Decorative pond: for those who still doubt

Only three short lines in Hatsu Matsuo Basho, and in front of his eyes - a multimedia slide, filled with life, smells and sounds. The ability of the Japanese to create beauty, to exist in it, to see in each of its manifestations is well known.

 Japanese-style pond: symmetry and the union of all elements of air, water, wood and stone

The Japanese-style pond can well be built in our latitudes.
Palms are easy to replace with local plants

Our citizens for a long time perceived the suburban area as an arena of endless struggle for the crop with the help of a chopper and a shovel. Available today, “small mechanization” and shelves filled with food in supermarkets allow you to change the curved pose to a more comfortable one and put your own strength and creative imagination to make the beautiful far beautiful today. And what could be more attractive than a mirror of water, in which the sky and clouds, flowers and trees are reflected?

The pond fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape and looks just like natural

Connoisseurs of the Vedic culture assure that water symbolizes the never falling asleep subconscious, with its desire for liberation from negativity and development. It stores information about what was, is and will be.

And whatever the reason for the fashionable tendency to decorate one’s living space with water in a limited financial and territorial scope, if a firm decision is made to place one’s own body of water in the area, then half the battle has already been done. Now the main thing is to cast aside all doubts, because the experience of many professional and unprofessional "pond farmers" shows that this dream is quite real.

A small pond is combined with a small "waterfall",
forming a cozy corner for relaxation near the apartment building

One wise man said that it is much more important to realize not what you want, but what you definitely don’t want, and, having decided, begin to act. All reservoirs that are built on the sites are divided according to their purpose - to serve as decoration or font. The type of pond that will be selected will determine the technologies, materials and appearance of the finished facility.

Today's post is for those whose choice is a decorative pond.

The water space has several types of decoration -
skillfully selected plants, bridge, cascade, stones, tiles
and sculptural figures of cranes and herons

Choosing a place is one of the conditions for the success of a project. One of the tips that experts give is not to organize a pond in the immediate vicinity of trees. Falling foliage in the fall will clog stagnant water, rot at the bottom of the reservoir, which will negatively affect its condition. But even from this situation there is a way out - for the time of leaf fall, you can pull a special mesh over the surface.

Trees are beautifully reflected in water, but care should be taken
so that the falling leaves do not pollute the pond

Another recommendation: the pond should be located so that it is exposed to the sun for no more than 6 hours. During this time, the water will have enough time to warm up, but will not “bloom” intensively. The shadow can be provided by placing the pond against the wall of the house, a solid fence or a dense landing.

At different hours of daylight
different parts of the pond lit or shaded

The next step is the choice of form. Actually, it can be any. But in order to harmoniously fit the pond into the surrounding landscape, one should take into account the forms of the site itself, the types of buildings, etc.If mainly regular geometric shapes prevail, it is better if the reservoir is square or rectangular. In this case, ownership will resemble a regular park or a symmetrical Japanese-style garden.

 A rectangular pond is located along the wall of the house

The pond of strict geometric shapes is well located near a high decorative wall

A rectangular shape is given to a decorative pond even when an elevated version of a hydraulic structure is being constructed (its advantage is that it takes less money and physical effort to build it, it is easy to look after it, and the drawback is that such a pond freezes completely in winter).

The geometrical forms of the elevated reservoir are dictated by technology
using concreting of its entire inner surface

But more often the free form is chosen. This allows you to feel like a landscape designer and give free rein to your imagination. Technically, the future configuration of the reservoir is planned on the ground with the help of pegs and a tightened string (for rectangular options) or with the help of a flexible hose (for determining the free shape). A pear-shaped pond looks very aesthetically pleasing.

Teardrop shape of a small pond in an old English style garden

Of course, there are no strict rules for choosing forms; we can only talk about tips and tricks. Sometimes an original image can be obtained by violating existing canons and mixing styles.

Adjacent reservoirs combine various configurations -
regular rectangle and free shapes

The size of the pond will be decided each time based on the size of the territorial possessions, on what part of the land can be liberated from gardening needs, and even on the degree of self-confidence in creating a pond on a suburban area.

