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I would love to have a garden pond, but don't have time at the moment, because of other garden projects, to do all the digging and preparation. And so a barrel pond is on the agenda with a view to attracting amphibians and insects.
I was in a local garden centre last week and spied a pile of barrels which were on offer at 1/2 price. On enquiry, it turned out that they were actually wooden ornamental planters but I thought I would give one a go - if it proves unsuitable I'll start again. Pond lining is on order from the internet as the construction of the barrel looks unsuitable for making watertight by soaking.
Any advice on planting would be welcome - I was considering miniature water lilies, iris and a native oxygenator.
More pics to follow as things progress.
Edit = pic not loading!
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake
ClaireM said: I would love to have a garden pond, but don't have time at the moment, because of other garden projects, to do all the digging and preparation. And so a barrel pond is on the agenda with a view to attracting amphibians and insects. I was in a local garden centre last week and spied a pile of barrels which were on offer at 1/2 price. On enquiry, it turned out that they were actually wooden ornamental planters but I thought I would give one a go - if it proves unsuitable I'll start again. Pond lining is on order from the internet as the construction of the barrel looks unsuitable for making watertight by soaking. Any advice on planting would be welcome - I was considering miniature water lilies, iris and a native oxygenator.
The ivy behind is growing over an old tree stump and I intend to go more planting around the barrel.
Hi Claire,
I can't help you, but am so interested in this thread as I would love to do something similar, so I will be watchig carefully!!!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
I shall be fascinated to see how you progress. I have inherrited a half barrel, with a non-working pump handle. It used to be a planter but I would like to turn it into a mini pond. I have done a bit of research into liners & native water plants but I haven't had a chance to do anything about it yet. I seem to remember there was something on Springwatch about creating mini ponds...advice still on their website I hope. Good luck.
I too will be watching with interest. I would love a pond but with two curious grandsons I have always said I wouldn't bother but always wanted a barrel pond so I think you will have many avid watchers and loads of these sprouting in gardens in the future :)
Sue
Oh dear, with all these watchers I hope the barrel does not implode as soon as it fills with water. LOL
I was really concerned at first that this ornamental barrel would not be substantial enough for the purpose of a mini pond but it has now been filled with water and left to stand for over three weeks and it seems to be quite sound.
It is lined with a hozelock liner which I bought in a 2m x 2 1/2m pack. There was quite a lot of waste and it might have been better to buy the liner off a roll but none of the local garden centres had such a product. At the moment I have cut off most of the excess liner and am thinking of ways to neaten off the folds and trim it down to the barrel edge. OH thinks I should take a Stanely knife and cut it round the edge of the barrel - ideas welcome. Hopefully once the planting is established the liner will not be as noticeable.
I have ordered two miniature water lilies, an iris and two oxygenators -in a package for a mini pond. They come in planting baskets and the next step is to find suitable flat stones to place them on.
Looking god Claire! Really nice idea too, might join in the copying of your little pond after the garden is done!
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Saw someone once use a large round plastic cattle water trough which worked really well but could probably use a bit of camouflage.
Yes, Sooty, any watertight container can be adapted.
I read from an old gardening book, one of those old metal dustbin lids can be sunk into a flowerbed and filled with water for a mini mini pond.
We made a mini-pond from an old washing up bowl :-) There was a stick in it so birds could get in and even though there was a nice bird bath the birds prefered the bowl to bathe in lol