A decorative pond in the country is a unique element of landscape design, an object for pleasant contemplation. In addition, the pond will humidify the air and improve the illumination of the garden, thanks to the reflective surface of the water surface. If you are thinking about arranging your personal artificial pond, you immediately need to correctly approach the choice of style, lighting and decorative elements.

Choosing a place for a reservoir

The choice of a place to create a reservoir depends on many factors: the soil, landscape, relief, illumination, and the presence of vegetation should be taken into account.

Relief and soil	When choosing a place for a future pond, it is better to stay in an area that remains wet for a long time after rain. Obviously, somewhere in the soil layers at this place there is clay or loam. If the choice of locations is limited, then it is always better to choose low-lying areas.
Illumination	The correct choice of lighting will make it possible to avoid strong algae growth and pond blooms. Ideal - at noon shading reaches at least 40% of its area, and the total illumination reaches 6 hours.
Neighborhood with plants	The pond should be set up in an open place, away from tall vegetation that will pollute its surface with leaves, seeds, and litter.
Landscape	The reservoir should harmoniously fit into the landscape of the site. Often he settles down in front of the house or near the gazebo.

There are some specifics if the pond is planned to be equipped with live fish: for example, with koi carps. In this case, it will be important to provide them with the optimal water temperature, which depends on the breed of fish.

Earthworks and waterproofing works

You have chosen a place for the pond and decided what shape it will be. Now it's time to dig a pit. Pivot points and outlines are first marked with pegs. Then terraces are opened, 30 cm deep and 20 cm wide. Several levels of terraces can be formed to place plants on them.

Now the main bowl is being dug up. The slope of the banks should be approximately 45 ° C. The walls of the bowl should be tapered downward to prevent soil sagging and reduce the load on the body of water. The minimum depth of the reservoir should not exceed 60-80 cm: a shallow reservoir will completely freeze through in winter, and warm up strongly in summer, which will make it impossible to breed flora and fauna.

If waterproofing with a film is planned, a ditch about 15 cm deep is torn off along the perimeter to secure it. After the pit is ready, its bottom is leveled, all stones and roots that can damage the film are removed. The surface is poured 5 cm with clean washed sand, a monolithic slab of concrete M150 is poured on top. After hardening, it is completely covered with a geotextile fabric. All these measures will protect the waterproofing film from damage and extend its service life.

The next step will be waterproofing - laying butyl rubber or PVC film. The size of the canvas is calculated from the total length of the pond and twice the depth. To fix the canvas along the edge, about half a meter of stock is enough. The sheet is laid out freely, securing the edges with bricks along the edge. To eliminate the negative impact of groundwater, a reliable drainage system is created, which is also included in the waterproofing system.

All the above-described waterproofing works are carried out before concreting, if such a form of waterproofing device is chosen. When creating small ponds, first, concrete work is carried out, and then the concrete surface is processed in several layers with a Hydroshield mixture.

Diy concrete base device

Concrete work begins before carrying out waterproofing with casting a base plate made of concrete M150, which is designed to protect the reservoir from ground movements. On top of this slab, after it dries, waterproofing is laid.

After the base was dug under the bowl, a drainage system was arranged, a sand and gravel cushion 20-30 cm thick was poured, a 10 cm thick concrete preparation was poured, the walls of the pool were reinforced. This requires reinforcement A 12 mm. The rods are tied with a knitting wire in the form of a mesh with cells of 20 x 20 cm.

Installation of mortgages is an important stage of the work. Before the start of the formwork, embedments are installed: bottom drain, nozzles, headlights, skimmers. An electrician is also being laid.
The installation of the formwork is carried out with 15 mm moisture-resistant plywood and wooden support beams. High-quality formwork will help save material and other leveling agents.

Concreting is carried out with high-grade heavy concrete with plasticizers. The walls are vibrated to prevent voids from forming. It is more convenient to pour the bowl in 2 steps - first the bottom, then the walls. To prevent water from penetrating through the cold seam of a leaky joint, a self-expanding bentonite cord is placed in the joint during pouring, which increases 6 times when exposed to water.

The leveling of the pool bowl is done with a plaster layer. Using plaster, you can achieve the perfect smoothness of the pool bowl. The plastered surface of the bowl has no cracks, voids, depressions or other irregularities.

Devices for creating water effects and lighting

If initially the pond was planned with the use of water effects: fountains, cascades, jets, then an underground, waterproof electrical cable must be connected to it in advance. Lighting and pump can be connected to the same source.

What elements of energy design can be introduced into the structure of a pond in the country:

• A closed-loop fountain, where a pump from a reservoir drives water into the fountain bowl, from where the water flows back into the reservoir. Subsequently, the water flows back into the reservoir.
• It is better to place a cascade or waterfall on the shore, where it will be in harmony with an alpine slide.
• As a backlight, you can use lamps located in the water, above the water, and even built into the body of the fountain. Garden lights can be installed along the contour, recharging from the sun and giving light in the dark.

Aquatic plants in design

There are a huge variety of aquatic plants. For a pond design to look attractive and function properly, the following types of aquatic plants must be present:

• Oxygen generators are plants that produce oxygen. They carry out biological treatment of water and are food for fish (for example, for koi carp). These include marsh turcha, hornwort, spikelet urut, water asterisk.
• Floating plants are used to decorate the mirror of the pond. They can be placed in containers on underwater terraces. The most popular are duckweed, vodokras, azolla, eichornia thick-peeled.
• For shallow ponds used in combination with floating deep water plants. They also land in containers. The easiest to care for are water lily, egg capsule, apongeton.
• Embankment plants are essential to decorate the contours of the pond and to protect the water from overheating. Usually, low embankment plants are used for these purposes: fern, thuja, barberry, juniper, etc. Other plants planted in pots also look good.

