How to make a pond in the garden with your own hands. How to make a decorative pond in the country with your own hands. What materials to use

One of the brightest tools in landscape design is a decorative pond. Of course, most of the suburban areas are limited to the traditional six acres, and the owners simply cannot build a large pond, but because of this, you should not give up the dream of acquiring an artificial pond. As for the technical part, it will not become an obstacle, but subject to good instructions and desire. So, today we will find out how to make a pond in the country with our own hands step by step.

First, you should find out what purpose the construction of the pond on the site will pursue. From this point of view, water bodies can be divided into four large groups.

Table number 1. Classification artificial reservoirs by functionality

Group name	Short description
	They are an element of landscape composition and are intended, first of all, to decorate a particular area of ​​the garden. Close to these waters leisure not provided.
	They are deeper and often decorated with fountains, bridges, sometimes equipped with lighting. Similar ponds are built near the house or gazebos, benches with awnings are placed nearby. Therefore, it is quite obvious that such reservoirs are the heart of the recreation area for residents of the house.
	Such option is suitable not only for avid fishermen, but also for families with children - the latter will enjoy watching bright fish while relaxing in nature.
	They also belong to artificial summer cottages and not only perform an aesthetic function, but also provide an opportunity to freshen up or even swim (it all depends on the size).

Then, based on the goal and our capabilities, we proceed to the choice of style, location, size and shape.

Second phase. Deciding on style

An artificial pond can be made in one of two options, and each of them also has a great many modifications.

Table number 2. Styles of artificial reservoirs

Name	Short description
	This name accurately reflects the essence - these are structures that differ in clearly defined outlines. Geometrically correct shape the pond will do for those areas that are decorated in the style of minimalism, high-tech, modern or classic. But, characteristically, the shape can be not only rectangular, but also square, round, oval, broken.
	They are more popular, because they are characterized by naturalness and irregular outlines of the coast, which means that they bring a person closer to nature. The shape of the reservoir here depends only on personal preferences, but the more complex it is, the more difficult it will be to lay the film (more on this later).

The relief of the site also plays a big role in choosing the style. So, if the surface is sufficiently even, then the shape of the pond can be any. If there are irregularities and drops on the site, then they need to be given special attention, but they make it possible to additionally equip a cascade or waterfall. In addition, against the background of all this, say, an artificial slide will look great.

Also, the reservoir can be slightly raised above the ground. In this case, the construction technology will differ only in the arrangement of the foundation, which will prevent possible distortions of the bowl.

When creating such a reservoir, earthwork is minimized, and it will be much easier to take care of it.

Note! If the reservoir will be built with a fountain, then preference should be given to a high design.

Third stage. Choose a place

Let's start with the fact that we place the reservoir in the most suitable place, so that it is possible to admire our creation from anywhere in the site. That is why when choosing we take into account several important factors.

1. Land area. Not only the size of the pond, but also its shape directly depend on it.
2. illumination. It is preferable to place an artificial reservoir in a shady place where exposure to direct sunlight does not exceed five to six hours a day, otherwise some of the water may simply evaporate. Moreover, in sunlight, biological activity can develop, which is unlikely to beautify the pond. Therefore, having chosen a specific place on the site, we observe the solar regime for several days.
3. Relief. The shape of the pond depends on it, and it also simplifies the installation of additional elements (for example, fountains).
4. Groundwater level, soil composition. These indicators affect not only the depth of the reservoir, but also the complexity of the work and the need for additional consumables.

Note! The greater the depth of the pond, the more illuminated the place it should be placed. If the reservoir is intended for fish, then we take the location even more responsibly, since the oxygen content in strongly heated water decreases.

1. Expandability. Do not forget about the perspective, so on the one hand we leave free space.
2. Visibility. It is desirable to arrange the reservoir so that it can be seen from the house and places of rest.
3. Power supply. If a fountain or lighting is additionally equipped, then we think over electrification in advance. It is better to lay wires even during development, and underground and in a reliable protective corrugation. There should be small access hatches at the junctions.
4. Reflection. The pond will look more attractive if the surface reflects the sky or beautiful buildings, and not some kind of outbuilding.
5. Landscaping. The vegetation near the pond is, of course, beautiful, but the leaves will pollute it and form silt. Moreover, the root systems of trees can lead to damage to the waterproofing layer.
6. Compatibility with general decoration and other objects.

We begin work in the spring - so we will have enough time for the reservoir to "take root" on the site.

Fourth stage. Deciding on sizes

It is difficult to say that a large pond will cost more than a small one, since there are a lot of nuances here. So let's look at the key points.

1. Dimensions. They depend on the location of the reservoir. Many say that the pond should be an average of 3-10% of the total area of ​​the site, although there can be no clear recommendations in this case. As for the specific length and width, they depend not only on the area of ​​the land, but also on our capabilities. After all, we will dig a hole under the reservoir by hand.

