next comes the turn decorative design banks: planting plants, decorating with stones, paving paths, setting figures and other design techniques.

Thematic material:

Pond from the finished form

The pit prepared for the reservoir is cleaned of branches, bumps of earth and other debris. The bottom and walls of the pit are tamped. If the soil is too loose in the country, they are strengthened. For the finished form, a perfectly flat pit surface is important. The plane is leveled using a building level.

The bottom of the future pond is covered with clean washed sand, which is also tamped. This layer ensures the integrity of the finished shape.

After that, the container is placed in a pit and filled with water. The empty spaces between the sides of the form and the walls of the pit are filled with sand, and this is done gradually. First, a layer 25-30 cm thick is poured and poured over with water. After the sand is evenly distributed, the actions are repeated until the space between the installed bowl and the walls of the pit is completely filled.

This procedure is mandatory, since the shape for an artificial reservoir is rather fragile and easily deformed. Even pressure on all sides will prevent bending.

After 24 hours, the gap between the sides of the container and the walls of the pit is checked: if there are voids, sand is poured into them. Then they pump out water from the pond, finally wash the mold and fill it with clean water.

The final stage is decorating the finished mini-lake at your own discretion. There are no strict rules and trends here. Just make the summer pond bring pleasure and joy. After all, it is for this that it is installed.

If there is free space in a summer cottage or suburban area, you have the opportunity to create decorative water bodies that will be an ideal addition to a recreation area. For example, next to a pond it will be much more pleasant to read a book or wet your feet while resting after a hard day.

And given that such a pond can also look differently, you can show your imagination and arrange such a corner so that it is as comfortable as possible for the whole family.

We will push you to creative solutions - with our proposal to study pictures and photos of landscape ideas of a pond in the country with our own hands.

How to arrange an artificial pond in the country, photo

Choosing a place for a pond

If you decide to create a swimming pond in the country with your own hands, first determine the best place where you can dig it.

When choosing a zone for arranging such a water body, consider the following features:

it is better if the pond is located in an open area. If trees grow next to it, they can not only damage the landscape, but they will also pollute the pond with their branches and foliage, and you will have to spend a lot more time cleaning;
try to choose an area where, even after arranging the pond, there is still free space. It is likely that in the future you will want to expand the water body and add new decorative elements, including massive ones;
Do not allocate a place under the pond that is under the open sun: in such conditions, the pond will dry out, unwanted microorganisms will begin to develop in the water, and flowering will appear.

Ideally, the sun should only illuminate the pond for half a day, that is, in the morning or evening. This area should be shaded at lunchtime. Determine the possibility of creating the necessary shadow on the site immediately: in a suitable place mark the pond - and watch how its brightness changes during the day.

Both the nearest building and tall vegetation can create a shade for this zone. Bushes and trees (especially those with a weeping crown) will decorate your pond and accentuate its natural design.

By the way, it is important to harmoniously fit the pond into the surrounding landscape, so this factor should also be taken into account when planning it.

Do-it-yourself pond in the country: landscape ideas, Photo

If you decide to make a pond in low and wet areas of your garden, you can drain water from the garden area through the drainage system. And if such a terrain has a flat surface, choose a place for the pond on the border of the garden, where bushes and trees are located, or next to the livestock (but then you will have to form a smooth transition of their perennial or ornamental herbal plants).

We do not recommend making an artificial pond in the country with your own hands in the middle of the lawn. If this is the only one suitable option, then visually divide the pond and lawn grass planting vegetation on the border with different parameters, including low, so that through it you can observe the water.

Often decorative ponds create where a rockery or alpine slide is formed. The stones located on these objects can be harmoniously combined with the decor of the water body itself. We also recommend not to neglect the unevenness of the terrain: they can be advantageously used to create streams that will flow to the pond over the stones. And in the future, it will be possible to put a bridge here, which will serve as another decoration.

Planning the shape and style

Before making a pond in the country with your own hands, you should plan a couple more points. Find out right away which style is most preferable for you. The shape may vary depending on the style.

For example, English design is characterized by round shapes. For a regular style, strict geometry is suitable.

Do-it-yourself imitation of a pond in the country, photo

And the closest to natural, with its characteristic irregularities and asymmetry, will be Japanese and Chinese designs.

There are no clear requirements for choosing a pond design in the country. But it will be better if it looks natural.

Alternatively, you can combine several different forms if you are creating a pond in a wide area.

Pond decoration in the country, photo

Suitable materials

Formation decorative pond in the country with his own hands, it begins with digging a pit. But for this you need to know exactly how such a water body will be created.

