Barrel Pond Advice

Discussion in 'Water Gardening' started by Irmemac, Mar 12, 2018.

  1. Gail_68

    Gail_68 Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    I'll explain to everyone for you :snorky: @Outlander ...head first [​IMG][​IMG] :whistle:
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • luciusmaximus

      luciusmaximus Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Apr 18, 2014
      Messages:
      3,137
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      Lost in the Wilderness
      Location:
      Isle of Anglesey
      Ratings:
      +6,899
      Well, I have the old bath, which is larger and I could rig up an overhead shower too :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
       
      • Funny Funny x 3
      • strongylodon

        strongylodon Old Member

        Joined:
        Feb 12, 2006
        Messages:
        14,754
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Wareham, Dorset
        Ratings:
        +28,241
        I have just bought a large plastic planter to serve as a small wildlife pond as I don't have the room for a 'real' pond. It is only just over 2ft across and so far I have sited it but it will be buried about a foot deep. I have got a curved basket and hessian liner for the three marginals. Once in place I will fill it with rain water and then put some native oxygenating plants and water soldier in, I am not sure whether to put a pygmy water lily in as well. I am not putting a pump in. I will put some logs or something for frogs or newts to gain access (if there are any around).
        It is mainly to attract Dragon and Damsel flies.:smile:

        Anyone see any negatives that I haven't thought about? If the water froze could the planter split?
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • Gail_68

          Gail_68 Guest

          Ratings:
          +0
          @luciusmaximus you mean like this mate [​IMG]:roflol:
           
          • Funny Funny x 2
          • Gail_68

            Gail_68 Guest

            Ratings:
            +0
            @strongylodon all i can say on the subject is...add the water lily as i always think those look the job but otherwise it seems like you've got things covered :thumbsup:
             
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • luciusmaximus

              luciusmaximus Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Apr 18, 2014
              Messages:
              3,137
              Gender:
              Female
              Occupation:
              Lost in the Wilderness
              Location:
              Isle of Anglesey
              Ratings:
              +6,899
              That's it, but you forgot the wine :snorky:
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Funny Funny x 1
              • luciusmaximus

                luciusmaximus Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Apr 18, 2014
                Messages:
                3,137
                Gender:
                Female
                Occupation:
                Lost in the Wilderness
                Location:
                Isle of Anglesey
                Ratings:
                +6,899
                @strongylodon I'm no expert but I would think it would depend on the thickness and quality of the plastic. I never had any issues with my container ponds as regards splitting. I put plastic balls and bottle caps into the water to prevent the water from freezing solid and the one pond had a small heater.

                Good luck with your new mini pond :). Pics would be good :blue thumb:
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Agree Agree x 1
                • Informative Informative x 1
                • Gail_68

                  Gail_68 Guest

                  Ratings:
                  +0
                  Wine i don't know @luciusmaximus ...i was thinking more in the terms of [​IMG] :roflol:
                   
                  • Funny Funny x 1
                  • Irmemac

                    Irmemac Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Jun 11, 2017
                    Messages:
                    1,027
                    Location:
                    West of Scotland
                    Ratings:
                    +1,686
                    Just catching up with this thread after a few days away in Yorkshire. Showers? Baths? Whisky?? I don't think those kinds of shenanigans will be happening in my barrel! :roflol::roflol::roflol:

                    @Outlander: on the contrary, I think the more said about your escapades in the pond the better! I hope @Gail_68's Jack Daniels wasn't involved!

                    @luciusmaximus - love your pond photos. The new pond looks beautifully situated, and I bet you are raring to get planting in and around it.

                    @strongylodon, I'm hoping to do more or less the same as you with the barrel. Definitely would like a water lily too! Your curved baskets sound intriguing. Do you mean circular, or curved to fit around the curved edge? The answer is probably clear already if I read your comments tomorrow when I am a lot less tired :heehee:.

                    I noticed a lot of oily residue on the top of the water that has gathered in the barrel while I was away. I'm planning to let rainwater collect for a couple of week and see if the oiliness goes away. At least the smell of whisky has dissipated. I was worried my lovely neighbour might think I was making whisky and not sharing!
                     
                    • Funny Funny x 1
                    • luciusmaximus

                      luciusmaximus Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Apr 18, 2014
                      Messages:
                      3,137
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      Lost in the Wilderness
                      Location:
                      Isle of Anglesey
                      Ratings:
                      +6,899
                      @Irmemac hope you had a nice time in Yorkshire :). My husband went to Wakefield a few days ago and said there is still snow around, especially on Saddleworth Moor.

                      The oily residue could be chemicals in the wood leaching out or whiskey. Or residue from cleaning product if you scrubbed the barrel out beforehand.

                      I have several kidney shaped aquatic baskets, which are a good fit against a rounded pond. They take up less space than round, rectangular or square baskets so ideal for a small pond. They might be the baskets @strongylodon referred to. I paid £1.99 per basket. It pays to shop around as they can be considerably more and they're just plastic baskets. I used cosmetic baskets in the belfast sink, 99p each. So long as the planter is open weave ' type so plant roots can grow through it doesn't really matter, but avoid flimsy looking baskets as they will likely break.

                      So, now I've shown you mine how about you show me yours :lunapic 130165696578242 5: :heehee:.
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      • Funny Funny x 1
                      • Friendly Friendly x 1
                      • strongylodon

                        strongylodon Old Member

                        Joined:
                        Feb 12, 2006
                        Messages:
                        14,754
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Retired
                        Location:
                        Wareham, Dorset
                        Ratings:
                        +28,241
                        Here's mine, it's a Stewart Blenheim imitation barrel. I am going to sink it another foot deeper.
                        IMG_0167.JPG
                         
                        • Like Like x 3
                        • luciusmaximus

                          luciusmaximus Total Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Apr 18, 2014
                          Messages:
                          3,137
                          Gender:
                          Female
                          Occupation:
                          Lost in the Wilderness
                          Location:
                          Isle of Anglesey
                          Ratings:
                          +6,899
                          That's a nice barrel @strongylodon and it will look wonderful when you've got it planted up :). Apart from the Lily which plants have you chosen?
                           
                          • Like Like x 1
                          • Agree Agree x 1
                          • strongylodon

                            strongylodon Old Member

                            Joined:
                            Feb 12, 2006
                            Messages:
                            14,754
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Occupation:
                            Retired
                            Location:
                            Wareham, Dorset
                            Ratings:
                            +28,241
                            Three for the basket, Typha minima, Caltha palustris and Juncus spiralis. I am not buying anything else until it is in situ.:smile:
                             
                            • Like Like x 3
                            • Informative Informative x 1
                            • Gail_68

                              Gail_68 Guest

                              Ratings:
                              +0
                              Warms the blood up @Irmemac [​IMG] :whistle:
                               
                              • Funny Funny x 2
                              • Gail_68

                                Gail_68 Guest

                                Ratings:
                                +0
                                [​IMG] going on here [​IMG]@luciusmaximus [​IMG]
                                 
                                • Funny Funny x 2
                                Loading...

                                Share This Page

                                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                                  Dismiss Notice