2. Depth. It depends on the purpose of creating a reservoir, as well as its size.

3. The difficulty of the content. The larger the pond, the easier (no matter how paradoxical it may sound) to take care of it.

4. Zoning. The reservoir is divided into the following zones:

• coastal (from 10 cm to 40 cm), which will serve as an entrance and for planting a plant;
• shallow (from 40 cm to 100 cm), where crops that grow deeper will be planted (for example, winter-hardy water lily);
• deep-water (more than 100 cm) - it is required only in those reservoirs where fish breeding is planned; the area of ​​this zone depends primarily on the number of fish, but on average it should be more than 20% total area reservoir.

5. Biological balance. In any case, living creatures will settle in the pond, which means that it is necessary to provide such conditions so that it can clean itself. No oxygenation or chlorination of water is provided here. It is worth remembering: no more than ½ of the entire area can be allocated for plants.

Note! The lowest point should be lowered below the freezing line of the soil, especially if you plan to breed fish - so they can survive the winter in non-freezing water.

Fifth stage. Choosing materials

The next question to be dealt with is the choice Supplies. There are many options on the market today that can be used to create an artificial reservoir. Let's consider them.

concrete pond

The most expensive option, which, nevertheless, allows you to operate the reservoir sufficiently long time. Although concrete pouring is more suitable for arranging a pool.

Finished plastic container

This option is more suitable. A form made of fiberglass or PVC allows you to build a pond in record time and use it for up to 30 years (the specific period depends on the quality of the container).

The procedure itself will consist of only four steps:

• dig a pit;
• set the form;
• fill the remaining voids with sand;
• we plant plants, fill the reservoir with water.

The disadvantage of this method is the difficulty of transportation (if the volume is large) and the need for basic installation knowledge (otherwise the bowl may be damaged). Moreover, plastic containers degrade over time under the influence of UV radiation.

Note! It is preferable to use a fiberglass bowl, which is reinforced with rubber - this design is more reliable and suitable for repair.

Polymer film

In terms of the shape of the pond, this option provides simply unlimited possibilities. by the most available material is a plastic film, although it will not last long.

PVC film has a longer service life, with proper installation it can last up to ten years.

Perhaps the most reliable option. For ponds with rocky bottoms and great depths, it is recommended to use a butyl rubber (EPDM) membrane, which has a service life of up to 50 years. In addition, this material is able to withstand repeated frosts.

There are several folk ways the manufacture of a reservoir in which improvised materials are used. Let's get acquainted with the most popular of these methods.

Pond from an old bath

A great option, because the bath is a container that was originally intended to hold liquid. The bathtub can be painted bright colours and put in a picturesque corner of the site or, alternatively, deepen into the ground.

Tire Pond

An easy way to create a mini-pond on the site. The manufacturing process is shown in the photo below.

Pond from a basin

An even easier way. The basin is able to retain water well, so it can be installed in the same way as a bath. With proper decoration, such a mini-pond will be an excellent decoration of the yard.

Note! Not only the aesthetic characteristics of the pond, but also its service life depend on the choice of material. It is desirable that the selected material is environmentally friendly.

Sixth stage. We prepare the equipment

To create a simple artificial reservoir, we need a level, a cart with a shovel, a cord, a hose that is used for watering, and pegs.

If the pond is more technologically advanced, then you will need the following equipment:

• cleaning filter;
• sterilizer (it will remove algae so that the water is clear);
• pump for pumping / pumping water;
• aerator for oxygen saturation (especially important when breeding fish).

Seventh stage. We create an artificial pond

There are plenty of materials that can be used to create a reservoir, but we will focus on PVC film. The fact is that it is cheaper, takes the desired shape better, it can be repaired, and specific knowledge or skills are not required for work.

Step 1. First, choose the color of the film. There are several possible options here.

1. Black film - it will turn the bottom into a mirror (plants, clouds, etc. will be reflected).
2. Cream, blue- so the reservoir will look more like a pool, and the fish on a light background will be more clearly visible.
3. brown- will imitate the soil of natural reservoirs. Great option for a landscape pond.

Also, when choosing a film, we pay attention to the composition (PVC is more durable than PE) and thickness (for a pond, material thicker than 0.5 mm is required). Moreover, the greater the depth of the reservoir, the greater should be the thickness of the film. No less important is resistance to UV radiation and mechanical damage.

Note! If the depth of the pond exceeds 1.5 m, then we use butyl rubber. Such a film is resistant to stretching, deformation and UV, moreover, it can withstand temperatures of 40-80°C.

• pond width + (depth x 2) + margin (55-60 cm) = material width;
• pond length + (depth x 2) + stock (55-60 cm) = material length.

For gluing, we will use a special glue (for example, "Tagnit") or adhesive tape (Quick Seam 3).