Most often, two methods are used:

for the pond, you can use ready-made forms on a polyvinyl chloride or fiberglass base. No less popular are plastic ponds for summer cottages, as well as polypropylene ponds. Choose forms, focusing not only on cost, but also on their quality characteristics, if you are interested in keeping the pond for a long time;
the second method involves the use of PVC film or butyl rubber. The film has a ten-year lifespan, but the butyl rubber can last up to fifty years.

Artificial pond in the country, photo

Each of these techniques has its own advantages. So, if you use a ready-made mold, you will finish all the work faster, because after creating the pit, it will be enough to securely fix it inside. The second method allows you to independently choose the parameters of the pond and create natural forms.

Advice: for reliability, according to the second method, you can make a concrete pond in the country with your own hands.

In addition to the materials that will shape the pond, make sure you purchase everything you need to keep it in good condition. At a minimum, a pond pump in the country will come in handy. You can find the necessary accessories at specialized points of sale or purchase everything for a pond at the dacha in online stores.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a film pond

Now let's get acquainted with the procedure on how to build a pond in the country with our own hands, using film or rubber. Traditionally, the construction of a pond begins with digging a pit: a shovel will be enough for small ponds, but if you are planning to make a huge body of water, you will need an excavator.

Decorative pond in the country, photo

Mark the selected area using the pegs. Then remove the top layer of earth, remove the terraces 0.3 meters deep and 0.2 meters wide - and start digging out the main bowl.

Attention! The slope of the bank should be forty-five degrees, and the depth of the pit should be more than sixty centimeters. Otherwise, your pond will freeze with the onset of frost, and will also overheat in the summer.

To ensure a reliable construction of a pond in a dacha with a film waterproofing, form a moat about fifteen centimeters deep around the perimeter of the pond. This will allow the film to be securely attached.

After the pit is ready, level the bottom, get rid of stones and form a five-centimeter layer of clean washed sand on its surface. Then cover it with geotextile to protect the film from damage.

Now you can start laying the film or rubber itself. The parameters of this material are calculated taking into account the length of the pond and its double depth. Also take half a meter in reserve, since the film will have to be fixed at the edges.

Lay out the sheet, secure the edges with bricks. The pond can now be filled with water. Do not cut the edges, as the material will take the required shape within 24 hours. Only after that it will be possible to get rid of them, leaving a quarter of a meter under the blind area.

Do-it-yourself decorative pond in the country, photo

Choose the blind area itself, focusing on your own preferences. It can be stone, brick, decorative tiles and many other materials. They are fixed on a cement mortar. The width of such elements should be at least sixty centimeters.

Making a bath pond

It is quite simple to do it yourself a pond in the country from old bath, and we will look at how you can do this step by step. Work begins with the creation of a small pit. The parameters of the deepening are calculated taking into account the size of the container for the pond in the country.

The hole should be filled with river sand, as well as a cement screed so that in the future it will not be washed out by groundwater. The sand layer should be about ten centimeters, and the cement should be about three to five. Seven days after the formation of these layers, make another one - out of gravel. The height of such a layer should be about twenty to thirty centimeters.

Now you can safely lower the bath. Once installed, use gravel to fill the openings on the sides (at least ten centimeters from the tub to the cut). Make sure that the edges of the container are not visible over the shore. Arrange the pond around the perimeter with flat pebbles or large stones.

Pond design in the country, photo

If you are making a pond from a bathroom on a slope with your own hands, then on one side reinforce it with a large stone, forming a full tunnel for one and a partial tunnel for the other, free, side. Visually, it will look like a rocky alpine slide.

How to create a mini pond

We have already noted that a self-made pond made with our own hands in the country can have a wide variety of shapes and parameters. If you have planned the construction of an artificial pond in the country exclusively in decorative purposes then you can use small containers.

For example, you can make a mini-pond in the country from a basin. It attaches in a similar way to a large bathtub, but is much more compact. An unnecessary trough is also suitable for these purposes, flower pots, barrels.

Often they make a mini-pond in the country from tires. To make a pond from a tire with your own hands, you will have to think about how a reliable bottom will be created.

Small pond in the country with their own hands, photo

If you look at the photo gallery of ponds in the country, you will see that small ponds can deepen or, conversely, rise above the boundaries of the hole. For their decoration, use large pebbles, gravel, colored sand, bricks, as well as live plants.