Registration of the banks and the reservoir

There are a lot of ways to decorate the coastline of a reservoir:

• the use of large stones of different shapes. The main types of stone used for decoration are marble, granite, sandstone, quartzite, etc .;
• construction of decks and bridges from logs;
• decoration of the coast with slabs or tiles;
• with a special decorative film, immediately covered with a layer of gravel and imitating a rocky relief.

When choosing a way to design a reservoir, it is necessary to build on its size and shape. The size of the stone should be proportional to the pond itself. Large stones will blend harmoniously with a large reservoir, and small ones - with a small one. Ideally, the shape of the stones should be similar.

Large boulders are placed around the perimeter so that part of the stone hangs over the water. There is no need to make a continuous coastline of rocks. In the edging of the reservoir, plants and stones should alternate in random order. After placing all the stones, they must be fixed in cement, deepening into the solution by a third of their height.

Reservoirs of strict geometric shapes are best edged with similar materials: tiles, logs, boards.

Stylistic design

The design of the pond can be different - the main thing is that it is combined with the landscape of the site. A variety of stylistic solutions allows you to create amazing compositions that demonstrate the beauty of the water element.

Chinese

The pond is a must-have in Chinese gardens. Traditionally, a path of large boulders should lead to the Chinese pond, and the banks should smoothly descend into the water. A small wooden bridge was often thrown across the pond, and a gazebo was placed next to it for contemplation and tea drinking. Koi carps and lotuses are a typical element for a Chinese pond. The Chinese-style pond is decorated with vibrant and lush vegetation.

French

The French pond is an example of elegance and sophistication, and at the same time the severity of forms. It attracts with its clear borders and neat shape. Typically, French-style shores rise above ground level. This style is characterized by fountains, cascades, steps and sculptures.

Italian

A characteristic feature of the Italian pond is its symmetry. A reservoir of regular geometric shape, usually with a decorative fountain or cascade type, is located at the head of the garden. Since the Italian landscapes are regular, compositional, terraced, the pond can also have several levels. The banks are lined with many ornamental plants in terracotta pots, or in tubs and beautiful containers. Italian ponds are often decorated with street lamps.

Japanese

A Japanese pond should be as close to natural as possible. You will never find rectangular ponds in nature, so there are none in the Japanese style either. There may be a waterfall in a Japanese pond, but not a fountain. In general, the art of creating a Japanese pond is similar to creating a bonsai - everything is real, but in miniature. The pond should look like the ocean, the pebble on the shore should look like a rock towering over the ocean. On the shore, you can put a sculpture depicting a Buddha, a dragon, an animal or a bird so that it is reflected in the water surface.

English

A pond in the English style is much easier to equip, as it does not require clear boundaries. The lines of the English pond should be smooth. An English reservoir is usually created of a landscape type - trees and shrubs grow in abundance around it. English ponds look natural.

After setting up a pond at the summer cottage and decorating the landscape, you will have to take care of the pond. What is included in the concept of care:

• In spring, the filters and pump are usually turned on in mid-April. Immediately you need to carry out bottom cleaning and cleaning the surface from debris. At the same time, annual plants are planted.
• Tropical plants are planted in June.
• Bottom cleaning should be regular and done with a bottom vacuum cleaner.
• In summer, it is imperative to remove debris from the surface of the water surface with a skimmer.
• In summer, filamentous algae must be removed. If the oxygen generators do not have time to purify the water from green algae, you can use a special chemistry - algicides.
• Water lilies and irises need to be fed with fertilizers.
• Throughout the summer, it is necessary to control the quality of the water with special tests.
• In the fall, tropical plants are removed from the pond, placed in containers with water and placed in a bright, frost-free room for the winter.
• In autumn, during the period of leaf fall, it will be more convenient to cover the surface of the pond with a fine mesh so that the yellow leaves do not sink to the bottom, and to remove it by winter.
• In winter, the water is drained from the pond. All pipes and hoses must be drained. Dismantle and clean filters and pumps.

Conclusion

A pond in a personal summer cottage is prestigious, fashionable and simply beautiful. If maintaining a large deep pond with fish is quite troublesome, then building a small pond with your own hands is within the means and within the power of even the owner of a small plot.

The most common artificial ornamental ponds in summer cottages are ponds and pools. Everyone can afford a small pond. It all depends not so much on financial capabilities, but on desire and hard work. The form of an artificially created pond can be absolutely any, as in nature. Swamp plants are usually planted along the perimeter of such ponds; it goes well with any type of landscape design. You can make a pond of a certain geometric shape, such a pond will fit well into the design idea, in which clear regular forms also prevail.

To create an artificial reservoir in the country, the most important task is to choose its future location and size. It should be remembered that the state of the pond is poorly affected by direct sunlight for more than 6 hours a day (prolonged exposure can stimulate the reproduction of bacteria), as well as the close proximity of trees - foliage, getting into the water, will pollute the pond, and the roots of trees can generally destroy the structure of the reservoir ...

The size of the pond depends directly on how much free space there is in the garden. But it is worth remembering that the larger the pond, the easier it is to create a sustainable ecosystem, that is, a balance between flora and fauna in the reservoir, therefore, it is easier to care for a large reservoir than for a small one.

At the base of the future reservoir, there can be either a ready-made container (for example, an old cast-iron bath or any plastic container), or a film of polyvinyl chloride or butyl rubber, or, in general, a reinforced concrete bowl.

Of course, with the help of a ready-made container, it is easier and faster to make a pond. For the existing container, they simply dig a hole and place it there. Of course, it is impossible to make a large reservoir in this way.

With the help of the film, you can make a reservoir of any shape and depth. Although this option will have to tinker a lot, it is more economical and convenient. It is not recommended to use ordinary polyethylene for film reservoirs, since it has a short service life, after a couple of years it will lose its properties.