Step 3 The next step is to create a schema.

First, draw it on paper, and then transfer it to the ground. We indicate the dimensions of the steps or "shelves" for plants - this will avoid possible problems. For marking, use sand or a flexible garden hose (preferably a bright color).

After that, we cover the marked area with a piece of light film and examine it from different angles. We make adjustments if necessary.

Step 4. Roem a pit. To do this, perform the following steps.

1. First we remove the sod.
2. Then we dig the pit itself. At the same time, we move from the edges to the center, delving into the required places - it’s more convenient. For laying stone and decorating, we equip a ledge with a depth of 60-70 cm.
3. We remove the soil, and with it the roots, stones, debris and everything that can damage the film. By the way, you can make an alpine hill out of the excavated earth.

When carrying out earthworks, we pay attention to ensuring that the banks of the future pond are located on the same line. If a waterfall is created, then we maintain the required height difference.

Note! If a large level is required, we can make it ourselves. To do this, lay the usual level on a long, flat board.

Step 5 We lay the underlay. We carefully tamp the bottom of the finished pit, after which we proceed to the waterproofing layer, which will prevent the penetration of water into the soil.

The substrate can be made in several ways:

• we cover the bottom with stones and fill it with sand (this kind of waterproofing will lose its properties in a few years);
• we lay a layer of geotextile, which we fill up with sand (it will cost a large amount);
• lay PVC film (most reliable way, so we will focus on it).

Step 6 Next, we lay the film, preferably on a sandy "cushion" (the latter will prevent damage by stones and other dangerous objects). It is advisable to lay on a hot day - heating up, the film becomes more pliable.

This may cause problems with the formation of folds. We try to make one large fold, and not a large number of small ones, and then glue it or press it down with stones. The film must be loose, loose.

For its fastening, a swarm along the perimeter of an additional trench. We lay the film there, after which we fall asleep crushed stone. Next, we fill the trench with large stones with a flat bottom (so that the film does not tear). We lay the walls with round stones (flat ones will slide). At the end, we fill the pond with water - we serve it without pressure, directing it to the center of the pit. After two days, cut off the excess film.

Step 7. We strengthen the coast. Their slope depends on the type of soil: if it is sandy, then the walls should be sloped, if we are talking about clay or black soil, then vertical. The optimum slope angle should be approximately 45°.

The fortification itself depends on the type of coast.

If they are gentle, then you can use:

• geomat;
• geogrid;
• polymer geogrid.

You can also use a regular chain-link mesh by filling its cells with soil with seeds perennial grass(for example, clover). There is another option - to strengthen the coast with shrubs or plants.

If the coast is steep, then we can use:

• piles;
• gabions;
• retaining walls.

It can also be effectively strengthened with the help of biological methods (planting). Ideally, biological amplification methods should be combined with engineering ones.

Eighth stage. Making an artificial pond

There are several ways decorative finishes reservoir. To make it a full-fledged design element, use one or more of the following methods.

As a conclusion. Features of care

Finally, a few words about further care behind an artificial reservoir.

Video - Creating a pond from a film

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

An artificial reservoir in the landscape of a personal plot

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

The most popular types of artificial reservoirs in landscape design:

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

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

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

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

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

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

DIY decorative pond - where to start?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Types of waterproofing for an artificial reservoir:

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

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

Materials and tools:

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

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

Construction of a decorative pond

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The main stages of arrangement of the reservoir:

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

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

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

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

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

Decoration of the banks of an artificial reservoir

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

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

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

Pond Care

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

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

For those who want to improve their land, you should pay attention to the ideas of landscape design using reservoirs. an artificial pond in the country is not only original, but will also add richness and beauty to the site, but can also serve as a useful design element.

You can either buy ready-made options for staging such a decorative reservoir, you can buy an artificial pond not at all expensive, but still make an artificial pond with your own hands and cheaper and more original, because you can bring your ideas to life and create!

There are many embodied ideas, photos of which can serve as an example of design, or simply push the owner to own project. But first you need to figure out what types of reservoirs are used in landscapes. Let's talk about how to make an artificial pond.

Types of reservoirs:

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

What is their difference?

Pond

A pond and similar bodies of water are structures in which the water does not move but communicates with the groundwater. The advantage of such a reservoir is that waterlogging of the soil is excluded here. In addition, such a place can be decorated with boulders, stones, favorite plants on the shore, launch fish and arrange a large aquarium. Making an artificial pond is quite simple.

Creek

The stream on the site is a narrow stream of water with a current and a meandering channel. When arranging this type of reservoir, a diverse and large number of bends, thresholds, overflows look advantageous. In this case, it should be taken into account that the speed depends not only on the pressure of the supplied water, but also on the width of the channel and on its angle of inclination.

