[myerspark]

Well, since moving into a new house I'm trying to get the idea of how to do things on my own. I've been having some landscaping issues with my back yard...I had no idea what to do with it! It has HUGE hill in the back yard which takes up most of the property space....the only thing it's good for is burning 5,000 calories trying to mow it. So, I have the perfect idea of how the backyard should look......
I'm thinking I can make a little cabana area to the left....so we can have some shading and to the right a small pond....
Now, Ive never done anything with water before...So I could use some advice..
I've always loved the look of outdoor ponds...I think they are so relaxing and beautiful. I don't want anything too big, because I will be the one installing it and maintaining it.
But what I'm curious about is which type of "bedding" I should use.
At lowes I've seen the tubs that you just install into the ground....
But I have also see people dig and shape their own holes...then lay some black waterproof "bedding" tarpish material down?
Which do you prefer?
Also, I would LOVE a little water pump...Do those use more energy and how expensive are they?
Thanks everyone...I will have to take pictures of my backyard and ask for my suggestions...

[EquineJessie]

We have a pond that my dad built with cement and bricks and rock. I love the cement and the rocks are real pretty.

He designed the shape himself and put the cement down. Then he did the rocks on one side and built the rocks over a pipe. At one end of the pond is a water pump which pumps water up the pipe. It comes out at the top of the rocks and he designed the rocks so that it makes a two tiered water fall. It's pretty cool. I can take pics if you like or find out questions...

[myerspark]

oh that sounds really nice! too bad cement is like way over my head....lol i have no idea how to make it or pour it....id have a horrid looking cement creature in my back yard if i tried that.....
how does the water pump work? does it need electricity or what exactly?

[Endorphins4u2]

I have a pink bum.....


well it rhymes with green thumb..

[myerspark]

lol well paul you could come sit in my backyard and be a lawn ornament

[Allequine]

I absolutely adore gardening and ponds, and fishing, and..... you get the point. Unfortunetly I don't have enough time to explore those worlds. But I dream...

[EquineJessie]

Yeah, it uses electricity. He wired it so we can turn it on from inside the house... Pretty cool.

Cement is pretty easy. If you don't want to bring in loads of sand and gravel, you can just buy the mix from the hardware store and mix it in a bucket... You can pour the bottom first, smooth it with a trowel, and rough it up. I'm not sure what my dad uses exactly. Then, make a form out of wood for the sides and pour the cement in. When it hardens then you can use more cement to round the corners. Srry, I don't think that made any sense.

I might be coherent in the morning if I haven't keeled over from heat exhaustion already.

[Lucky Duck]

My hubby worked some in landscaping and has built several ponds with that black tarp like material... I'll have to ask him about it...

[Shotgun93]

My parents have both.
Digging a hole and lining it with a thick liner can make the pond look more natural, and you can have a more gradual slope so that you can have turtles in your pond, and you have an easier time in winter with draining it. But, the liner can become ripped over time, my parents have had to replace theirs a couple times over 4 years. Also, they are more work to set up and maintain.

The plastic tubs are easier to set up and maintain, but they don't always look natural and with the steep sides, my parents have had rabbits and other small animals drown. They are harder to totally drain in the winter (if you need to) and can crack easily because of it.

[myerspark]

awww we have lots of bunnies in our neighborhood! i dont want them to drown! how tragic!