Binklebonk Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 We moved into this house ten years ago. There were already some fish in the pond. I bought some plants to give them shade, as it's a very sunny spot. Since then they haven't been fed or anything except the occasional top up from the hose. I have always hated it just because I've done nothing with it... but it's quite amazing. It's concrete, about 30cm deep, the water is always very clear, except for the layer of scum on the bottom. The plants have thrived - to the point where they have made islands that the cats walk over without getting wet paws (that have worms and slugs in them which I was suprised at) and the fish have lots of hidey places and are seldom caught. There is a school of goldfish there - not sure how old any of the individuals are, but they have existed as a group for the past ten years with no help from me. There is an outdoor plug thingie on the side of the house near it and a tap Here's a pic (bucket for scale): I'd like to fully take advantage of what I have - because I think it's pretty awesome. BUT I need ideas! I need to weed around the edge, and weed the islands, or thin them out a bit Can anyone help me with ideas? Also does anyone want chunks of pond plants from my islands? The area surrounding my pond is very dry, because the edge of the pond is concrete there is no marginal area really - so I find planting up hard because plants for hot dry areas don't really match the wet boggy look of the pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 That's awesome, I like it. Definite potential. First thing that popped out to me is, that little narrow bit right in the middle, put a little bridge across, something like: (Although this one looks a bit funny) Something just big enough you can walk across? Also mowing and weeding should help, maybe making the grass around there look better. Is there a way to raise the water level? It looks like the yard is a significant distance above water level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Yup I can top it up to be level with the lawn at the front. The bit at the back is supposed to be garden - it's about 1-1.5m between the house and pond edge. So I will weed the edges and once my mower is fixed the lawn will be nicer LOL. I'm thinking of some sort of fountain type thing to circulate the water a bit more and I'm stuck for planting ideas over the back there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Oh and some sort of bridge would be handy, because the tap is there and I often jump across the pond to get to it I also need to somehow pump out all the sludge from the bottom - the water is fine (I used my test kit to check) but it has a build up of crap (literally) on the bottom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr A Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Crying out of some sarracenias in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Oh and some sort of bridge would be handy, because the tap is there and I often jump across the pond to get to it I also need to somehow pump out all the sludge from the bottom - the water is fine (I used my test kit to check) but it has a build up of crap (literally) on the bottom Some kind of little fountain would be good, you could run an intake hose to one side of the pond(With a filter) and a fountain on the other side. I don't think I'd bother with trying to pump the sludge off the bottom, just using buckets would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 We just cleared out 7 years of sludge. The pump couldn't handle it. We emptied the whole pond then shovelled and bucketed out the muck. Why do you need to remove any islands? I would leave them be. Some suitable plants around the outer edge that trail into, or hang over, the water would soften the pond edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 To empty it, do I just syphon off all the water? I think we did that in an attempt to clean it a while back and we were still left with a good couple of inches of water/sludge The only reason I was talking of thinning out the plants was because one of the islands has grass in it LOL. I wonder what kinds of plants I can plant around the edge that would trail over? sarracenias - like a pitcher plant thing? (Yup I had to google!) are they OK in Christchurch with our frosts etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr A Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Yeah mate, they can handle being frozen over, and love being grown in bogs/standing water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Oohh I'm completely sold then! LOVE carnivorous plants. Infact I'm currently reading up on how to make some sort of carnivorous terarrium.... well the plants would be carnivorous, not the actual terrarium but you know what I mean I could probably plant one up in one of the islands eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 I'm thinking I could chuck some irrigation across the back and some bigger shrubs to provide some shade too - something like large flax, then in front there will be some shade. That middle bit could maybe be dug out, lined with plastic and made into a bog garden.... or planted up with moss? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr A Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Oohh I'm completely sold then! LOVE carnivorous plants. Infact I'm currently reading up on how to make some sort of carnivorous terarrium.... well the plants would be carnivorous, not the actual terrarium but you know what I mean I could probably plant one up in one of the islands eh? You could put them on the island yeah, or just in the pond so long as the top of their container isn't covered by water. They're cheap, easy to grow and look rad. I have some growing in a peat moss bog (equal parts peat and perlite) and sphagnum and they don't do as well as the other ones I have growing in standing water. Venus Fly Traps and lots of other CP's will do well with that arrangement (or in your islands presumably), I wouldn't bother growing new world CP inside, lots of them need dormancy periods and/or insane amounts of light. About the only thing you can grow inside without an insane amount of light would be some of the native bladderworts and most sundews, and of course various neps. PS: Check out "The Savage Garden" by Peter D'Amato - it's considered the bible on growing CPs. Bonus content Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 YESSS! I have been reading the Savage Garden subreddit - soooo awesome. Thanks for the headsup about them not doing well inside... saved me from learning the hard way Do most cps tolerate the cold? *rubs hands together in delight* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 To answer your water question, we siphoned out as much as we could with the pump then used square edged buckets to scoop out the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 OK some work done today I ran the hose in and all around it to loosen up all the goop. I weeded and trimmed all the islands so they were no longer taking over the whole area. I overflowed it for ages and used the leaf rake to get all the solid bits out of it (and chucked any fish I scooped out back in LOL) All the mud, roots, unwanted plant bits that I didn't want I chucked on the garden in and around the pond cos I figured it's probably good for the garden? I'm thinking I need some water lillies for some more interesting leaf shapes and flowers and also something with bigger more luch leaves for the garden in behind. Any suggestions are welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I have calculated it's about 1668 litres! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 something with bigger more luch leaves for the garden in behind. Any suggestions are welcome Gunnera Manicata? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Do they all have a human head in the centre? Cos that's awesome Do these need boggy conditions? behind the pond is dry. Of course I can water it lots - but I think there is a possibility there is concrete a foot or so down because this area used to be a tacky pebble garden What I DO have access to is a few large rocks (like 10kg+ rocks) that I can use to make wee rock garden bits near the top of the pond too which could look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Yeah, they like very wet boggy soil, I'm sure you can imagine how much water is lost through those massive leaves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzpouter Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 what sort of fish have you got in there? I got some waterlilly and irises, swap you for some fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Gunnera, Chilean rhubarb, is gorgeous. We have a big lot of it growing on a small island in the middle of the stream that runs through a local park but it has invaded coastal cliffs, stream margins, wetlands and slip faces with the large leaves shading out natives. You need to check with your local council to determine its status in your area. As alternatives, the National Pest Plant Accord suggests you look at Swamp Astelia, Astelia grandis, or Chinese rhubarb, Rheum palmatum. :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Gunnera, Chilean rhubarb, is gorgeous. We have a big lot of it growing on a small island in the middle of the stream that runs through a local park but it has invaded coastal cliffs, stream margins, wetlands and slip faces with the large leaves shading out natives. You need to check with your local council to determine its status in your area. As alternatives, the National Pest Plant Accord suggests you look at Swamp Astelia, Astelia grandis, or Chinese rhubarb, Rheum palmatum. :thup: That Astelia Grandis isn't even remotely similar. But Rheum Palmatum looks really nice and similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binklebonk Posted February 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Thanks! That gives me lots to research Lots of weeding and tidying done today! Though not 100% looking good because our lawn mower is being repaired at the moment. Just gotta choose plants for over the back there. Here's a photo update: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzpouter Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 irises for the background... they grow between 80cm to 1.2m tall... or some larger variety of agapanthus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Note the yellow flag iris is poisonous to humans and other animals. I believe it may also be a pest plant in some regions so check with your council. I have hebes along one edge of my pond and they look lovely too. As do flaxes, although they end up looking messy and get caught up in mower blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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