If you want to add even more naturalness, then you can use the advice in order to a short time decorate the stones by the stream with moss: for this, you just need to smear the stones with kefir. This will speed up the maturation process of moss on stone surfaces.

Fountain

Fountains have long been considered a beautiful decoration of the garden or plot. Fountains moisturize the air well and bring aesthetic pleasure when watching it. They can be both individual and in combination with a pond.

An important detail of the construction of the fountain is its accessibility from all sides, that is, it must be visible so that they can admire it. There are two types of fountains: stationary and submersible. The former are used to create a fountain in the pond, and the latter for individual structures.

As original design fountain, you can use a mascaron: a mask in the form of a human face or animal head, from whose mouth water flows into a bowl. Under the action of the pump, this water then again enters the mascaron. Any fountains look elegant if they are supplemented with lighting during their design. How to make an artificial pond with a fountain, let's talk further.

Waterfall

This option is also a beautiful design element. Added to its appearance is the ability to drown out some noises with the noise of falling water (for example, the noise of traffic from a nearby road).

You should know that the volume of falling water is regulated by the height from which the water will flow and its amount. Several steps of the waterfall will create a cascade. This will add originality and richness to it. It is recommended to arrange waterfalls at the slopes of flower beds and slides. It gives naturalness.

All types of reservoirs are beautiful in their own way, but in order for them to look harmonious on a particular site, you need to assess the land relief and design your idea in advance. Only in the case of comparison can one determine the most the best option landscape.

Now let's talk more specifically about the artificial pond with our own hands

Creating artificial ponds is both simple and difficult at the same time. Simple, this is when you can just dig a hole and fill it with water. But what would this reservoir acquire desired view, you have to make some effort and fiction.

Typically, artificial ponds are large ponds. Ponds for garden plot it is customary to do it in a pit with concrete waterproofing, and the shape can be any: square, round, oval. A pond is an artificial reservoir using concrete, although it is a labor intensive job, for many it is the best option.

Modern materials make it possible to make artificial ponds from a lighter and more flexible canvas that does not allow water to pass through. The advantage of this material is that it can easily take any shape that the future pond will have.

Butyl rubber belongs to the class of the most expensive materials for artificial ponds. Although the material is more expensive than others, it is not subject to temperature changes and is not afraid of either cold or heat. In addition, its service life is quite large, from about 10 to 20 years. Buy an artificial pond from butyl rubber, the price is 15,000 rubles.

To strengthen the banks and bottom, PVC film can also be suitable for artificial ponds. In relation to rubber, it costs twice as much. In terms of its qualities, it is quite strong, flexible and can last for 10 years. If you decide to build a pond that will be raised above the soil surface, then you will have to use a brick, or you can use pressed stone. An artificial pond in the country will be a beautiful addition, decor and highlight of your country house.

Sometimes it is not necessary to have a spacious place to create a reservoir. You can get by with a small pond, in combination with it, having built a small bridge, make a miniature backwater or a small waterfall.

Some experts say that it is impossible to create a perfect pond that would suit everyone. How many people want to have their own artificial pond, so many projects. A classic pond is usually made 4 or more square meters. m. With such volumes of the pond, the normal ratio between water, fish and plants is most easily achieved.

Not difficult at all. It can be made in any size, depending on the space on the site that you would like to allocate for this. The rules for arranging such an element of landscape design will be approximately the same, regardless of size. On a summer day, it is infinitely pleasant to relax near a pond created by one's own hands and proudly show it to guests. Any owner of a summer cottage can create a beautiful garden pond, equip the banks, populate it with bright fish. Everything will depend solely on your imagination.

How to determine the location for the pond

In order for the pond on your own site to turn out to be functional and attractive in appearance, first try to determine a convenient location for it.

It would be ideal to start the construction of the pond in a free area, which is not under the scorching sun, but also not shaded by trees. If it seems to you that a suitable site has been found, pay attention to how it is lit. Poor lighting does not allow the planted plants to develop calmly, and this negatively affects the appearance of the reservoir.

It is not very good to build a pond in a completely open area, where on hot days there will be real sunshine. Single-celled algae love the light, they will grow stronger and cause water blooms. If you have a shallow body of water, living creatures and plants in hot weather will not feel comfortable and may die. And the owners are unlikely to be pleased to relax in the sun. It is better to choose a site for creating a pond that is not surrounded by trees, next to which there is a building or a fence. Then at midday the pond will be in the shadow cast by them, and the sun's rays in the evening and in the morning are far from being so hot and will not damage the structure.

Do not try to place the pond near trees. Their roots grow imperceptibly and after a while they can damage the bottom - tear the film or move the form.

If you intend to decorate the pond in the country with your own hands, arrange lighting, filters, using a pump, also consider the proximity of the source of electricity.

Pond in the country from a special plastic mold

If you want to create in the country beautiful landscape with the addition of a reservoir, but there is no desire to bother with the correct arrangement of the bottom, you can purchase a ready-made form for it. They are cast under production conditions from fiberglass or plastic. Such a container can last at least 10-12 years, it has good resistance to temperature and sunlight. But when installing a plastic mold, you should perform all the steps carefully, otherwise there is a risk of damaging it. Cracks that appear on the surface cannot be effectively closed.

Fiberglass is a more expensive material that is also used to make garden pond molds. It is extremely durable and can last for many years. When using this option, the service life of the reservoir will be twice or three times longer than in the previous case.

The first step in order to arrange your own mini-pond is choosing and acquiring a shape for it. It will need to be arranged in the ground. To get a pit, the shape of which exactly matches the required one, transfer the contours of the future pond to the surface of the earth. It should be done in this way. Put the purchased plastic bowl on the ground, then start sticking sticks around it, retreating from the outlines by about 15-20 cm. Stretch the rope between the sticks. Then put the plastic base aside and dig a hole, trying to keep the intended shape. The edges of the pit should be 30 cm higher than the height of the bowl. It must be ensured that the location of the pit is horizontal. To do this, use a flat board or building level.

Pour a layer of sand at the bottom of the pit - this will be the base of the pond. Place a mold in the prepared hole, fill it with sand free space, remaining between the plastic and the edges of the pit. Then pour the sand layer with water from a hose to facilitate shrinkage.

Fill the mold with water. The shores can be decorated with stones. Taking on the creation of a country pond with your own hands, photos on the topic can be viewed in advance to determine its appearance. You can equip beautiful stone shores that are close to natural in appearance, plant plants.

How to create a pond from a film

Do-it-yourself pond in the country can be built from waterproof PVC film or butyl rubber. The option is convenient in that the owners of the site choose the shape and size on their own. Polyvinyl chloride film is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, perfectly tolerates temperature fluctuations, and does not lose color for a long time. It can last 10-15 years. Butyl rubber is somewhat stronger and more durable, but also more expensive. It is worth using it for reservoirs that are planned to be deep enough. It is worth buying material with a small margin in order to thoroughly fix it around the edges.

The step-by-step device of the reservoir will look like this:

1. Creation of a pit. If you are going to plant plants in water, you can equip shelves for them along the edges of the pit - ledges with a depth of 15 cm.
2. When digging, try to work so that the walls of the pit do not crumble. If the soil on the site is clayey or black soil prevails, you can safely make them vertical. When working with sandy soils, the walls of the pit should be made inclined.
3. After digging, remove roots, stones, any large formations that may interfere with work. The film must be protected from possible mechanical damage and breaks. To do this, arrange a sand layer at the bottom or cover it with geotextile.
4. Lay the film on top of the sandy layer and lay stones along its edge to secure it. If when digging ledges, steps were created, do the same for them.
5. Around the reservoir, in addition, you can dig a shallow groove with a width of 20-30 cm. This will allow the stones that fix the film to be on the same level with the ground. To enhance fixation, you can fill them with cement.
6. When the container is completely ready, it's time to fill it with water and plant the plants.

Decorative pond equipment from an old bath

Your own pond suburban area can be made from anything. For example, if you have a bathtub that has fallen into disrepair, it can be used as the basis for a pond.

In this case, the pit is dug out depending on the size of the bath - about 20 cm are added to them. When you lower the bath into the prepared pit, its edges should be lower than the ground surface. Dig a groove along the perimeter of the resulting hole - its height and width should be 30 cm. Place the bath in the pit and give it a strictly horizontal position, using a level to determine it. Fill the voids formed on the sides with soil or sand. At this stage, the base of the pond should look like this: a bath dug into the pit with a small groove encircling the perimeter.

The next step is to mix the mass of tile adhesive with water, to which the pigment of the desired shade is added. Glue should be applied to the inner surface of the pond blank. Do not try to level it well - the sides of the bath should acquire a dark shade close to the natural color of the soil and a similar structure. Then cover the structure with a film and leave it alone for one day - you have to wait until the glue has completely hardened.

On the edges of the bath for fixing, lay a special metal mesh. Cut out fragments of the desired shape and lay them around the perimeter of the bath, while covering the edges and internal surfaces by about half their depth. The bottom should remain open, and the walls of the container and its edges should be covered with a grid.

Now you should prepare a bonding solution from cement, water and sand. It is applied over the mesh, without trying to particularly level the surface. Additionally, stones are inserted into the thickness of the solution from time to time - this will help to further strengthen the grid, and the appearance of the pond will give more naturalness. It is necessary to carefully cement the drain.