A reinforced concrete bowl at the base is the most reliable way to create a pond. However, this option is the most costly, and then it will be very difficult to remake such a decorative pond in the country with your own hands.

So, due to the many options for size and shape and economy, the most common type of summer cottage reservoirs are reservoirs created with the help of film.

To create such a pond, you need to go through several stages:

1. Preparation of the bottom of the future reservoir (pit). The main thing for film reservoirs is to create an even bottom, without stones, roots and other sharp protrusions so as not to damage the film.
2. Drainage. To prevent shrinkage, a layer of sand is placed on the bottom. To protect against rodents, it is also recommended to lay a geotextile layer.
3. Laying the film.
4. Pouring water.
5. Registration. It all depends on the imagination of the designer.
6. Pond care. It should be remembered that artificial reservoirs need filtration to prevent water stagnation. For these purposes, either special filtration systems are used, or plants are placed in the pond that can saturate the water with oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and mineral salts.

A combination of these methods can be used. For the winter period, water should be removed from the pond, while the plants are sent to the winter in an aquarium or a large pond nearby.

DIY artificial decorative ponds

Summer is not far off, which means it's time to open the summer cottage season. To make it easier for yourself to work in the country and improve your summer cottage, you can build an artificial pond on it. An artificial pond will decorate your site, as well as a source for watering plants, swimming, fish breeding.

Ponds on the site can be of different geometric shapes, but at the same time they must be raised above the soil level. When building a pond, as with any other construction, you need to adhere to a certain algorithm. First, you need to determine the location of the artificial pond in the summer cottage. It is recommended to place it not far from trees and shrubs on a site with turf.

Trees and shrubs should be at least 1.5 - 2 meters from the pond, so that the roots of the trees do not distort the landscape of the pond, and the fallen leaves do not clog it. Provide free access to the pond from all sides, make paths around it. The paths can be lined with stones or plastic corks.

This will make the appearance of the pond more aesthetically pleasing. The pond should be located on the sunny, but slightly darkened side, so that the water in it does not get very hot. Strong heating of the water will encourage the pond to bloom and algae to grow rapidly.

After the location is selected, you can start building. First, you need to dig a pit of the desired shape. Its depth should be at least one meter, the total area is 3-4 square meters.

During the construction of an artificial reservoir, not a simple dilemma arises: "What to make the bottom of?" You can make the bottom of the reservoir, fill it with concrete, lay it out with granite or even marble. But this will require large financial investments and will make the pond unnatural, and when redeveloping the garden, it will be problematic to change the position of such a pond.

Therefore, the planning of the bottom must be taken very seriously. The following design will be convenient and practical. Pour sand at the bottom of the pit and distribute it evenly. On top of the sand we cover the bottom of the pit with a waterproof film. Fix the edges of the film along the coastline.

Be sure to use heavy stones for strengthening, and then cover the edges with river pebbles or gravel. Ready-made plastic containers are also very convenient for organizing the bottom, which already have recesses for planting plants.

We install a pump for water circulation in the pond and provide artificial lighting. So that in the evening the pond will please your eye. After the pond is built, it must be ennobled with plants and decorative elements. For this, we plant the plants in baskets, which we fix at the bottom of the pond. Water lilies, lilies, egg capsules can also serve as a good element for the decor of your pond.

Lilies on a decorative pond

If you wish, you can populate the reservoir with fish, but keep in mind that the fish will need to be looked after and cleaned in a timely manner. A properly equipped and organized artificial pond will beautify and ennoble your site.

How to make a reservoir - a pond on the site, giving a video instruction

How to care for an artificial pond

It is not enough to create a small pond on your summer cottage - it still requires care, without the owner's care it will turn into a dirty swamp that will then dry out over time. To prevent this from happening, experts advise what and when to do so that the pond is always colorful.

Spring
The first inspection of the year is advised to be carried out as soon as the ice melts - from the middle to the end of March. This is the most favorable time - work in the garden and in the beds has not yet begun, so you can thoroughly and slowly inspect the entire pond. Everything is subject to inspection - starting with the appearance - how the shores survived the winter, whether they are intact.

If the fish hibernated in a deep spring, their condition is checked, whether they are alive. It is necessary to pay attention to all electrical devices - how filters and pumps work. The integrity of the bottom must be checked - if a leak or crack appears, the fish will be temporarily resettled and the damage is repaired.

At the same time, at the end of March, you can take care of plants. If the owners are satisfied with the plants that were last year - to plant them, if it is necessary to update the plants - new ones are purchased. Also don't forget about the garden.

After the autumn winds, a lot of foliage was applied to the pond - in the spring it must be removed so that rotting foliage does not spoil the quality of the water - this can affect the health and life of the fish. If the pond is small, they practice pumping out water, resettling the fish and cleaning the walls and bottom with a regular brush. Dirty water is drained and replaced with clean water.

Summer
The most important and urgent problem for the summer period in a pond is maintaining the water level. The spring maintenance of the pond ended with the stabilization of order, and in the summer it is only necessary to maintain this order. When the water level drops from the vapors, water is pumped up, if the days are too hot, they artificially increase the oxygen level in the water with the help of compressors and creating shade.

The second action near the pond in summer is to check the condition of the plants - their growth, cut if necessary. If weeds have grown in the plants, they are removed. The fight against insects is also carried out - it is better to wash them into the water - the fish will receive fresh food and the leaves of the plants will get rid of dust. After each feeding of the fish, the remainder of the feed in the pond is checked - it is removed so that it does not spoil the quality of the water.

Autumn
With the onset of autumn and the beginning of leaf fall, the most important thing in the care of the pond is its preservation from pollution by foliage and debris that is carried by the wind. Fallen leaves are systematically removed, the plants are cut on the shore, and a fine net is hung over the pond to prevent foliage from falling into the water.

