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Posted: Apr/28/2006 3:04 PM PST
I am really into recycling....I have had a couple of ideas that I haven't tried yet, and thought to pass them along to those who would really like to have a water feature, but only have a limited budget! One resource that would probably work GREAT would be an old water-bed liner. It's really thick and heavy, most likely last for years. Any size would do because you could open it up with a sharp utility knife and modify it to any shape. Just think of what you could do with a king sized one! Another idea would be to use one of those old Sattelite Dishes as a pond? To acquire these for FREE, try joning your local "FreeCycle" group at: http://freecycle.org Several years ago I attempted to make one. I built up a soil "Burm", using all of the weeds and materials from my landscaping projects. I then made a hollowed, kidney shape inside, then installed a drain system because it was on a slope. Next, I put chicken wire down, and finally applied concrete over it all. It turned out pretty neat, but I have abandoned the project because I ran out of money for more concrete to complete the sides.....one day I will finish it! 
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Posted: Feb/27/2006 5:04 PM PST
I would LOVE to have a water garden in my yard ... but I am wondering for the water garden to be affective and pack a bit of a punch to my tropical type garden .. how big does it really need to be?? I would love to try some lotus and incorporate my EE's. But I dont have tons of space in my yard .. unless of course I turn the pool into a water garden I have never attempted to do a water feature of any kind so any help would be great. Laura |
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Posted: Feb/28/2006 1:34 PM PST
Hi Laura, I made a small pond for my Mom last mother's day, I bought a small blue kiddie pool, dug the hole to sit it in, got some plastic sheeting (black) from wally world placed that into the pool and down the sides, this was just to hide the blue and the fish in the bottom, placed some bricks around the sides and wa lah instant pond. You are now ready for the spitter, fish and plants. Hope this helps, Lilly. |
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Posted: Mar/01/2006 4:34 AM PST
Thanks Lilly |
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Posted: Mar/02/2006 5:11 AM PST
Ron I would like to grow a lotus ... I want one so bad!!! Dont they need full sun?? Is there anyway to keep the algee down? With all of the wildlife in the green space behind me .. maybe I should rethink this whole concept .. It gets a bit messy with the dogs and the racoons etc. Humm .. but I want a LOTUS!! Laura |
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Posted: Mar/12/2006 2:13 AM PST
Many lotus are quite brutish large and fast spreading, a small pond for them would soon be smothered in foliage and a knot of tubers. You could check out small forms, 'bowl' lotus grow barely a foot high, quite dinky in size for a tub a couple of foot wide Full sun can be a bit much for lotus, they may well go dormant and spoil when temps go above the 90's, a shaded position through midday might work better over many parts of America where Summers are on the hot side To make small ponds work well, you really need to pick out small growing, well behaved varieties of plant. There are quite a lot of aquatic plants to be found that will thrive, though you would need to choose things that can cope with the extremes of your Winter and Summer Regards, andy http://www.members.aol.com/abdavisnc/swglist.ht ml |
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Posted: Mar/12/2006 2:41 AM PST
We have a half barrel water feature...that's what my hubby calls it...little pump running in it to keep the two fish happy in there...a few water lillis and a pump that brings the water to an old fashing water pump...it reall adds a nice sound...have it out side out bedroom window and at night it is so peacful.. |
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Posted: Mar/21/2006 10:39 PM PST
I have lotus everywhere. And it gets hot is Missouri in the summer. Never had a problem with heat. I put tubs everywhere. I use rope tubs because I cannot find any other tubs right now to use. The Lotus bloom great in summer. And I put tub full of water and I put mosquito fish( Gambusi) in each tub. I say go for it , use any tub big enough. |
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Posted: Mar/21/2006 11:06 PM PST
I dug one myself about 7 yrs ago.. specail black liner. Had goot luck for 3 yrs and now have alot of trouble with algae. have 2 types of filters / pumps running. Keep a couple fish in it.Plants. last yr. the plants didn't do well. It's about 8'x8' and 10 to 12 in. deep.. did some new digging last yr. and will do more this yr. trying to make a section deeper for the filter / pump. I hand pick & carry rocks from all around.. my old rock wall on the rd side. the ammanosuc river.. I love it, the wild life love it. It's not perfect and it bugs me.. I am going to try more plants this yr. No one wants to carry water plants cause most people up this way had hard times with theirs and filled them in.. I am still working at it.. any advice on the algae.. Tried almost everything. Trying to grow taller plants to help give it shade... |
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Posted: Mar/22/2006 10:23 PM PST
Davlyn, Try Castor Bean plants annual plant (poisionous if eaten though) they get really tall and have hugh leaves. Fescus Reed Grass is perenial and the blooming stalk is about 5' tall Aruncus (goats beard) tall 5 to 6' Cannas if you don't mind digging up every year. holly hocks - mine top out over 7' every year in full sun. Oh, and for the algea - barley balls are supposed to work. |
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