Where the mesh covers the edges of the bathtub, it is appropriate to place large stones. They will be able to emphasize the shape of the pond and give the banks a natural look. It is not necessary to observe a geometrically strict rectangular shape - on the contrary, you can lay out fragments along the edges in a wave-like manner, in the form of steps, visually expand the banks. Irregularities and elevations imitating natural relief look interesting. In some places, instead of large stones, add handfuls of crushed stone. Give the pond a beautiful outline, focusing on your own taste.

Pour clay into the bottom of the tub, add water and mix the solution. Spread it on the sides, closing the cement, fill in the voids formed between the stones. Such a solution will dry quite quickly - after a few hours you will already be able to pour water inside. Plant aquatic plants in the grooves around the pond. The water will become a little cloudy in a few days, the appearance will become natural, it will be difficult to guess the true origin of the pond. More details can be read.

How to revive an artificial pond

When creating their own pond, many site owners dream of having fish in it or at least decorating it with vegetation. Then your home pond will turn into a real work of art. To choose a beautiful appearance for your building, you can watch a video on the topic.

When choosing plants for planting, remember that some of them are able to grow favorably only at a certain depth. If the water column is not more than 30 cm, you can plant yellow iris, marsh marigold, heart-shaped pontederia. With a pond depth of 30-50 cm, you can choose an ordinary arrowhead, reed, broad-leaved cattail. In a pond more than half a meter deep, plant water lilies and lotuses, water hyacinths.

In a home pond, you can settle carp, veiltails, some varieties. These fish are the most unpretentious and able to live in such a reservoir. But you should know that when you start the fish into the pond, it should. Water without it will deteriorate, and this will quickly affect decorative features, and the health of the fish will suffer if they swim in dirty, muddy water with an unpleasant odor.

To do it yourself on the site, you need to put a lot of effort, but the result is worth it. You can create yourself a beautiful, decorated in full accordance with your tastes. The contemplation of the water surface, which is bordered by tastefully selected plants, has a calming effect. Resting in the heat near a pond made by oneself is surprisingly pleasant.

In order for the pond to last longer, it should be freed from water for the winter. The exception is reservoirs made of plastic molds: when emptying them for a period of cold weather in the spring, you can get a twisted, squeezed shape.

If the backyard area is spacious enough, and there is a lot of free space on the site near the house, take advantage of the possibility of arranging a decorative pond. Such an object will perfectly complement the area on the site intended for recreation. We are sure: it will be much more pleasant to spend time near the pond reading newspapers or refreshing your feet, relaxing after a hard day's work.

And taking into account that the appearance of such a reservoir can be different, you can arrange a water corner in such a way as to create even more comfortable conditions for recreation.

You can get creative ideas for arranging such an object from this article by looking at photos and pictures of artificial man-made ponds created in summer cottages by the efforts of their owners.

How to arrange an artificial pond in the country, photo

Location

If you decide to build a pond or other swimming pool in your backyard, first of all, choose the best place to place it.

When choosing a pond creation area, consider the following points:

• it is preferable that water body located in an open area. The presence of trees in the pond area will distort the landscape, in addition, they will pollute the reservoir with leaves and twigs, and there will be a need for its constant cleaning;
• try to choose an area in which, after creating an artificial reservoir, there will still be room. Perhaps, over time, you will want to increase the size of the pond, include new decorative elements in the water complex - keep in mind that some of them can be very large;
• refuse to create a water body in an area located under the scorching sun, otherwise the pond will dry out quickly, the water will bloom in it, and harmful bacteria will develop in it.

Ideally, if the sun will illuminate the water body only in the first half of the day or, conversely, in the second. At lunchtime, the place where the country pond is located should be in the shade. Explore the possibilities for forming a shadow zone in advance: form a markup of a water body in the optimal place and evaluate how its illumination will change during the day.

To create a shady zone, you can use buildings located near the pond or tall plants. Shrubs and trees (for example, weeping willows) will decorate the pond and give it a natural look.

You need to be able to harmoniously include a water body in the existing landscape - be sure to consider this moment when planning a reservoir.

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

If you decide to create a water feature in a low-lying area in wet areas of the garden, you will get the opportunity at the expense of drainage system ensure the drainage of water from the backyard. If the site is flat, place the pond on the border of the garden area - where bushes and trees grow, or near a hedge (in this case, you will need to create a soft transition from perennial vegetation).

Refuse to form artificial pond on a summer cottage in the lawn area. If there is no other place, visually divide the pond and lawn grass by planting on the border of the plant different varieties, including low vegetation so that you can see the water.

Many owners of summer cottages form decorative ponds next to rockeries and rock gardens. The boulders included in such objects can be successfully combined with the design of the pond.

Do not ignore the ravines and other irregularities on the site: they will be an excellent basis for the formation of streams flowing down to the pond along the boulders. Over time, a bridge can be installed in this zone - it will become another element of landscape decor.