Plants that have released their buds are removed to a warm room until spring. If there are pots with plants near the pond, they are also brought into a warm room. The fish is fed - for the winter, it must have reserves of nutrients and fat reserves, since the fish is not active in winter - this is quite enough for the winter.

Winter
A shallow pond that can freeze to the bottom and kill the fish is pumped out. The fish are temporarily moved indoors until spring. If fish are hibernating in a pond - it is necessary to provide for the creation of wormwood - either by placing a hot object on ice or drilling with wormwood. In winter, water can be heated if necessary.

If the backyard area is spacious enough, and there is a lot of free space on the site near the house, take the opportunity to arrange a decorative reservoir. Such an object will perfectly complement the area on the site intended for recreation. We are sure that by the pond it will be much more pleasant to spend time reading newspapers or refreshing your feet, relaxing after a hard day.

And taking into account that the appearance of such a reservoir can be different, you can arrange a water corner in such a way as to create even more comfortable conditions for relaxation.

You can get creative ideas for arranging such an object from this article by looking at photos and pictures of artificial man-made ponds created on summer cottages by the efforts of their owners.

How to arrange an artificial pond in the country, photo

Location

If you have made the decision to build a pond or other bathing reservoir on your own territory, first of all, choose the optimal place for its placement.

When choosing a zone for creating a pond, take into account the following points:

• it is preferable that the water body is located in an open area. The presence of trees in the pond area will distort the landscape, moreover, they will pollute the reservoir with leaves and twigs, and there will be a need for its constant cleaning;
• try to choose an area in which there will still be space after creating an artificial reservoir. Perhaps, over time, you will want to increase the size of the pond, include new decorative elements in the water complex - keep in mind that some of them can be very large;
• refuse to create a water body in an area located under the scorching sun, otherwise the reservoir will dry out quickly, the water in it will bloom, and harmful bacteria will develop in it.

Ideally, if the sun will illuminate the water body only in the first half of the day or, conversely, in the second. At lunchtime, the place where the summer cottage is located should be in the shade. Explore the possibilities for the formation of a shadow zone in advance: in the optimal place, form a markup of a water body and evaluate how its illumination will change during the day.

To create a shady zone, you can use buildings located near the pond or tall plants. Shrubs and trees (for example, weeping willows) will decorate the pond and give it a natural look.

You need to be able to harmoniously include a water body in the existing landscape - be sure to take this point into account when planning a reservoir.

Do-it-yourself pond in the country: landscape ideas, photos

If you decide to create a water body in a low-lying area on wet areas of the garden, then you will get the opportunity, due to the drainage system, to ensure the drainage of water from the backyard territory. If the plot is flat, place the reservoir at the edge of the garden area - where shrubs and trees grow, or near hedges (in this case, you will need to create a gentle transition from perennial vegetation).

Give up the formation of an artificial pond in a summer cottage in the area of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe location of the lawn. If there is no other place, visually separate the pond and lawn grass by planting different varieties of plants at the border, including low vegetation, so that you can see the water.

Many owners of summer cottages form decorative ponds next to rockeries and rock gardens. The boulders that make up such objects can be successfully combined with the design of the pond.

Do not ignore the ravines and other irregularities on the site: they will be an excellent basis for the formation of streams flowing down to the pond along the boulders. Over time, a bridge can be installed in this area - it will become another element of landscape decoration.

Choosing a shape and style

Before you equip a pond in your summer cottage with your own hands, you need to think about a few more nuances. First of all, decide on the style in which the water body will be decorated. The shape of the reservoir will directly depend on the chosen style.

For example, the English direction is characterized by rounded shapes. Regular modern design is dominated by laconic lines and precise proportions.

Do-it-yourself imitation of a pond in the country, photo

And the most natural looking ponds in the Asian style. This design is characterized by unevenness and asymmetry of forms.

There are no strict requirements for the appearance of the reservoir at the summer cottage. But it is preferable that it looks natural.

It is a good idea to combine several different shapes to form an artificial pond in a spacious area.

Pond decoration in the country, photo

Choice of materials

The independent creation of a water body at a summer cottage begins with the preparation of a pit. A body of water can be formed in two ways:

• through the use of ready-made forms of polyvinyl chloride or fiberglass. Plastic and polypropylene reservoirs are also very popular. When choosing, proceed not only from the price, but also from the quality parameters, if you want the pond to retain its presentable appearance for a long time;
• using PVC film or special rubber based on butyl rubber. The main advantage of these materials is their durability. The film will last ten years, and the rubber will last half a century.

Artificial pond in the country, photo

Each of these methods has its own advantages. When using the ready-made form, you will quickly finish the work on the construction of the pond, since to form the pit, you only need to fix it well from the inside. The second technology makes it possible to select the parameters of the reservoir and create a natural design - it is used if it is decided to build a concrete object ..

In addition to materials for shaping the pond, prepare everything you need to keep it in optimal condition. Buy at least a pump - it will definitely come in handy.

Before you start arranging a pond in the garden, we advise you to study the recommendations of landscape design professionals presented in this video:

Master class on the formation of a reservoir not a film basis

We offer step-by-step instructions on how to create a decorative pond in the garden yourself on a rubber base or from a film. You need to start with the preparation of the pit: if the reservoir is small, use a shovel, for a large pond you will need special equipment.

Mark the area with pegs.

Remove the topsoil by removing the terraces 30cm deep and 20cm wide, and dig the main trench.

Important! The edge of the pond should have a 45-degree slope, and the depth of the pit should be at least 60 centimeters. If the depth is shallower, the reservoir will freeze in winter and become very hot in summer.

To ensure a high-quality device for a reservoir with waterproofing from a film, make a 15-centimeter trench around the perimeter of the water body for a more reliable fixation of the film.

After preparing the pit, level the bottom by removing boulders and make a sand cushion 0.15 m high. Cover the pit with geotextiles to protect the film material.