There is an opportunity to get an initial experience by acquiring a finished form from plastic of a certain size and color (today's market offers a wide range of similar products). All that remains is to dig the mold into the ground, fill it with water and begin decorating. The black base will allow you to create a pond, on the surface of which, as in a mirror, the surrounding landscape will be reflected.

The basis of such a small pond can serve as a plastic form

Such a reservoir will exist for about 3-5 years, during this time you can make sure that the area around the reservoir is the most comfortable and beautiful in the whole area and think about expanding the water surface, choosing the method of creating a new hydraulic structure or a kind of water system using a dug pit (manually or using technology).

Several interconnected ponds create a beautiful water composition

Volume? Experts say that the wider and deeper, the better. In a deeper body of water, its own ecosystem is created, which is capable of self-purification and long-term existence. Oddly enough, but a small pond requires a lot of care.

The cascade pond is large enough
so that plants and microorganisms freely propagate here

A decorative pond looks especially beautiful and natural in combination with plants that are planted both at different depth levels or along the perimeter of the coastline. Floating leaves give the water surface a special picturesqueness.

A small pond with floating leaves gives the impression of a natural reservoir

For the deepwater landscaping area, water lilies, a fir-shaped fan and reed are perfect; for shallow - pontederia, kaluzhnitsa, chastochka, arrowhead, cattail; for adjacent areas - loosestrife marshmallow, swamp forget-me-not, loosestrife, raufolfia, cotton grass, dwarf russet.

Gardening of a rectangular pond

Green composition of aquatic and coastal plants

To create deep-sea ponds, various materials are used to strengthen the bed - concrete, clay, plastic, a variety of film coatings, nets. Sometimes it becomes necessary to mask the protruding covering elements.For this purpose, tiles, pebbles, large stones and boulders are excellent.

A shallow stream flowing among large stones,
adjoining area, lined in contrast with rough boulders with smooth plates,
create an unusual composition

With the help of artificial embankments and flat stone, slides for cascades and waterfalls are built. The sound of bubbling water, accompanied by the singing of birds and the noise of foliage, can restore peace of mind and create a wonderful mood after a tiring working day.

A dynamic reservoir with water flowing over stone ledges -
the best remedy for relaxation and an exceptional place for long meditation

Pond decoration, which has a practical purpose, are bridges made of limestone, wood or forged metal.

A wonderful island for relaxation is surrounded along the perimeter by a narrow water strip
and connected to the mainland by limestone bridges

A popular (but rather expensive) way of decorating are fountains of various designs.

Fountains beating from a vertical wall and falling into a pond of a free configuration
it’s technically quite possible to organize in your suburban estate

It is possible to create a full-fledged ecosystem of an independently existing pond only with the participation of fish, which will destroy duckweed, preventing it from growing very much. A variety of fish species suitable for breeding in small ponds are very decorative. You can watch them move in clear water for hours.

Fish revive the strict geometry of the pond, which is equipped with a concise bridge,
leading to the entrance to the house. Without these brisk creatures, a pond would have looked less interesting

Fish breeding should be considered during the design of the pond to make it deep enough for their safe wintering. It is also necessary to consult with a specialist about which species of fish coexist peacefully together. Common breeds of fish for domestic ponds include moving silver tips, patterned brownish minnow, bright goldfish, colorful koi, graceful bleaks and golden ides.

South pond with fish is a great source for creative ideas,
applicable to these places

In the dark, you can enjoy the beauty of the pond, equipping it with an illumination system. The only condition that must be strictly observed is compliance with all requirements for operating electrical appliances in a humid environment. In all other respects, the creative flight of the creator’s thoughts is unlimited. With a beautifully selected color composition and an unusual arrangement of lighting devices, you can create an enchantingly beautiful night fairy tale.

Illumination complex provides for the location of lighting devices
both under water and at various points surrounding the pond space

Creating a decorative pond in a suburban possession will bring great joy at every stage of the project's implementation - from its design, the gradual materialization of an idea into a specific object, to gaining a magnificent decoration, a miracle created with your own hands.