i want to dig a pond.....?

Question

can i just dig a hole put liner in it and build up sides with soil....follow with plants.....will nature provide frogs and newts without a pump?

Answer 1

I have a pond which is probably about 2'x4'. There are three different levels in there - about 3', then 1.5' and then 0.5'. We do not have a pump or anything like that. However, there are lots of oxygenating weeds in there and I looked out my window to literally see about 20 frogs sat on the surface of the pond. The sheer amount of frogspawn there is unreal too - about half the surface is covered in frogspawn and I don't know how deep it is. We also have some water snails in there, and they multiply like crazy. We started off with four, and now there are literally thousands. The frogs and snails like it, so that's fine by us.

When building it, make sure you remove any sharp stones from around where the pondliner will go. Then put in a layer of newspaper and then the pondliner. We have also cemented lots of stones to the inside of the pondliner so that they have plently of places to hide, as well as in the shrubbery surrounding it.

Answer 2

When you've dug your hole, put down a layer of sand about an inch or two thick to protect the liner from sharp stones and stuff. Put in the liner but dont cut it untill you've filled it with water, trim the edges making sure you leave about 2 foot around the sides so that you can bury it under soil. Then you need to plant some oxygenating plants to keep down the algae. That's about it, nature will do the rest. Oh and make sure the little creatures can get back out of the pond by putting a log or stones for them or they will drown.

Answer 3

, Hi when you dig your hole make Shaw its not got any roots so it do not puncher liner and use sand as a base. How big is your pond as Ive got a big pond with pump and a small pond with no pump The small pond has frogs & newts each year i just let nature take over you can put a small log sticking out so wild life can get in and ,add small rocks and wild plants round the out side so wild life can hide and be safe wild pond fish not recomended is your garden near a pond if so frogs and newts will come be patient good luck

Answer 4

You need to ensure the sides of the hole are level, ideally you need different depths (ledges for plants etc), and a shallow place for anything that falls in to be able to get out again (unless you want to retrieve the occasional drowned hedgehog. also you need to put sand in the hole before you put the liner in. Otherwise the weight of the water will press down on any stones etc in the earth and could tear the liner.

You don't need a pump. Frogs and, if you're lucky, newts will find the pond. Put a pile of old wood near the pond. as it rots it will attract woodlice for the frogs to eat and provide somewhere for them to hibernate in winter.

Answer 5

Yes you can do this as i have done this i have a pond on a top level and a stream that flows down to a stone wall and in to a bigger pond i dug it and put in a liner about 2 years ago and is doing great the frogs love the ponds we also get a lot of lizards and birds in. i have a pump only to get water to top pond for the water fall to work but top pond has no pump but it gets very dirty but the frogs don't mind......... i say go for it...

Answer 6

I saw them do that recently on HGTV. They dug a hole, put in a liner, and made walls by stacking flat stones. It looked real nice. They also made a small creek and used a pump to send the water from the pond back to the start. At home centers, they also sell rigid liners that look like a toddler swimming pool that you put into the ground.

Answer 7

Dig a hole and get a butile liner (one that won't breakdown with sunlight), pack sand in the hole first (best use kids sand as you can get small shards of glass in building sand) and then get the liner as tight in as you can. Fill with water and a few plants from the local gargen shop. Maybe get some small water snails, they will bring in a bit of grime and also eat any new grime to prevent it from going stagnant. Don't flush it until you actually get a good few slimey things in it. Do it now in time for spring/summer. You could have frogs this year.

Answer 8

As long as you keep the pond water-tight , you will attract all kinds of wildlife, but that also depends on where abouts you are to the countryside. It woill be better to get a pump to oxygenate the water if you want frogs and newts to set up home though, or a regular sourse of food for them....hope this helps....Andy

Answer 9

You will end up with a stagnant hole in your yard. Go to a pond store and get advise There are pond clubs or koi clubs where you can get information too. They take a lot of work to keep up. We purchased the vegitation and koi for our pond - nature provided frogs and snakes and the blue herons think it is a buffet.

Answer 10

Yes, but it will need cleaning out more if you get wildlife in it. You don`t have to make it very big either. I`ve got 2 in my garden that are actually very large planters about 10" deep and they`re only dug in half way, so the frogs have to jump into them. As long as they can get in and out by means of a couple of small rocks or bricks, inside and out they`re OK. Keep ponds topped up though and try to keep cats out of the garden as they tend to maul them. If you make a safe haven for them and there`s lots of shaded places to hide, they will eat the slugs in your garden, but watch where you tread!