After that, you can start laying the film. Its parameters are selected taking into account the depth of the reservoir, multiplied by two, and its length. Please note that the film will need to be strengthened at the edges, that is, a stock of another 50 centimeters will be required.

Spread the plastic over, fixing the edges with bricks, and fill the pond with water. There is no need to cut off excess film at the edges, within 24 hours the material will take the required shape. After this time, you can cut off the edges, leaving 25 cm for the blind area.

Do-it-yourself decorative pond in the country, photo

Design the blind area based on individual preferences. It can be made of stone, or tiled or brick. A cement mortar is used to fix the materials. The minimum width of the blind area is 60 centimeters.

Bath pond

A homemade small pond at a summer cottage can be created from an old font. We will learn in more detail how to implement this idea step by step. Start by forming a pit, its dimensions will be small. The depth depends on the size of the bath.

Fill the pit with sand and make a cement screed to prevent the water table from eroding the groundwater over time. A sand layer of 10 centimeters and a 3-5 centimeter cement layer will provide a reliable cushion. A week after creating these layers, form another gravel layer, about 25 centimeters high.

Dip the bath into the prepared foundation pit. After installing the hot tub, fill the cavities on the sides with gravel (at least 10 centimeters from the hot tub to the edge). Make sure that the edges of the bath do not protrude from the shore. Decorate the perimeter of the pond with small smooth pebbles or large boulders.

Pond design in the country, photo

If you want to make a pond from the bathroom on a flat area with your own hands, fix the bathtub with a large boulder on one side, making a full-fledged undercut for one side and partial for the one that is free. The appearance of such a composition will resemble a rock garden.

Create a mini pond

As already noted, an artificial reservoir created by our own efforts at a summer cottage can have any configuration. If you want to create a pond that will perform only a decorative function, you can use small-sized containers.

For example, you can create a miniature basin from a basin. The pond is formed according to the same principle as the reservoir from the overall bath. To implement this idea, you can use not only a basin, but also an old trough, containers for flowers and barrels.

Very often miniature reservoirs are designed from car tires. To create such a mini tire pond, it is necessary to form a reliable bottom.

Small pond in the country with their own hands, photo

After examining the photo gallery of finished ponds at the summer cottage, you will see that small reservoirs can be deepened or, on the contrary, raised above the pits. Large boulders, colored sand, bricks, gravel and vegetation are used to decorate such objects.

Subtleties of care

In order for a homemade reservoir to maintain a presentable appearance for a long time, you need to properly care for it, carry out special procedures in a timely manner. How to care for such a garden pond? First of all, you need to form a small ecosystem, choose the right aquatic vegetation.

In summer, remove the surrounding weeds and algae that appear in the water. Use rake nets and other tools to clean the water.

Artificial pond in the country with their own hands, photo

Important! You can also clean the pond at the summer cottage with the help of special means designed also to saturate the water with oxygen and do not harm fish and other aquatic inhabitants.

If the water body begins to dry out, replenish it with water. With the arrival of autumn, clean the water surface from foliage, branches and other debris in time so that they do not sink to the bottom. Certain types of ornamental plants should be transplanted in containers for the winter, and too dense vegetation should be thinned out.

After the end of the swimming season, use a net material to protect the pond from pollution.

In the spring, prune dried plants, clean the walls and bottom of the reservoir from accumulated silt. Cleansing is best done with a special technique. In April it will be possible to launch a fountain, if such is foreseen in the pond complex.

Be sure to remember about strengthening the banks of the pond at the dacha - the coastlines of the reservoir at the first signs of deformation over time can be significantly affected. It is better to entrust this work to professionals.

If these activities are carried out in a timely manner, you will not have to spend a lot of time on taking care of the reservoir.

Arrangement of a pond in the country, photo

What vegetation to prefer

The owners of summer cottages, who have decided to equip a pond in the garden, are interested in what kind of ornamental plants can be planted around the reservoir. Not all plants can adapt to high humidity conditions. Let's look at this issue in more detail.

The coastlines of large bodies of water can be decorated with lush vegetation. For example, willow loosestrife, marsh iris, tall reeds, darmer and coin loosestrife.

Perennial plants are also suitable for decorating an artificial reservoir. Here is a list of the most popular varieties:

• hosts;
• rogersia;
• marsh iris;
• astilba;
• gunner.

Forget-me-nots or sedum plants can be planted between the stones surrounding the pond.

Important! It is better to plant vegetation in the zone of an artificial reservoir not in the ground, but in special containers, which can be moved to a warmed place for the winter period.

Making a decorative pond in the country, photo

Now you know what kind of vegetation to decorate an artificial reservoir at a summer cottage. But you also need to choose the right plants that will decorate the water surface. For this purpose, use water varieties of hyacinth, multi-colored water lilies, duckweed.

Read about how you can make original meshes with stones of all shapes and sizes.

You can see a photo with examples of carports for a metal cottage in the article.

The peculiarities of making garden sculptures are described in the article at:

Other decor elements

One of the most popular ideas for decorating artificial reservoirs is the installation of fountains. The fountain can be made large and placed in the central part of the pond, or several small fountains can be used to emphasize the aesthetic appearance of a small reservoir.

To create a water body with a fountain on your own, you need to buy special devices for spraying water. The sprinklers are installed on iron supports that are screwed to the body of the fountains. The legs must be sanded so as not to damage the film in the reservoir.

The structure is placed in the water in a suitable place.

Making an artificial pond in the country, photo

You can attach a hose to the fountain and let water through it so that it flows through the decor elements. Thus, you will personally create a pond with an imitation of a waterfall.

Another decoration for an artificial reservoir at a summer cottage is created from stones and boulders.

You can make small steps that highlight the unevenness of the landscape, fences made of stones or sculptures, organically fitting them into the natural landscape.

The stone pond can be decorated in any color palette.

