| To Pond or not. | | | | hole about 2 1/2 feet deep to provide adequate |
| Perhaps one of the most expected features in | | | | water depth. |
| any Japanese garden is the pond. Do you want | | | | I still remember my first pond 35 years ago. All |
| water in your Japanese garden? Yes, of course | | | | dug by hand and lined with concrete. Oh, what a |
| you do! | | | | job! |
| If there is any way that you have the space and | | | | My current pond, being done as we speak, has |
| resources , a pond is just about the best thing | | | | one of these modern liners. Much easier to put in, |
| you can incorporate into your garden. It doesn't | | | | and far less costly in the long run. It also has a |
| have to be big. But it should be suited to your | | | | small header pond with short connecting stream. |
| garden. There is just something, well, so relaxing | | | | It does take considerable care for the installation |
| about a water feature. | | | | of a pond liner. The one thing that a liner is |
| There are several things to consider before | | | | susceptible to is being punctured by sharp objects. |
| deciding on a pond. Firstly, it is work to put one in. | | | | You need to make sure that the whole area |
| Digging out for a pond of any size is an effort. If | | | | covered by the pond has all the rocks, both large |
| you have the facility to bring in a small backhoe | | | | and small meticulously removed. You will benefit |
| to do the job, then that part will be easy. If not, | | | | from using something between the ground and |
| be prepared for some hard work. Do you know | | | | your liner. There are special sub liners available |
| what kind of ground you have? Is it decent soil or | | | | which you can lay down first, although this will |
| is it full of rocks? And do you have a place to put | | | | essentially double the cost of your liner. |
| all that extra dirt? It always amazes me that | | | | I am using a combination of sawdust (I do a LOT |
| when you dig out one cubic yard of soil that it | | | | of woodworking) and carpet for my underliner. |
| takes up twice as much space when you move it! | | | | Now I know the liner salesman will tell you that |
| What will the pond be used for? Will you try to | | | | this will not work and that it will smell. But a |
| keep fish in it? Water plants maybe? How will it | | | | recent visit to a friend on a neighboring island here |
| be lined? Will there need to be some sort of | | | | would tend to say otherwise. Ray has had his |
| aeration if you have fish? Make sure you have all | | | | pond in place for several years without any ill |
| the bases covered before you start. | | | | effects from the carpet. |
| Both fish and water lilies need a water depth of | | | | Aside from the initial work of installation, your |
| about two feet. It could be a little deeper for | | | | pond will require minimal maintenance. No more |
| larger fish. That means you will need to dig the | | | | than any other part of your garden. |