What can be cooked from squid: quick and tasty

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

Artificial reservoir in the landscape of the personal plot

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

The most popular types of artificial reservoirs in landscape design:

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

In shape, reservoirs in personal plots can be either rounded, with an irregular coastline, or of a regular geometric shape - square, rectangular and diamond-shaped. It all depends on the style of the site as a whole, its location, the characteristics 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 reservoir is round or oval. This is exactly what natural lakes look like, so if you want to create a corner of nature near your home or in the garden, then this option will be the most acceptable. In this case, an irregular coastline and an asymmetric planting of the reservoir by plants may even appear.

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

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

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

Do-it-yourself decorative pond - where to start?

If you come up with a wonderful idea to equip an artificial reservoir on your personal plot, you should not rush headlong after a shovel. First of all, you need to find the right place. In this case, the following factors must be taken into account:

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

It is best to equip a pond closer to home. In this case, it should be positioned in such a way that the entire area of ​​the 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 great 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 - big trees located along the banks, in autumn, will pollute the reservoir with fallen leaves, and the roots of trees can damage the protective film at the bottom.

The type of soil is important. For the arrangement of the reservoir, loam and clay soils, as well as peat soils, are suitable, black soil is less preferable - it contributes to the formation of silt. On acidic soils, it is impractical to equip a reservoir without reliable protection side walls and bottom.

After 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 in 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 is an inexpensive material that is not UV resistant;
• LDPE - polyethylene high pressure... Visually, it is practically no different 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 plastic wrap for waterproofing. It copes with its function, but it lasts no more than 2 years. If you want your pond to enjoy longer, choose more durable materials.

Materials and tools:

• shovel;
• protective film or reservoir;
• pipes for water supply and drainage;
• valve;
• geotextile material or sand

Better to see once. The whole process of arranging a pond in pictures looks like this:

Construction of a decorative reservoir

There is another way of arranging a pond - a concrete bowl, but this method is laborious and costly, so it is not currently used. Construction begins with the fact that on the selected site markings are made and the sod layer is removed. After that, you can start digging a pit of the desired shape. In this case, it is imperative to leave the edges slightly sloping (gentle, not steep). Further, if you plan to make a decorative reservoir using polyvinyl chloride film, and not a ready-made reservoir, you need to lay out the bottom of the future reservoir with a 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 (you need to lay a waterproof film between them). After that, the bottom should be covered with gravel.

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

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

In order for the external 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, you need to lay two pipes: flow and waste. Through the flow pipe, water will enter 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 below the level of the pond. For ease of use, you can install a valve on the drain pipe or simply close the hole with a stopper as needed. The first option is the most practical.

Arrangement of a decorative reservoir with the use of "galoshes"

You will need much less labor if you purchase a special reservoir 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 their outlines. But if you wish, you can always find and buy a bowl for a reservoir of the shape that suits you.

In order to equip a decorative reservoir in the country , you will need to purchase a special tank of a suitable size and shape: the cost of these is relatively low.

The main stages of the arrangement of the reservoir:

• outline marking;
• digging pits;
• installation of capacity.

In order to correctly identify the contour of the reservoir, it is necessary to install the tank on the ground and vertically install the 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 reservoir 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 have posted, you need to properly arrange its banks.

Decoration of the banks of an artificial reservoir

At this stage of work, you can not limit the flight of your imagination. To decorate an artificial reservoir, you can use ceramic tiles, marble, granite, artificial stone, pebbles, wood, etc. With these materials, you need to mask the edges of the reservoir, in appearance close to natural. At the same time, it is important to fix them with cement mortar... If you plan to additionally equip your pond with a fountain, during the 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 aquatic plants in pots or baskets. Can be planted around the pond ornamental shrub or just a flower bed.

Decorative pond dwellers are always a joy. It can be both aquarium fish and dwarf turtles. And if you carry out lighting 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 to collect garbage.
• During the period of leaf fall, you will need to cover the pond with a net so that 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 the water, it is either filtered and purified (for this, the reservoir must be flowing), or it is planted with oxygen-generating plants: bog, hornwort, elodea.
• If you plant water lilies or egg capsules 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 personal plot is an important element of landscape design, the arrangement of which must be approached with sense, feeling, arrangement! And then the beauty created by your hands will delight both you and your guests!