Another interesting option for arranging an artificial reservoir at a summer cottage is the installation of decorative bridges. These designs can be purchased ready-made or made by hand. Bridges can be wooden, stone or metal - welded or forged. The advantage of these elements is that they are suitable for decoration and plastic ponds, and any other.

Near the pond, you can install beautiful benches or benches with a table, hang a hammock, thus creating a full-fledged recreation area.

DIY pond design in the country, photo

A popular technique for decorating a pond at a summer cottage is the use of water lighting (lighting can be done around the perimeter of the reservoir). In the dark, the lighting will focus on the water body, create a comfortable atmosphere for relaxation, tune in to reflection and emphasize the beauty of the water body.

Making a pond in the country with your own hands, photo

For maximum convergence with nature, you can settle fish in the pond. Red carps look especially impressive, but you can also think about keeping carps in a pond, then your pond will become an ideal place for fishing.

But do not forget that the fish in the pond must be fed, otherwise it will die.

Beautiful ponds in the country, photo

There are many options for arranging and decorating decorative ponds in the garden. Such elements of landscape decoration make the sites even more beautiful. There are tons of interesting concepts that you can bring to life on your own.

If you wish, you can use several design ideas at once to make the water body look even more original.

Video

From this video you will learn the details of the independent creation and decoration of an artificial reservoir at a summer cottage - in detail about how to improve a site, make and decorate a pond at a summer cottage with your own hands:

Photo gallery

A selection of photos with the brightest landscape ideas for the design and decoration of large and small, but beautiful ponds on the site near the house - for your inspiration:

Surely every summer resident at least once thought about how great it would be to have a pond on your own plot, because it is so nice to turn gray by the water at sunset and enjoy the pleasant evening coolness. It is quite possible to realize this dream on your own, you just need to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of the technology of constructing an artificial reservoir, and you can get to work. Next, we will take a closer look at how to make a pond in the country.

Where to begin

So, you finally decided to decorate the site with an artificial reservoir. But how to make sure that the pond at the summer cottage harmoniously complements the surrounding landscape, while being durable and not a problem area that requires constant care? To do this, you need to approach the construction in stages, carefully thinking over each step, down to the smallest details.

You need to start arranging a pond in the country with the preparatory stages, which we will get acquainted with below.

Style selection

First of all, it is necessary to decide how to arrange a pond in the country, so that it does not get out of the general picture of the landscape. When choosing a style solution, one should focus on the architectural concept of the country house and the existing layout of the garden.

It is advisable to make the coastline and the blind area of ​​the paths in the same vein with the design of the entire garden plot. In this case, the bowl of the reservoir can be supplemented with a waterfall or a decorative stream.

If the reservoir will be located in the depths of the garden, near the gazebo or, then a landscape pond with natural outlines is an excellent solution. For example, it can be made in the style of "nature garden", which implies planting only local plants that are characteristic of the region. Moreover, any exotic will be inappropriate.

Another interesting solution is to design a summer cottage pond in a lush Chinese style. In this case, don't forget to make a curved bridge and emphasize the tree with variegated foliage.

The more restrained Japanese style is also popular, its characteristic elements are boulders of various kinds. Unlike the Chinese style, the Japanese style lacks multicolored herbs.

If the mini pond in the country will be located next to the house, then it is better to give preference to geometric shapes. A formal rectangular or square pond will emphasize the horizontal and vertical lines of the building. In addition, such a pond will look good next to a patio, especially if there are straight flower beds nearby.

I must say that formal ponds also include round ponds, which can be an excellent decoration for an open lawn or lawn. In addition, such a pond can be located near a picturesque group of trees.

It should be noted that it is easiest to make a round pond with your own hands, since you can use concrete rings or plastic containers for this.

Recently, a popular technique in landscape design is the laying of paths from a terrace board, which are thrown over the pond in the form of a broken geometric bridge. In addition, the path through the reservoir can be made of concrete square slabs, which, as it were, hover over the water surface.

It is also always interesting to look at cascades of different sizes, where, through small waterfalls, water flows from one bowl to another.

Choice of location and dimensions

The location of the pond will determine how long it will function without seasonal flowering. The thing is that green algae are activated under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, the pond should be shaded for part of the day, so that algae will not multiply as actively.

However, you should not completely shade the artificial pond in the country, as this will negatively affect the development of ornamental plants. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the golden mean.

Note!
The reservoir should be lit for about five hours a day, while leaving it open from the southwest.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that it is undesirable to place the pond under shady trees, since the falling foliage is the source of its pollution.

Another important point to be determined is the size of the reservoir. Ideally, it should occupy 3 percent of the land area. At the same time, the smaller the size of the pond, the easier it is to build, and less materials are required. Accordingly, the price of the project will depend on the size.

Therefore, before deciding on the width and length of the reservoir, it is necessary to take into account the following points:

As for the depth of the pond, it should be divided into three stages:

Materials (edit)

Before starting the construction of a pond in the country, you also need to decide on the materials that will be needed for this. The most expensive, but at the same time, the most capacious option is to fill the base with concrete. In this case, you will need to perform formwork and reinforcement.

A less costly option would be to use a ready-made plastic container that is dug into the ground. However, the size and shape of the reservoir in this case will be limited by the choice of capacity.

The most convenient and at the same time, the most budgetary option for the construction of a reservoir is the use of a special moisture-resistant film, which is placed on the bottom and wall of the pond. I must say that this option has recently been the most common, so we will take it as a basis.

Construction of a reservoir

Before digging a pond in the country, it is advisable to sketch on paper a plan on a scale, indicating all sizes and depths of the pit. This will avoid mistakes and alterations when arranging a reservoir. At this stage, you can also think about an accent for the composition of the future lake, it can be a large stone, tree or sculpture.

