Hi all! I'm in NW Ga. I've been wanting a pond for years!!!!! Just when I start to think I've saved about half the money I need, something comes up, like a vacation, or Christmas, or some other priority. I'm still dreaming... I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do, and I think the total cost for EVERYTHING, including plants and rocks and equipment, would be about $1200. We just got back from a vacation, so I'm back down to $0. By the time I save the money, I might be too old to dig the hole! In the meantime, I enjoy popping on here and learning from everyone!
I don't know if I've introduced myself or not!
- Thread starter bagsmom
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peter hillman
Let me think for minute....
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Well you have now!
. Ponds don't have to be expensive, the liner is most costly followed by the pump. Other accessories can be sourced cheaply, sometimes even free. Check your local craigslist for ponding stuff.
. Ponds don't have to be expensive, the liner is most costly followed by the pump. Other accessories can be sourced cheaply, sometimes even free. Check your local craigslist for ponding stuff.
Welcome bagsmom!
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bettasngoldfish
Maria
Welcome to the group!
You can purchase stuff for the pond as you can afford it. It seems with ponds there will always be something you need or want. It never ends, but at least it's fun
If you can't or don't want to dig a hole for the pond you can always do an above ground pond.
You can purchase stuff for the pond as you can afford it. It seems with ponds there will always be something you need or want. It never ends, but at least it's fun
If you can't or don't want to dig a hole for the pond you can always do an above ground pond.
ashirley
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Our first pond was in a 700 gallon stock tank that we got from tractor supply for 100 because it didn't have a plug. We purchased one in the plumbing dept for a few bucks added a small pump and filter and we had a pond. We have since graduated to a 5000 gallon pond but i loved that first one.
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Welcome to the forum!
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Welcome to our group! Watch for sales at the end of the year you can find liners etc on sale.
Mmathis
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Hello and welcome!
The initial outlay ($$) is the worst. Careful planning and educating yourself before you do get started can help a bunch! By knowing what you want to do as well as knowing your space and budget limitations, you can start making a few purchases here and there to get started.
And yes, don't skimp on the liner -- probably the most expensive, but definitely the most important purchase!
The initial outlay ($$) is the worst. Careful planning and educating yourself before you do get started can help a bunch! By knowing what you want to do as well as knowing your space and budget limitations, you can start making a few purchases here and there to get started.
And yes, don't skimp on the liner -- probably the most expensive, but definitely the most important purchase!
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Same here. Started with a 100 gal stock tank I buried in the ground. (trial run) I enjoyed it so graduated to a bigger pond. Small pond is better than no pond.
Could always watch craigs list etc. The liner is the biggest expense as others have said but you don't want to skimp there.
Thanks everyone! Part of my financial quandry is that I have a very definite idea of what I want and I've priced it out, shopped around, etc. -- so I'm pretty sure it will cost what I think to get the pond of my dreams! I'm willing to wait! In the meantime, my neighbor has a very healthy little pond that's been there almost 20 years. She had major home reno stuff done, so power has been off and no filtration for about a year. The pond is so established and so healthy, it is self-maintaining. The little goldfish are super happy. I was up helping her with her yard (to earn money for my pond) and was sure I'd see a bunch of mosquito larvae. Not a one! She stopped feeding the fish a few years ago. They eat plants, algae, and bugs. It's very cool to see how a balanced ecosystem will flourish!
So -- while I work, wait, read, and learn -- I can go visit her fishies!
OH -- she may completely tear down and re-landscape her yard with a contemporary water feature. Guess who would get all her rocks and stuff!!!!!! ME! Nice ones with moss and lichen already growing on them!
So -- while I work, wait, read, and learn -- I can go visit her fishies!
OH -- she may completely tear down and re-landscape her yard with a contemporary water feature. Guess who would get all her rocks and stuff!!!!!! ME! Nice ones with moss and lichen already growing on them!
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Be sure to factor in monthly electricity costs.
Here is a picture of the area the pond will be in. The yellow rope is just an idea of the outline, including rocks and edge plantings. The actual hole I dig will be a little smaller. I cut down a redbud and moved a giant forsythia bush. I want to use rocks from the property ( as well as some I will buy) and make a waterfall back against the stone wall. We have an outdoor electrical outlet on the corner of the house, and will plan to run it underground in conduit. Between the house and the pond, I'll take out the grass and do a pea gravel patio/beach. I hope I can start digging in the next several months, but as mentioned above, I have to save more $$$.
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Mmathis
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@bagsmom That looks like a nice spot and it sounds like your plans are well thought out. I can't wait to see it completed. Oh, and BTW, it is a membership requirement on this forum that you HAVE to take pictures as you go so we can all watch the progress [well, sorta just kidding -- it's not a requirement, but we really do love to see build-in-progress pics!].
Didn't you say that you have clay soil? If so, you probably already know that there is a fine "window of opportunity" where the soil is actually perfect to dig [and that's somewhere between the liquid goo and concrete stages, LOL!]. Have you thought about what you will do with the dug-up soil as you go?
And you have rocks on your property!!! Ponders love rocks! Lots of members here have access to rocks via their geographic location. Louisiana is NOT one of those locations -- I am so jealous!
Didn't you say that you have clay soil? If so, you probably already know that there is a fine "window of opportunity" where the soil is actually perfect to dig [and that's somewhere between the liquid goo and concrete stages, LOL!]. Have you thought about what you will do with the dug-up soil as you go?
And you have rocks on your property!!! Ponders love rocks! Lots of members here have access to rocks via their geographic location. Louisiana is NOT one of those locations -- I am so jealous!
I have SOME rocks. Not enough -- but some! The walls that divide our lots are made of stones found in all the yards when the neighborhood was sort of terraced -- early 20th century. My neighbor across the street lives in their generations-old family home. Her grandfather had to carry the rocks to help with the walls when he was a boy! I love that story!
Clay soil. Oh it's a booger! Here we don't have the pea soup stage. (Louisiana is a lot wetter.) It is either like artist's sculpting clay or concrete. The clay boulder things are horrible. When we bought our house, there was only one hydrangea bush. I dug out, tilled, amended, and planted a ton of flower beds. (Added 3,800 pounds of compost and topsoil.) PLUS dug a long dry creek bed that is the length of our long house. I am experienced in the evil ways of this soil and it scares me to death. It was hard doing all that digging 15 - 20 years ago. Eeeeek! I probably need to include a giant bottle of advil from Sam's Club in my pond budget! Somebody stop me before I hurt myself! LOL.
I have friends who say I should make my kids and husband help me -- but I really have the urge to do this all by myself! (Except for the electrical.) It's a creative challenge!
Clay soil. Oh it's a booger! Here we don't have the pea soup stage. (Louisiana is a lot wetter.) It is either like artist's sculpting clay or concrete. The clay boulder things are horrible. When we bought our house, there was only one hydrangea bush. I dug out, tilled, amended, and planted a ton of flower beds. (Added 3,800 pounds of compost and topsoil.) PLUS dug a long dry creek bed that is the length of our long house. I am experienced in the evil ways of this soil and it scares me to death. It was hard doing all that digging 15 - 20 years ago. Eeeeek! I probably need to include a giant bottle of advil from Sam's Club in my pond budget! Somebody stop me before I hurt myself! LOL.
I have friends who say I should make my kids and husband help me -- but I really have the urge to do this all by myself! (Except for the electrical.) It's a creative challenge!
Oh yeah -- what will I do with the soil? I have a few areas right next to the house that need to be built up to direct the gutter overflow runoff water away from the foundation. So I will put some of it there.
The front yard runs slightly downhill away from the house, so I know I will need to build up the far side of the pond edge so it's level. I will also probably put some up near the waterfall -- just to built up the soil a bit there.
If there is extra, we have the back half of our lot which is jungle-riffic. I can just toss it over the hill and let nature have it!
The front yard runs slightly downhill away from the house, so I know I will need to build up the far side of the pond edge so it's level. I will also probably put some up near the waterfall -- just to built up the soil a bit there.
If there is extra, we have the back half of our lot which is jungle-riffic. I can just toss it over the hill and let nature have it!