A small pond can decorate and diversify any suburban area. And it will be even more pleasant if you build such a pond with your own hands. It may sound daunting, but with quality instruction, there should be no problem.

Traditionally, work begins with preparatory activities.

Stage 1. Determine the location and size

First, we decide on the place where the decorative reservoir will be located. To do this, take into account the following points:

• there should be no trees nearby, since their roots can damage the bottom of the structure, and the leaves can clog the water;
• the place should be open, and also be illuminated by the sun for at least 6 hours a day (this will increase the intensity of algae reproduction without infringing on terrestrial plants);
• if possible, it is advisable to leave room for future expansion of the pond;
• the area of ​​the reservoir should not exceed 3% of the entire site.

In a word, the smaller the area, the easier it is to conduct construction works... In terms of depth, the reservoir is divided into three levels:

• for plants near the shore;
• shallow water for a winter-hardy water lily;
• deepening in which fish will winter (if we breed them).

Note! It is undesirable to make the reservoir too deep - it is quite enough to make a deepening with a depth of 1.6-1.8 meters (that is, below the level of soil freezing). The embedment area should not exceed a fifth of the entire pond.

Stage 2. Deciding on the material

There are a lot of materials that can serve as the basis for a decorative reservoir, but the most popular of them are the options below.

In view of the fact that the construction of a decorative reservoir from a form can hardly cause any difficulties, we will consider in more detail exactly the second construction option.

Prices for ready-made ponds and bowls for ponds and fountains

Ready-made ponds and bowls for ponds and fountains

Stage 3. Preparing consumables

The work will require:

• PVC film;
• roofing material;
• round stones;
• rope;
• stone slabs;
• shovel;
• sand;
• bricks;
• fine gravel.

Having prepared everything you need, we proceed to the next stage.

Stage 4. Digging the pit

Step 1. First, we create a sketch of the future reservoir on a scale, indicating the size and width of the curtains (shelves for plants, that is, the upper stage of the structure). This will help avoid possible difficulties not only during construction, but also during planting.

We also think over the accent of the composition - a large original stone, for example, a sculpture or just a tree.

Step 2. With the help of rope or sand we outline the proposed contour of the reservoir. Be sure to check that all the banks are at the same level, after which we use a shovel to cut the turf around the perimeter of the pond.

Step 3. Now let's get down to earthworks. First, we dig a foundation pit to the depth of the first level (about 30-40 cm) and mark a line from which it will deepen to the second mark (90 cm). Next, we create the deepest level (up to 1.8 meters, if we plan to breed fish), we extract the last portion of the soil.

Note! It is recommended to regularly check the level of the banks while digging the pit. If there is no water level of the appropriate length, you can take a simple long board and attach a 50 cm device to it.

Step 4. To dig a reservoir, it is advisable to use the services of specialists in this kind of work, accompanied by a small excavator, because this work is quite hard. But if it was decided to do this stage of the work with your own hands, then you should be prepared for the fact that moisture will accumulate in the pit and you will have to dig in a dirty slurry. To remove water, you can use a pump (but only specially designed for pumping liquids with solid particles). Nearby, you can dig another hole to dump water there.

Step 5. We carefully inspect the bottom of the finished pit for branches, sharp stones and anything that can damage the film. We check the horizontality of the banks, if necessary, level them.

Step 6. We dig a ditch 20 cm deep around the perimeter of the pond to fix the film. Then, using a rope, we measure the dimensions to determine the required size of the film, add 0.5 m on each side.

When conducting earthworks you can face the problem of where to put the earth from the pit. An excellent solution to this problem is to raise the level of the site by evenly distributing the soil over the entire garden area. Another option is also possible - to use the land for the construction of an alpine slide.

Stage 5. Laying the film

Step 1. We cover the bottom of the pit with a 15-centimeter sandy "pillow", carefully tamp it.

Step 2. To protect the PVC film from damage, lay a layer of roofing material (overlapping).

Step 3. We cover the bowl of the reservoir with a film. We do it freely, with a small margin along the banks. Press the ends of the film with bricks.

Note! For greater elasticity of the film, it is advisable to lay it on a sunny day - under the influence of temperature, the film will stretch better and easily bend around all the protrusions of the pit.