Further instructions for building a pond are as follows:

• First of all, it is necessary to outline the boundaries of the future reservoir and align the banks so that they are on the same level.
• Then you can start excavation... First, you need to dig a pit to the depth of the first tier and mark a line from which the pond will deepen to the second tier. Next, you need to dig the second tier and also apply markings from which the deepest hole is dug.

• When the pit is ready, using a cord, measure its dimensions, taking into account the depth and allowance of about 50 cm... This size will be needed when purchasing a film, which should be enough to completely cover the pit.
• Further, the bottom is covered with geotextiles to protect the waterproof film from damage. As an alternative to this material, you can use linoleum, roofing material or even sand.
• A waterproof film is laid on top of the geotextile.

In the photo - laying oilcloth

• To equip the edges of the reservoir, an auxiliary trench should be dug around the perimeter, which will allow you to tuck and secure the film... Having laid the edges of the film in the trench, it must be fixed by filling the trench with rubble.
• After that, it is necessary to strengthen the edge of the pond with stone blocks.... This will prevent soil from falling from the coastal zone into the basin of the reservoir. For example, you can lay out the edge with natural stone and then decorate with a lonely block or a group of boulders.

• Then the bottom of the pond must be laid out with stones and rubble.... Prepared plants should be placed in plastic containers and arranged on curtains. You can also fill the bottom with soil and plant river plants on the bottom.
• After that, water can be poured into the reservoir.... In order to select pumping equipment and the required amount of hydrochemistry for the care of the pond in the future, you should take the meter readings before and after filling the bowl.

• So that the water does not stagnate, it is advisable to equip the reservoir with a stream that will ensure its circulation... The source of the stream should be located above the pond level. Water is supplied to it from the reservoir using a submersible pump.
  Natural stones can be used to decorate the river mouth.

• Then a submersible pump is installed at the bottom, a pipeline is pulled to the source of the stream... In this case, you should use a water filter.

Advice!
In the process of performing earthworks, a problem will arise - where to put the earth taken out of the pit?
The most optimal solution to this problem is to evenly distribute the soil throughout the entire area, and thus raise its level.

Your homemade pond in the country is ready. Now you just need to take good care of it - use means to revitalize the water, as well as periodically clean it of impurities. For the winter, container plants should be removed to the basement.

If the reservoir will be located near the gazebo, it should be illuminated, which will allow you to admire the landscape at night.

Advice!
If there is no electricity at the dacha, you can install a diesel generator.
Of course, this equipment is quite expensive, however, renting a diesel generator for a summer residence will solve this problem.

The main mistakes when arranging artificial reservoirs

When building something on your own, it is quite difficult to avoid mistakes.

• Decorating the shore with stones of the same diameter, as a result of which the pond looks dull. It is advisable to combine large stones with small ones, however, do not overwhelm the entire coastal zone with them.

• The reservoir is very deep, with sheer walls. This design looks unnatural and resembles a stone bag. Therefore, you should not make the reservoir very deep, especially if you do not plan to breed fish in it.
• Craving for container gardening, which interferes with the normal development of plants. The good thing about container planting is that it allows you to quickly change the design of the pond if desired, since the plants can be quickly regrouped, but planting algae will make the pond more alive. Algae is especially necessary if you plan to breed fish.

Advice!
If you bought a plot for a summer residence without buildings, then first of all you should build a house.
This process is quite lengthy, however, if you want to equip the dacha as quickly as possible, dacha houses from block containers will help with this.
It takes much less time to install them than to build an ordinary house.

Output

Every home craftsman can build a pond on a summer cottage. The most important thing is to approach this business competently, so that the reservoir really becomes a decoration of the site and at the same time does not take too much of your time for the constant care of it. Therefore, when performing work, you should adhere to the above technology.

You can get more information on this topic from the video in this article.

And a pond. Even a small body of water pulls people around like a magnet. Water is mesmerizing even in small quantities ... Moreover, you can build a pond with your own hands in a few hours. But this is a small artificial reservoir. It will take both money and time to build a large one.

Where to dig

Small artificial reservoirs are best viewed from above. Therefore, if there is a corresponding depression on the site, it is best to do it here. There is, however, a negative side to this: you will have to raise the edges of the bowl higher so that rainwater does not get inside. The second option is to come up with a water drainage system (make a drainage system above the reservoir).

If there is a key somewhere on the site, it is logical to make a natural pond by digging or deepening the existing bowl, laying out its borders with cobblestones or stones, and planting plants. The trickle, which is mandatory in this case, can also be refined by laying out its edges with cobblestones, drowning them in the sodden soil, you will give greater strength to the shore, between them you can plant moisture-loving plants.

Even a small waterfall is a magical sight How to dam up a pond, if there is a natural stream on your site - dig a pit, line it with a stone and direct the stream into it

Not everyone on the site has such a luxury as a stream or a key. We have to make artificial reservoirs. With the proper design, they look no worse than natural ones.

How to make an artificial pond with a bowl (no film)

The easiest and fastest way to make an artificial reservoir in the country is to bury the finished bowl in the ground, decorating and decorating its edges. There are plastic bowls - ready-made in various shapes, sizes and colors (mostly blue, green and black).

The device of a plastic garden or country pond is a simple matter. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• It is necessary to dig a pit in the shape of a bowl. If the shape is very non-standard, you can turn it upside down at the installation site, outline something with a contour (at least dig it with a shovel). The bowl is taken to the side, a foundation pit is being dug. It should be slightly larger in size - slightly wider, but not deeper. The edges should either be flush with the ground, or protrude slightly. If you manage to raise the edge a little, it will be even better: when it rains, dirty water will not flow.
• After the desired depth is reached, the bottom is leveled into the horizon: it is leveled first with a shovel, then compacted and the excess is removed with an even bar. The surface must be flat and hard: the plastic must have good support. If the ground is poorly leveled (clay), you can pour 5-10 cm of sand, wet it and tamp it.
• The next step is to install the bowl in the pit. If the bottom has been flattened, the edges of the bowl will be level with the horizon. Now the space that remains between the wall of the bowl and the pit needs to be covered with soil or sand and tamped well.
• Now it's up to the design: the installation is complete, you can fill in the water.

