New Pond, First Pond

[KDubU]

Just recalled I took some pics of the rocks I looked at a few weeks ago. Any opinions on which would look best?

Nice large fairly easily stackable due to their shape.

Same rock but smaller. Maybe get a pallet of large and 1-2 of this size?

New England Round. Really like these as they are true stones found around in fields and old farm rock walls. Much more difficult to stack though.

More NE Round

Then there is this.

 

[KDubU]

@Lisak1, Tks! I think it’s starting to come together nicely. More work to do but it is fun and can’t wait to get back at it, even took Friday off from work to do it! Good point about the rocks as I had read that here on the forum previously, it may have even been yourself posting it!

 

[Lisak1]

Totally a personal choice. Don't be fooled by the round ones - they really aren't hard to stack. Gaps can be filled with smaller stones.

The rock I would be more picky about is the rock you'll see - the waterfall and edging rocks. And for those I would recommend the largest rocks you can handle. A few big rocks look much more natural than a whole bunch of small rocks in a waterfall. You're watching the Pond Digger - he builds great three boulder waterfalls.

 

[bagsmom]

Don't you just love The Pond Digger? I rocked the inside of my pond with round, softball-sized rocks, then filled the gaps with waterfall foam and gravel. I did the straight side down on one side also. It wasn't bad at all -- but my pond is pretty small.

 

[mgmine]

It's looking good. You will want to make it sloping so that it is easy to get out should a person or animal fall in.

 

[Timothy]

@mgmine that was one of my original plans but my wife wants the pond as close to the patio as possible so opted for another.

I agree with your wife especially if you lay pavers or stones between the patio and the pond. Mowing a thin strip of grass can be problematic. The cuttings end up in the pond, on the patio, or catch them. My supervisor wanted plantings in several specific places which eventually made mowing a nuisance in the tight/small areas. The solution was strip the sod and plant mulch.

 

[KDubU]

@Timothy, yes that strip of grass between patio and pond will be removed and replaced with flat stone.

 

[KDubU]

A bit more of an update on progress. Hope to get the skimmer installed tomorrow.

 

[GBBUDD]

shrude Kd shrude go with the Mrs wishes or at least she thinks you are but in secrete your building the small upper pond and the much larger bass pond comes latter at the bottom of the slope ….Shrude

 

[GBBUDD]

Good question @RobAmy. I am following The Pond Digger design where he likes to have a steep drop and no shelves where one walks up to the pond to look in. I like the idea so followed along but do feel it will be a bit of a challenge to rock. My intent as it is now would be to stack rocks of reasonable size on top of one another. Saying this and doing this is two different things though as dry stacking is a bit of an art. I hope to take a trip out to the rock yard today and decide the type of rock to use and that may dictate things.

Dry stacking is an art and even then you don't want to have to try and work with it down the road . You could use spray foam for water falls creation to add a quick blob to set the rock quickly.

 

[addy1]

If you want to save money on rocks, you can make a very nice rocked edge around the pond without stacking rocks in the pond.
Also the rocks in the pond remove water space from the fish. I have had rocks in the pond, but prefer just liner.
Make a shallow shelf stack rocks on it up and out of the pond. Hides the liner beautifully.

 

[KDubU]

If you want to save money on rocks, you can make a very nice rocked edge around the pond without stacking rocks in the pond.
Also the rocks in the pond remove water space from the fish. I have had rocks in the pond, but prefer just liner.
Make a shallow shelf stack rocks on it up and out of the pond. Hides the liner beautifully.
View attachment 120965

Thanks @addy1, I have been bouncing this back and forth and know that some do not have stones in their ponds and some do. I like your drawing as it makes a lot of sense. I am planning on having some for a couple reasons, one prefer the look and two it will be similar to my Mum’s pond which is what my wife has been wanting for so long. I am thinking cheaper stones for the sides and nicer ones for the edges and landscape around the pond in general. I am even planning some large 1000lb ones in the landscaping to try and achieve the “look” I want.

 

[poconojoe]

If you want to save money on rocks, you can make a very nice rocked edge around the pond without stacking rocks in the pond.
Also the rocks in the pond remove water space from the fish. I have had rocks in the pond, but prefer just liner.
Make a shallow shelf stack rocks on it up and out of the pond. Hides the liner beautifully.
View attachment 120965

Great drawing! This is how I did mine, but I also have another ledge for plants. I imagine addy's drawing didn't depict the plant shelf since the conversation was concerning rocks hiding the liner.

 

[j.w]

I do it the way @addy1 showed but I have another shelf down about 18" for my plants too.

 

[KDubU]

@j.w, very pretty! Now you all have me thinking again...