Step 4. We fill the pond with water, but we are in no hurry to cut off the excess film. Wait approximately 24 hours for the PVC coating to reach its final volume. Then we cut off the film, put its edges in a pre-made trench, tuck it in and fill it with rubble.

Note! Often the film is not wide enough for a whole pond. In such cases, several pieces are connected to each other by soldering.

Prices for various types of pond films

Pond film

Stage 6. We equip a decorative reservoir

Step 1.In order to prevent the earth from falling into the bowl of the reservoir, we strengthen the edge. This can be done with:

• stone blocks;
• plastic pipes nailed to pegs.

We lay out the edge with natural stone (although you can also use bricks, tiles, other materials), decorate with a group of boulders or one large block.

Step 2. We spread the bottom of the reservoir with rubble or stones. Then we place the pre-prepared plants in plastic containers and arrange them in curtains. It is advisable to use plants that saturate oxygen (such as hornwort, water lily, swamp, etc.). After that, the pond can be completely filled with water.

Note! For correct selection hydrochemical preparations and the pump, it is necessary to measure the volume of the reservoir. To do this, when changing the water, take the readings of the water meter before / after the filling procedure.

Step 3. We can make a small stream for permanent circulation of water - this will prevent stagnation of the latter. To do this, we raise the source slightly above the level of the reservoir and set it to supply water from the bowl. We are planning to decorate the mouth of the stream, for which you can use:

• stones;
• containers made of glass or clay;
• vegetable planting.

Step 4. We install at the bottom of the reservoir, stretch the pipes to the source and connect them to the purifying filter. The latter should be pressurized, that is, with the foreseen reverse cleaning, since it is much more efficient than usual.

Everything, ready! All that remains is to regularly clean it of dirt, use special agents that revitalize the water and prevent the excessive spread of algae, and also clean the plants for the winter.

When building a pond, it is difficult to avoid some mistakes, especially a compositional plan. For this reason, you need to be aware of the common mistakes gardeners make.

Finally, by planning self-construction pond, first practice - make, for example, a miniature pond, and only then move on to more dimensional compositions. This will greatly increase the chances of success.

Good luck with your work!

Video - Creating a pond in the country

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 sun rays- 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.

You will have to change the water yourself, 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 an 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 complexity 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 pond with a bridge in the landscape design of a summer cottage

Artificial store ponds

This option - golden mean for those who dream of their own pond and 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 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

Another interesting option is the use of various containers that have become unusable. Old cast iron baths, troughs, vagans - 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 reservoir in japanese style.

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 reservoir in the country house becomes an exclusive detail of the 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 it is a finished form or 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 body of water 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 one 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 about a third of a meter deep and up to 20 cm wide on the sides of the future mini-lake. The bottom of the reservoir is tamped, stones, rubble, pebbles, and foreign objects are removed. 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, the top layer of soil at least 40 cm wide is removed and a trench is dug, 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. A concrete solution or a sand-cement mixture is applied to it and allowed to dry. Next comes the turn of decorating the 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 cottage pond bring pleasure and joy. After all, it is for this that it is installed.

How nice it is to sit by the pond on a fine sunny day, admire the water surface, relax, relax. But what if there is no body of water nearby? Build it yourself on your site! This will not require colossal financial influences. All the nuances of creating and arranging a small country pond will be discussed in our article.

Appointment

If you are planning to equip the landscape of your site and decide that you must have a pond in your yard, then before you start work, you need to determine what functionality the reservoir will have on your site.

According to their purpose, ponds can be divided into three types:

• decorative;
• a pond with fish;
• for swimming (pool).

Decorative

A decorative pond can be small, built solely to decorate some area of ​​the garden. As a component of a landscape composition, it can be its finishing touch or an original addition to a design project.

Such a pond is created for an aesthetic purpose: it is pleasant to admire it while sitting in the garden.

Decorative ponds can be larger: the pond itself is deeper, the compositions are larger, where bridges, fountains, streams, lighting can serve as decor. In addition to a pleasant sight, such ponds are also a place to relax: on a warm summer day around the reservoir you can sit in sun loungers and get your dose of ultraviolet radiation.

For fish farming

Who among us does not dream of watching the fish frolicking in our own pond and pleasing the eyes of the household? In addition to the decorative function, such a pond will also perform the function of an antidepressant: fish swimming in the pond are an excellent soothing and relaxing agent.

This pond should be large enough for your fish to feel comfortable. It can be of absolutely any shape. But whoever you are thinking of breeding - crucian carp or ducks - do not forget about the need to filter the water, as well as to enrich it with oxygen.

For swimming

Homemade swimming pond - salvation on a hot summer day! The size of such a pool will depend on your wishes and on the capabilities of your site. If the size of the plot allows, then you can build a beautiful pond in your yard in which you will swim in the summer. You can also get by with a smaller pool, in which it will be no less pleasant just to plunge into to cool off on a hot day.

Artificial reservoir style

Conventionally, ponds can be divided into two large main groups, each of which has many varieties:

• regular pond;
• landscape pond.

A regular pond is created using a pre-made mold. Surely you have thought out a landscape project in advance, so you already have a good idea of ​​how a home reservoir should look like. Based on the wishes for the design of the pond, you can choose a suitable ready-made shape: they are not only correct geometric, but also more complex types: broken, asymmetrical, and so on.

A landscape pond differs from a regular one in that a ready-made form is not used during its construction. Therefore, any configuration can be given to it.

Dimensions and appearance reservoirs can also be different: you can build a small pond in the Japanese style, the main advantage of which is simplicity, or you can give free rein to imagination, not being limited to the standard round shape and create a large reservoir filled with various decorations.

How to make a pond with your own hands?

Let's assume that you have decided on the type and functionality of the pond. Now let's look at how to practically implement the conceived idea.

Where to begin?

Of course, one should start by determining the location and size of the future pond. The choice of location is very important. Still, a pond, even if it is functional, should please the eye of the owner, complement the landscape composition, fit into it perfectly, or even become an accent in your design project.

When choosing a place for a pond in the country, you should take into account not only and not so much its visual advantages, but a number of other factors that influence the choice of a place:

• Plot size. It goes without saying that the size of the pond will be the same as the size of your garden will allow.
• The relief of the site. Different reliefs allow you to achieve different results: on a flat surface, you can create a wonderful laconic pond, the water in which will delight the eye with its smooth surface; the uneven surface allows you to fantasize with fountains and waterfalls.

• Groundwater level and soil. You must consider these factors when determining the depth of the pond (you may need certain consumables and additional strength).
• Lighting. It is preferable to find the pond in the shade: exposure to direct sunlight for a long time will increase the evaporation of water, and microorganisms living in the water are activated, and the reservoir will lose all its attractiveness. To prevent this from happening, when choosing a place, pay attention to the light mode. This is especially true for small reservoirs and reservoirs with fish.
• Environment. Of course, the trees and shrubs surrounding the pond look very attractive, but do not forget that the foliage falling from these plants will pollute the pond, and the close proximity of the tree roots can spoil the waterproofing.

• Power supply. Particular attention should be paid to the location if it is planned to decorate the pond with fountains or lighting in order to think in advance about the electrification of this part of the suburban area.
• Expansion perspective. You always need to take this point into account, perhaps in the future you will want to enlarge the pond itself or expand the recreation area by the reservoir, you wish to fix or redo something.

To do this, be sure to leave a piece empty space in the garden on one side of the pond.

• Consistency with other buildings: after all, the pond is part of the overall composition, therefore, it is necessary to take into account the general appearance of the summer cottage, thinking over the design of the reservoir.
• And finally, the visual component. Of course, the pond should be pleasing to the eye, so its location must be arranged so that it can be seen from most parts of the garden.

The size of the pond, of course, depends on the size of the site, but not only on this. The size of the reservoir also depends on your design project, in the end, just on your desire.

So, let's consider the main parameters:

• Dimensions. There are no specific recommendations regarding the area of ​​the pond. Some sources have information that the reservoir should be located on an area up to approximately 10% of the entire garden area, but these are not fixed standards.
• Lenght and width. These parameters are taken into account based on overall size plot. If you dig a hole for a reservoir with your own hands, then they also depend on your physical capabilities.
• Depth. Depends on the size of the reservoir, its potential functionality, soil and your physical strength (again, if you dig a foundation pit yourself).

