Hi All. I'm new here and wanted to introduce myself to the forum. I just built a 1000 gallon pond in my backyard. I'm not very 'mechanically inclined' but it turned out better than I could have imagined. I just wanted to thank everyone for the great information on here. I've learned quite a bit already just by browsing. If someone can tell me how to post a picture I will put one out here of the completed pond. (actually it's not completely complete but at least it's working) :)

Welcome! I hope things go well with your pond!

This message in the forum goes over how to post photos:

http://z2.invisionfree.com/Fishpondinfo/in...?showtopic=4385

Thanks Robyn.

Let me see if this works.

Nice pond. It reminds me of mine only better. I like the waterfall and the flat rocks too :) I see that your pond is located on a slope, is that right? I also see you have some coneflowers there on the right side of the waterfall. Those should really take off next year. One thing about coneflowers if you don't already know, is that in the fall they will drop their seeds and they have lot's. The birds around here just love them. You will also have some that will end up in the pond :o but I bet the flowers will look real nice next to the pond when they get bigger.
You did a good job!
Thanks for the pics :)
Tia

Oh, and I forgot so say Welcome!

Hi,

nice pond, the waterfall looks great. How high is it?

Looking good I see the potential for many more ponds and waterfalls on that slope behind this one.

and streams - don't forget the streams.

Hi Tia. Thanks. Yes you are correct. It is on a slight slope. I thought it was flatter when I started digging but realized that I needed to bring it up about 9 inches in the back to level it off. I was giving my wife some lip about those flowers she bought. They were on sale for 5 bucks at the store and when she brought them home I said 'you paid 5 bucks for those dead flowers'? She echoed what you said, they will look nice next year. Thanks for the nice comments.

Thanks! The waterfall is about 3 feet high. Carrying those base rocks from the creek nearly gave me a hernia though. :)

Thanks Bill. I would love to add some streams back there. Believe me, I think about it everytime I have to mow the grass on that slope.

Hi Natimaf and welcome aboard! You did an awesome job on your pond. Your back yard looks like a ponders heaven with that slope :D You did a nice job with your falls too! Don't worry about the dead flowers, lol, it takes awhile for the landscaping to come into play. I know the first year with my first pond, all I did was the pond and that was enough, which was a good thing as I dug it up and redid it the next year so the landscaping would have been for nothing! What zone are you in??

Hi Elaine. Thanks for the nice comments. I'm in Southwest Ohio and I'm kind of right on the border of Zone 5 and 6. (The weather changes hourly) :)

Anyone have any opinions about what to do around the border of the pond? Here is my dilemma. I don't want to seed around the remaining part because I know when I cut/trim grass clippings will end up all over the pond. Also, I'd like to leave it open a little bit because the kids like to get up close to see 'their' fish so I can't really do plants or flowers because they would smash them. Should I just add some stone for a walkway border type thing or what has everyone else done? You can see my temporary walkway around the sides in the pics. (Not that the kids use it anyway. Evident by the mud on our family room carpet). Appreciate any advice/opinions.

Welcome, natimaf. I really like the shape of the pond! Rocks are heavy, aren't they. :blink: Nice job.

You are in exactly the same planting zone as me (border of 5 and 6) and it will be interesting to hear about your pond, plants and critters from someone who is in the same kind of climate.

I have a gravel path around the pond in most places, and it seemed to work out very well. When digging the pond, I found zillions of rocks, all sizes, and sort of needed something to do with the little ones. So it was sort of a way of using them up, but I like the effect. I also didn't want to put bark mulch around, because I worried about that washing into the pond.

We also have mint in spots around the pond, and it's kind of an added treat when you step on a stem and get the fragrance.

I'm sure you will have lots of fun planting around and in the pond, and it will be very interesting to see more pictures as you add plants.

I suggest putting in stepping stones for the pathway and filling in around those with pea gravel. I do have mulch up to the edge of my big pond without much problem. I put fresh mulch in once a year and only a little ever washes in.

For my 153 gallon pond, I made an edging on the side where the lawn is. It's about half a foot wide with pea gravel and then pink quartz this year. Then, there's recyled garden edging. I use the weed wacker against that and mow with the output away from the pond. That way I don't get much grass in it. As long as you mow with the output away from the pond, you shouldn't get much grass in the pond.
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/photos/ponds/b.../clean04015.jpg

I like the idea of stepping stones and pea gravel too :-) it's a very clean look and you could even add some sunken pots into it that you could put some plants in?? You could add solar lights, I gotta have them :-) I miss mine now that I have taken them down for winter.

Hey natimaf, I'm located in SW Ohio also. Actually a suburb of Dayton, Kettering.

Go Bucks!!!! :)

Nice to meet you Frogman. I partied quite a few times at UD back in the day. Ahhhhh, good times.....