The nuances of pond care

How to care for a pond in the country? To maintain the attractive appearance of a homemade pond, you will have to perform some procedures in a timely manner. Firstly, it is important to create the necessary ecosystem, so choose the right aquatic plants. Secondly, during the summer, get rid of the weeds around the pond, as well as the algae in the water. For these purposes, use a rake, nets and other tools.

Artificial pond in the country with their own hands, photo

Attention! Cleaning the pond in the country can be done with the help of suitable chemicals, which, moreover, allow you to saturate the water with oxygen, so that they are absolutely harmless to its inhabitants.

If you notice that the pond is starting to dry, replenish the amount of water. With the onset of autumn, promptly remove leaves, branches and other debris from the water surface, otherwise they will settle at the bottom. Some varieties of plants that are used for decoration will have to be transplanted into containers, and thick and lush plants will have to be thinned out. By the way, with the end of the swimming season, you can use a special net to protect the pond from debris.

During the spring months, engage in pruning dried-out plant stems and scrubbing the sides and bottom of the pond to remove any sludge that has appeared. Special equipment can easily cope with this task. In the middle of spring, it will be possible to launch a fountain, if there is one on such a water body.

And, of course, do not forget about strengthening the banks of the pond at the dacha, if you have begun to observe significant changes. It is better to do this work by involving specialists.

If you follow these procedures on time, you will not spend a lot of time and effort maintaining the appearance of your pond.

Arrangement of a pond in the country, photo

Suitable vegetation

Many are interested in what beautiful plants plant around a pond in the country. Not all varieties are adapted to wet conditions, so let's take a closer look at this stage of decorating a pond in the country.

The banks of large ponds can be decorated with lush plants. What to plant by the pond? For example, varieties of swamp iris, willow loosestrife, coin loosestrife, as well as tall reeds and darmer are suitable.

Plants that are perennial are also suitable for a pond in the country. These are gunner, hosta, marsh iris, rogersia, badan, astilba. And among the pebbles, which are located as close as possible to the water body, you can grow sedum, tenaciousness or forget-me-nots.

Attention! It is better to plant the plants near the pond in the country house not in the soil, but in jute pockets or containers so that in winter they can be moved to a safe place.

Now you know what to plant near the pond in the country and which plants are considered suitable. But it is also worth thinking about the vegetation that will float on the water. Dwarf water lilies, water varieties of hyacinth and buttercup, duckweed and many other varieties will suit you.

Making a decorative pond in the country, photo

Other Pond Decorations

One of the options for decorating a pond in the country with your own hands involves arranging a fountain. It can be either a large pond fountain, placed in the center, or many small fountains in the country, which will emphasize the beauty of the water body.

To create a pond with a fountain in the country with your own hands, you should purchase special equipment with sprinkles in specialized store... They will require metal profile stands. Screw the body of the fountains to them, grind the legs (as they can ruin the film in the pond) - and place the structure in the right place in the middle of the water.

Making an artificial pond in the country, photo

By the way, you can connect a hose to the fountain and let the water flow so that it flows through decorative elements (for example, through jugs). So you can make your own hands a pond in the country with a waterfall.

The next suitable decoration for a pond in the country is made of stones. These can be small steps that emphasize uneven terrain, stone-based fences, or statues that are painted into the natural landscape. A pond of stones in the country with your own hands can be made in different colors.

TO interesting ideas arranging a pond in the country include the installation of bridges. These items can be purchased or made with your own hands from forged metal, wood, stone and other materials. The advantage of bridges is that they are suitable for decorating a plastic pond and any other in the country. And on the shore of the pond, you can put decorative benches, hammocks, tables, sun loungers and much more.

Diy pond design in the country, photo

A common idea of how to ennoble a pond in the country with your own hands is to use colored lights right in the water or around the perimeter. In the evening and at night, it will draw attention to this object and create comfortable conditions for a relaxing holiday, setting you up for reflection and emphasizing the natural beauty.

Making a pond in the country with your own hands, photo

In order to get as close to nature as possible, you can bring animals in the water. Goldfish will look especially interesting in the pond. But you can choose other types of fish, for example, think about keeping crucians in a pond in the country. Then you can go fishing without leaving your summer cottage.

Just plan in advance how to feed the crucians in the pond in the country, so that they do not die out. For these purposes, worms, larvae and even some cereals are suitable.

Beautiful ponds in the country, photo

Thanks to the wide variety of ideas for arranging and decorating homemade ponds, making your site even more comfortable is quite possible! It remains only to decide which of the listed ideas you will translate into reality. Although, you can combine several of the proposed options to make the landscaped pond look even more interesting.

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