March 5/10
Sitting here, waiting for spring, my mind starts churning, thinking.. thinking.. thinking… (it’s a dangerous thing, sometimes!)
This winter I took the risk of leaving my fish in the pond… a big sigh of relief, they have survived.
Now, I look at all the plants that I hauled in last fall and think “this is crazy” – not my style. If they can’t survive the winter outside then they aren’t the plants for me.
So, I had a thought.Right now I have a small fountain bucket thingy that I use as an upper pond that filters the water and creates a mini waterfall. It works well. This “pond” container is what I haul inside every winter. I know it is too small to survive the winter outside.. but.. what if:
- I purchase one of those pre-formed ponds (sadly remembering the one I saw at Value Village and didn’t purchase)
- sit it on top of the ground, or buried just a wee bit, so it will create the waterfall effect
- build the sides up with dirt for support and to create a wee “mountain”
- put my plants in this upper pond
- cover it all with a straw blanket for the winter
Questions:
1. will the plants survive in the shallower pond?
2. will the pond survive when it is basically above ground?
3. Is there a better way?
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan
5 comments so far
Karson
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97 posts in 993 days
posted 148 days ago
As long as there is dirt under it and dirt beside it. It would give it some protection. Kind of like a raised bed for garder.
-- Karson retired in DE e-mail karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
MsDebbieP
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7956 posts in 1114 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 147 days ago
this is my vision, not that it really shows much but it’s my planning tool for future reference.
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan
Robin
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2146 posts in 377 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 147 days ago
I don’t have any answers as my experience with water gardening is very limited but I think the idea of reducing the amount of repetitive work (bringing the plants into the house every winter) by creating (initial work) a permanent solution is a great idea. I like your pond, it is beautiful and the fountain must sound wonderful when you are enjoying the patio.
-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi
Greenthumb
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1762 posts in 934 days
posted 147 days ago
My lillies survive and the water iris but most of the others I replace
I used junkyard morter blocks to build up the second and third tiers, then natural stone and dirt.
I think you need to provide “balance” between pond water/liner wanting to expand out
-- Central northish Ontario
MsDebbieP
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7956 posts in 1114 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 147 days ago
thanks everyone.
I have a couple months before I have to decide on this.
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan