Shelter
Island Gardener
Constructing a Pond
Water is an important element
in a garden. From a bird bath or a small pond with a fountain to a large
pond with lily pads, grasses, and koi.
There are more man-made ponds
on Shelter Island than one might at first imagine. Most of them,
including some rather large ones, are unknown to most of us. They range
from fairly large ones (roughly 20í to 30í feet in diameter), to small
(3í in rough diameter.) Some are quiet ponds, others have raging waterfalls.
Some have plants. Some fish. And, some just a small fountain. Only on garden
tours can you see these very private ponds.
A few ponds are available to the public, however. One is at Bobís Fish
Market, another at St. Maryís Church in the St. Joseph Garden. The pond
at Bobís has a turbulent waterfall. The churchís fountain is quiet and
contemplative. Each makes itís own statement.
When thinking about the location
of a pond on your property, remember that a pond is also a pool and the
same fencing rules apply. It is also a good idea to plot the area where
your pond is to be. There is a lovely one on the island that sits under
a mulberry tree. The crop was abundant this year, and the owners had to
built a screen over the pond to keep the mulberries out.
Small ponds can be emptied
periodically to deal with the algae which is inevitable. Large ponds will
require circulation systems and chemicals just like pools for people with
frequent checks for Ph. The mechanics are considerations that need to be
built into the planning.
Also important is the fountain
element. Some ponds on the Island have veritable water falls. Others small
fountains. You need to decide this characteristic of your pond in the planning
process. The depth of the pond is determined by what you plan to put into
it. Shelves 18î from the surface are required for pond plants.
On Shelter Island, a building permit
is required for a pond. Other permits may also be required and teh building
inspector can tell you what you will need.
There are basically two ways to construct a pond. Each requires that you
dig a hole for the pond. It can be only large enough for one of the plastic
ponds you can purchase or large enough for the large sheets of very thick
plastic.
The floor of the hole should
be covered with an inch or two of sand to cushion the pond floor.
Make sure the edges of the pond are level. Use
a large level. For a small pond, it will fit across. Much larger ones will
require a very long board on which to place the level.
Place the plastic pond or
the plastic liner in place. Edge with stones or slate and appropriate plants
to hide the edges. Then fill with water. Small pond may only require a
hose; larger ponds, like pools, may require purchase of water from off
island.
Sources of information about
ponds include Lilyponds (1-800-999-5459) or on the Web at http://www.lilyponds.com.
Additional tips on building a pond are at Pond Rushes, http://members.home.net/crush11/.
Other interesting sites on the web include http://www.webcom.com/poolpond/
for changing your pool into a pond, and http://www.wggalore.com.
Binder Pools will construct
a pond for you, and Shelter Island Gardens has books on the subject.