• Zoning. Experts distinguish three parts:

1. Coastal(100-300 mm): plants growing in shallow water are located in it, and there is an entrance to the reservoir.
2. Shallow(300-900 mm): here is the place for other plants that live deeper.
3. Deep sea(from a meter and beyond): the area required for fish habitat. The larger and more diverse the living world of the reservoir, the greater part of the area is allocated to the deep-water zone. Also keep in mind: to prevent fish from freezing in the pond during winter, the lower part of the pond should be located below the freezing level of the ground.

• Content. Have surprisingly, a large body of water is easier to care for than a small one.

What do you need?

When you have decided on the location and size of the future reservoir, it is time to purchase materials. Now on the market of construction and finishing materials you can purchase everything you need for arranging a pond:

• One of the most financially costly options is concrete pond... This reservoir will serve you for a long time, but consider the functionality of the future pond: if you are going to build a pool, then this option may be the best choice for you, if not, study other proposed options and choose the most suitable one for you.

• Plastic containers- a simpler option. They are of different composition(made of polyvinyl chloride or fiberglass), so their service life is also different: on average, from 10 to 30 years. The work on installing the bowl is simple, so this option is quite convenient: you need to dig a hole, set the mold, fill the voids with sand. However, there are also disadvantages to this option: plastic forms are quite expensive, they also need particularly careful transportation, are unstable to ultraviolet radiation, but they are resistant to frost.

Most the best choice in this case it is a fiberglass mold with a rubber base.

The strongest and most reliable film is butyl rubber: it will last up to 50 years, it is also frost-resistant and very durable.

• You will also need the following materials and tools: a shovel, a hose for irrigation, a cord (for marking), stakes, a wheelbarrow for removing land, a purifying filter (especially relevant for reservoirs where fish are bred), a pump (with its help, the pressure required for filling water is formed, it will also be needed for construction of fountains and for the operation of cleaning filters), a sterilizer (needed for water purification), a compressor (aerator) (necessary for reservoirs in which fish live, as it saturates the water with oxygen).

Plan and calculations

So, you thought about how your future pond will look like, found for it appropriate place, decided on the dimensions, materials, but you still do not know how many materials will be needed to build the pond of your dreams. To find out, we will make calculations and, based on the size of the pond, we will calculate the optimal amount of materials required for its construction.

Suppose we decided to take polyvinyl chloride film (PVC) as a basis, since this material is affordable, strong enough and easy to use, and also subject to repair.

PVC film can be different colors: black, brown, blue (or cream):

• black film will cover the bottom and allow you to observe the reflection of the sky on the surface of the reservoir;
• the brown film resembles a real bottom in color, which will make the reservoir more realistic;
• light film (blue or cream) will allow you to see its inhabitants under water, for example, fish.

When buying a film, you should take into account the composition (PVC is more durable than, for example, polyethylene film) and thickness (we need a film whose thickness is more than half a millimeter).

It is also worth paying attention to the manufacturer, strength, resistance to ultraviolet radiation and the absence of toxic substances.

1. The length of the film is equal to the length of the reservoir + 2 the depth of the reservoir + 400-500 mm, just in case.
2. The width of the film is equal to the width of the reservoir + 2 depths of the reservoir + 400-500 mm, just in case.

It is necessary to glue the film with glue bought in the same place, in a hardware store, for example, "Tangit" or adhesive tape.

After you have dealt with the film, you will need to sketch your pond. First draw a mini-sketch on paper and then directly on the ground, indicating the depth and width of the container, and the depth and width of the steps. You can write with a garden hose or sand - this is convenient.

Making: a step-by-step guide

After all preparatory stages successfully completed, you can proceed to the main actions:

1. Remove the top layer of soil.
2. Digging a hole.
3. We remove the ground.

Everything sounds pretty simple, but be careful, do not forget to take into account all the necessary further recesses (for plants, for steps, etc.), as well as the features of your reservoir (waterfall, pond, pool). When installing a pool, a large pit will have to be dug with an excavator, as in a full-scale construction.

When the job is done, the pit was dug up, and the walls were well rammed, you can proceed to waterproofing. If you do not pay close attention to it, then water will flow into the soil, and we do not need it at all. If you act correctly, then everything will turn out as it should.

There are three ways to form a substrate at the bottom of your pond:

• The simplest and cheap way- fill the bottom with sand and stones. But the result of this method is short-lived: a few years and such a substrate will cease to function properly.
• Another way is to cover the bottom with geotextiles. The result is, of course, more durable, but the cost of this method is also higher.
• This method is the most reliable: cover the bottom with PVC film. It is not very energy-consuming, and the result is the most durable.

Let's take a closer look at the third option, since its result will allow us to enjoy the pond in our garden for many years. The main thing is to follow the instructions.

The fact that we have chosen the film method of waterproofing does not at all prevent us from filling the bottom with sand before laying the film: this way we will protect the film from unnecessary damage by stones or roots. When laying, unfortunately, it will not work out completely without folds, but it is better to make one large fold than many small ones: then you can press it with stones or glue it. The main thing is not to stretch the film, otherwise it will break through under the weight of water.

To fix it, you need to dig an additional track, lay the film, fix it with rods and sprinkle the track with stones, and then lay the hole itself with them. When you are finished with the film, you should pour water into your pit. Do this gently, without harsh pressure. You should act carefully: the film, although strong, can still deteriorate and tear from improper actions. 1-2 days after filling with water, you can cut the film.

Now it is necessary to strengthen the shore so that the reservoir looks beautiful and neat. Let's pay attention to the soil: if it is black earth or clay, then you can make vertical walls, if it is sand, then the walls should be inclined. It is believed that the ideal slope of the pond bank is 45 °. With such a slope, the coast does not crumble, and during the freezing period the ice does not bulge. Do not forget about plants: since the depth of planting is different for all plants, it is necessary to provide shelves for planting in advance.

You can strengthen the gentle banks with a geogrid or a geomat, and steep banks- gabions, piles and retaining walls. By the way, there is an option for those who are not yet ready for such large-scale work on their site, but still want to be the owner of a small island of happiness in their garden. A pond can be built from completely improvised means. For example, from a tire.

The pit will need a much shallower depth, the film will need much less, and in the end there will be as much joy. The process of creation is extremely simple: you need to dig a hole in the size of the tire, insert it into this recess, lay the film on the bottom, pour water, decorate the outside with stones.

Of course, the pond will be very small, but if it is properly decorated, it will delight the eye no worse than a full-fledged reservoir.

What plants to plant?

Of course, in order for your pond to look spectacular and attractive, it must be decorated accordingly: decorated with plants. In order for your body of water to be as close as possible to a natural body of water, you need to do landscaping.

We offer several options:

• You can plant plants at the bottom of your pond. It is better to use local plants: they will take root faster.

• You can also plant various plants into some container, for example, in a barrel and put around a pond. At the same time, you can plant whatever your heart desires, choosing containers to your liking and, in accordance with the style of the pond and the garden composition as a whole: it will look impressive, while not separating visually from the general picture. In addition, just by replacing the container, you can easily change the appearance of the entire environment, if suddenly the old look is bored.

• The highlight of your design project can be the decoration in the middle of the pond. Place a beautiful stone in the middle of the reservoir, and on it place a pot with some interesting plant, or decorate it with some figure, for example, a mermaid. Such a move will certainly attract the attention of others.

• To keep the water in your pond clean as long as possible, you need to protect it from leaves, branches and insects falling from trees with a special mesh construction.
• If, nevertheless, the leaves are in the water, a landing net will help you: just remove unnecessary debris from the water so that it remains clean as long as possible, and the reservoir will delight you with its beauty. But a landing net will not help to get rid of debris from the bottom of the reservoir. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to clean the pond with a water purifier.

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

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 pond cannot be used for swimming on sanitary standards and hygiene requirements.

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 animal and flora, with a water purification system, 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 the 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. To do this, at the bottom of the reservoir are installed drainage pipes 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:

1. Use of finished 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 water space by the shape and dimensions of the selected container. Typically, such a container has a small volume of up to 4m 3;
2. 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 of the 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;
3. 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. It will be necessary 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;
4. 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 laid 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 can be used in the design of a reservoir in the country, wooden structures, animal figurines and other options.

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

In the center of the pond for giving are water lilies, a lotus. An interesting design solution would be to create a floating in the center of the reservoir flower arrangement like the pictures.

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.