Choosing a shape and style

Before you equip your own hands with a pond in a summer cottage, you need to consider a few more nuances. First of all, decide on the style in which the water object will be decorated. The shape of the reservoir will directly depend on the chosen style.

For example, the English direction is characterized by rounded shapes. In the regular modern design laconic lines and precise proportions prevail.

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

And Asian-style ponds look the most natural. This design is characterized by irregularities and asymmetry of forms.

There are no strict requirements for the appearance of the reservoir in the summer cottage. But it is preferable that it looks natural.

It is a good idea to combine several different shapes when forming an artificial pond in a spacious area.

Making a pond in the country, photo

Material selection

The independent creation of a water body in a summer cottage begins with the preparation of a foundation pit. A reservoir can be formed in two ways:

• through the use of ready-made molds made of PVC or fiberglass. Plastic and polypropylene reservoirs are also very popular. When choosing, proceed not only from the price, but also from the quality parameters, if you want the pond to maintain a presentable appearance for a long time;
• using PVC film or special rubber based on butyl rubber. The main advantage of these materials is their durability. The film will last ten years, and the rubber - as much as half a century.

Artificial pond in the country, photo

Each of these methods has its own advantages. Using finished form you will finish the work on the construction of the pond faster, since to form the foundation pit, you only need to fix it well from the inside. The second technology makes it possible to select the parameters of the reservoir and create a natural design - it is used if it is decided to build a concrete object.

In addition to materials for shaping the shape of the pond, prepare everything you need to keep it in optimal condition. Buy at least a pump - it will definitely come in handy.

Before proceeding with the arrangement of a pond in the garden, we advise you to study the recommendations of professionals on landscape design featured in this video:

Master class on the formation of a reservoir on a non-film basis

We offer step by step instructions for independent creation of a decorative pond in the garden on a rubber basis or from a film. You need to start with the preparation of the pit: if the reservoir is small, use a shovel, for a large pond you will need special equipment.

Mark the area with stakes.

Remove the top layer of soil by removing terraces to a depth of 30 cm and a width of 20 cm, and dig the main recess.

Important! The edge of the pond should have a 45-degree slope, and the depth of the pit should be at least 60 centimeters. If the depth is less, the reservoir will freeze in winter, and in summer it will become very hot.

To provide quality device of a reservoir with waterproofing from a film, make a 15-centimeter trench around the perimeter of a water body to more securely fix the film.

Having prepared the pit, level the bottom by removing boulders and make a sand cushion 0.15 m high. Cover the pit with geotextile to protect the film material.

After that, you can start laying the film. Its parameters are selected taking into account the depth of the reservoir, multiplied by two, and its length. Please note that the film will need to be strengthened at the edges, that is, a margin of another 50 centimeters will be required.

Spread the film, fixing the edges with bricks, and fill the pond with water. There is no need to cut off the excess film at the edges, the material will take the required shape within 24 hours. After this time, it will be possible to cut off the edges, leaving 25 cm for the blind area.

DIY decorative pond in the country, photo

Design the blind area based on individual preferences. It can be made of stone, or it can be tiled or brick. Used to fix materials cement mortar. The minimum width of the blind area is 60 centimeters.

Pond from the bath

A homemade small pond in a summer cottage can be created from an old font. We will learn in more detail how to implement this idea step by step. Start by forming a pit, its dimensions will be small. The depth depends on the dimensions of the bath.

Fill the pit with sand and make a cement screed so that the reservoir does not wash out over time ground water. A sand layer of 10 centimeters and a 3-5 cm cement layer will become a reliable pillow. A week after creating these layers, form a gravel layer, about 25 centimeters high.

Lower the bath into the prepared pit. After installing the font, fill the cavities on the sides with gravel (at least 10 centimeters from the font to the cut). Check that the edges of the bath do not protrude above the shore. Decorate the perimeter of the pond with small smooth pebbles or large boulders.

Pond design in the country, photo

If you want to make a pond from the bathroom on a flat area with your own hands, on one side fix the bathtub with a large boulder, making a full dig for one side and a partial one for the one that is free. Appearance such a composition will resemble a rock garden.

Creating a mini pond

As already noted, an artificial reservoir created by one's own efforts in a summer cottage can have any configuration. If you want to create a pond that will only perform a decorative function, you can use small containers.

For example, you can create a miniature pond from the basin. The pond is formed according to the same principle as the reservoir from the overall bath. To implement this idea, you can use not only a basin, but also an old trough, flower containers and barrels.

Very often, miniature reservoirs are designed from car tires. To create such a mini-pond of tires, it is necessary to form a reliable bottom.

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

Having studied the gallery of photos of finished ponds at their summer cottage, you will see that small ponds can be deepened or, on the contrary, raised above the pits. To decorate such objects, large boulders, colored sand, bricks, gravel and vegetation are used.