How to build a pond in the courtyard with illumination using this technology, see this photo report (you can flip through the photo gallery yourself by clicking on the thumbnails below).

Digging a pit. We decided that the sides will be 1-2 cm above the level of the track - there will be less debris inside, and we will decorate the edges with stones. From this side, just below the maximum level, a pipe was cut into the bowl so that excess water would drain. She was taken down the drain

But it is not always and not everywhere it is possible to constantly add and drain water into the pond. Then you will have to either plant such plants that will clean it, or periodically change it.

The pond from the old bathroom

You don't have to buy a bowl. Any container can be used. Even an old bathtub. It turns out very well. All actions are the same, the foundation pit is dug first, a bath is placed in it, what goes on, look at the series of the following photos. On them, the pond from an old bathtub is transformed into a truly delightful corner.

The site was still entangled with wire - so that the clay does not float and the site does not sag. It's such beauty in a month - a garden pond built with my own hands makes me happy

A pond from a car tire (with a film)

A mini pond can be made from an old car tire, or rather from a tire. The larger it is, the larger the reservoir. The hardest part in this business is to cut off one side part. If the resulting edges are sharp, sandpaper them. The second most difficult task is to dig a hole of a suitable size. The difficulties ended there. The rest is quite easy.

A trimmed tire is installed in the pit, covered with earth on the sides, and compacted well. Also, earth or sand is poured inside, the bottom is leveled. Take a piece of thick plastic wrap, which can be folded in half, and cover the resulting tank. Do not try too hard: pour water, it will straighten the film itself.

Instead of polyethylene, you can take a banner film (available in advertising companies that produce outdoor advertising) or a piece of special for pools and ponds. They are much stronger (but more expensive).

The protruding ends of the film are tucked around the walls of your pond and decorated with stones. The pond is finished, then - decorating and planting plants. See how to make a pond from a tire in the photo report.

The next stage in making a mini-pond for a summer residence is decorating the edges with stones

There is certainly nothing complicated in such a device. Anyone can build such a reservoir in the country with their own hands, and the investment is minimal.

In general, mini-ponds are made from tanks, barrels, pots, even flower pots. The main thing is that there is a corps, but it is not very difficult to arrange it: experience gradually comes. They put them in the garden, in the country, near the house. There is an opportunity to bring water, make a trickle, it can be planted under trees, for example, or shrubs. And beauty and benefit at the same time.

Making a pond with a film

By creating this artificial pond from film, you almost exactly repeat the work described above, only without installing the bowl:

1. mark the shape of the future pond;
2. digging a pit, forming, if necessary, ledges;
3. clean the bottom of any sharp objects: roots, stones, etc.;
4. level the banks of your pond;
5. spreading a waterproofing film;
6. fill the pond with water;
7. fix the edges of the film;
8. decorate.

A summer pond created using this technology may already be of a more solid size. An important point: on loose soil, it is easy to make a foundation pit and it will not work to put the film. We'll have to come up with some measures to strengthen the banks. In this case, you will have to either put a bowl, or make a more serious structure - of brick or concrete. Next, let's look at examples of how to inexpensively make a film pond.

First project: sides flush with the ground

Eight simple steps and your pond in the country is built. How to dig and equip a pond in the country, to make it look like a natural one, see the photo report.

Second project: the sides are raised

The second version of a homemade pond in the first stages is built in almost the same way as the first. Only after the pit reached the design depth, the sides were raised, laid out along the edge with bricks and concreted. The result is a reservoir with raised sides. A water circulation system has also been made. It is shown in the figure below.

As you can see, this pond is more multi-layered and its capacity is more serious. If you want to have a reservoir of at least medium size and not build a serious bowl at the same time, you can do as shown in the figure: pour the created pit with sand, cover it, and only put the film on top. Geotextiles evenly distribute the load and prevent the germination of plants. This is especially true if you are building a pond in your garden and there are shrubs or trees nearby.

Serious projects: brick and concrete

If you want to have a large pond in the country, and you want to build it yourself, you will have to study the topic of building pools. First, the construction of the bowls - one to one repeats all the stages. Even the forms are sometimes made stepwise. True, the banks are not decorated with plants, and they are not planted in the pool itself ... But the construction process itself, with reinforcement, plaster, and waterproofing, is the same. Moreover, the water supply and water treatment system is also similar. Except that no chemical cleaning methods are used in ponds, but filters, scrimmers and ultraviolet light can be used.

In general, a large pond is not a cheap pleasure. Moreover, costs are required only for construction, but also for maintaining a large reservoir in a normal state: filters need to be cleaned regularly and cartridges or backfill changed. But the pleasure, of course, is great ...

Not the largest pond, but 10 bags of cement, 30 bags of sand (20 coarse and 10 fine) were used for it, a hydrophobic additive - 5 bags to make the concrete water-repellent. Plastered on a grid fixed in the ground

Plants for the pond

When shaping or choosing a bowl, consider not only its shape and depth. If you want plants to grow in your pond, you need a swampy coastal area. If you form a reservoir with a film, you can make about the same profile as in the picture.

It is more convenient to do this if you fill the foundation pit with a layer of sand at least 15 cm thick. With its help, you can make the relief the way you like. To make it easier to work and the film does not break, lay geotextiles on the sand. This thin membrane is very tear resistant. You can do whatever you want without tearing it. Having formed the desired bottom relief with it, you can line the film and lay stones on it, fill it with water and plant plants for the pond at different levels.

To ensure that there is enough oxygen in the water, you can plant Canadian Elodea, hornwort and swamp. They are in the photo below. They are planted in water - these are aquatic plants.