Subtleties of care

In order for a home-made pond to maintain a presentable appearance for a long time, it must be properly looked after, and special procedures should be carried out in a timely manner. How to care for such a garden pond? First of all, you need to form a small ecosystem, choose the right aquatic vegetation.

In the summer, remove weeds and algae from the water surrounding the pond. Use nets with rakes and other tools to clean the water.

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

Important! You can also clean the pond in your summer cottage with the help of special means, also designed to saturate the water with oxygen and do not harm fish and other aquatic life.

If the water body starts to dry out, replenish it with water. With the arrival of autumn, clean the water surface from foliage, branches and other debris in time so that they do not sink to the bottom. Certain types of ornamental plants for the winter need to be transplanted into containers, and too dense vegetation should be thinned out.

After the end of the swimming season, use mesh material to protect the reservoir from pollution.

In the spring, prune dried plants, clean the walls and bottom of the reservoir from accumulated silt. Cleaning is best done using special equipment. In April, it will be possible to launch a fountain, if one is envisaged in the pond complex.

Be sure to remember about strengthening the banks of the pond in the country - the coastlines of the reservoir at the first sign of their deformation over time can be significantly affected. This work is best left to professionals.

With the timely implementation of these activities, you do not have to spend a lot of time caring for the reservoir.

Arrangement of a pond in the country, photo

What kind of vegetation do you prefer?

The owners of summer cottages, who have decided to equip a pond in the garden, are interested in what ornamental plants can be planted around the pond. Not all plants can adapt to the conditions high humidity. Let's look at this issue in more detail.

The coastlines of large reservoirs can be decorated with lush vegetation. For example, willow loosestrife, marsh iris, high reeds, darmer and coin loosestrife.

Suitable for decorating an artificial reservoir perennials. Here is a list of the most popular varieties:

• hosts;
• rogersia;
• marsh iris;
• astilba;
• gunner.

Between the stones surrounding the pond, you can plant forget-me-nots or stonecrops.

Important! Vegetation in the zone of an artificial reservoir is best planted not in the ground, but in special containers that are winter period can be moved to a warm place.

Making a decorative pond in the country, photo

Now you know what kind of vegetation to decorate an artificial pond in a summer cottage. But you also need to choose the right plants that will decorate the water surface. For this purpose, water varieties of hyacinth, multi-colored water lilies, duckweed are used.

Read about how you can make original meshes with stones of various shapes and sizes.

You can see a photo with examples of carports for a metal cottage in the article.

Manufacturing features garden sculptures described in the article at:

Other decorative elements

One of the most popular ideas for decorating artificial ponds is the installation of fountains. The fountain can be made large and placed in the central part of the pond, or several small fountains can be used to emphasize the aesthetic appearance of a small pond.

To independently create a water object with a fountain, you need to buy special devices for spraying water. Sprinklers are installed on iron supports, which are screwed to the body of the fountains. The legs must be sanded so as not to damage the film in the pond.

The structure is placed in the water in a suitable place.

Making an artificial pond in the country, photo

You can attach a hose to the fountain and run water through it so that it flows through the decorative elements. Thus, you yourself will create a pond with an imitation of a waterfall.

Another decoration for an artificial reservoir in a summer cottage is created from stones and boulders.

You can make small steps that highlight the unevenness of the landscape, stone fences or sculptures, organically fitting them into the natural landscape.

Stone pond can be decorated in any color palette.

Another interesting option arrangement of an artificial reservoir in a summer cottage - installation of decorative bridges. These designs can be purchased ready-made or do it yourself. Bridges can be wooden, stone or metal - welded or forged. The advantage of these elements is that they are suitable for decorating plastic ponds and any other.

Near the reservoir, you can install beautiful benches or benches with a table, hang a hammock, thus creating a full-fledged recreation area.

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

A popular technique for decorating a pond in a summer cottage is the use of water lighting (lighting can also be done around the perimeter of the reservoir). In the dark, the backlight will focus on the water body, create a comfortable atmosphere for relaxation, set up reflections and emphasize the beauty of the reservoir.

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

For maximum rapprochement with nature, you can settle fish in the pond. Red carp look especially impressive, but you can also think about keeping carp in a pond, then your pond will be an ideal place for fishing.

But do not forget that the fish in the pond must be fed, otherwise it will die.

Beautiful ponds in the country, photo

There are many options for arranging and decorating decorative ponds in the garden. Such elements of landscape decor make the sites even more beautiful. There are tons of interesting concepts that you can bring to life on your own.

If you wish, you can use several design ideas at once to make the water body look even more original.

Video

From this video you will learn the details of the independent creation and decoration of an artificial reservoir in a summer cottage - details on how to ennoble the site, make and arrange a pond in the country with your own hands:

photo gallery

A selection of photos with the most striking landscape ideas for the design and decoration of large and small, but beautiful ponds on the site near the house - for your inspiration: