We finally started digging the pond yesterday. Spent most of the morning clearing the area - shifting plants in pots and a few that were in the ground (although I did forget to get my tri-colour viola out in time!) Then it was up with the decking and the seven frogs I found hiding underneath it :) Every one was carefully lifted and placed somewhere shady and damp. It's amazing how much bigger the garden now looks without the deck - it totally swamped it! Next the slate chips had to be shifted - back breaking raking and sweeping there. Finally the soil was exposed and it was time for lunch.
Many hosepipe adjustments later, I finally decided on the size, shape and position of the pond. It's a kind of squashed kidney, about 6ft by 4ft. And digging commenced, as did the shower dodging (fortunately we seemed to be getting tired just as the rain started and we were ready to go out again just when the sun came out too!)
Three backbreaking hours later, we'd gone down about a spit in the central part of the pond, leaving a huge spoil pile to the side (I have no idea how that much soil filled that hole - there is way more than could possibly have been compacted into the hole!) two happy, knackered diggers and a hole that finally looks like a pond.
Slight problem - I think it's slightly too far over that way. Fortunately as we only dug the central part, it won't be too difficult to slightly shift it.
I reckon at this rate (and weather permitting!) we'll finish digging it over the Easter weekend.
PS - photos were taken at every stage, so as soon as I've finished the film, had it processed and used my dad's computer to scan them in, you'll be able to see what we've been up to!
Sounds like very hard work, plenty of radox needed then! looking forward to seeing the pictures :)
.......ooohhhh, well done you........
....we are just about to do the same (poss this weekend).....
....look forward to hearing how yours goes......let us know if anything is particularly hard/easy........
Ava - just make sure you get the position right!
Pace yourself with the digging - we did, now we don't ache!
Nothing has been particularly difficult so far, other than the physical effort. I suspect getting the angle of the slope for the beach right will be a bit fiddly, but we're leaving that to last.
Oh and enjoy - digging is such fun!
It is amazing when you dig a holee just how much soil comes out. You look at the pile and the hole and think 'That lot never came out of there!' and funnily enough if you have to put it back again it never all goes back in.
Just shows how compacted soil can get
Good luck with the pond. i am sure it will look great once it is finished. Those frogs will have a 5 star hotel to enjoy - better than a deck any day!
:) :) :)
I'm getting all excited about the prospect of digging again tomorrow!
Wandering around the garden yesterday - I noticed the pond is already holding water, thanks to a combination of clay soil and lots of rain.
The soil, though, compared to what I've seen road menders digging up, has obviously been well fed at some point (the road soil was red brick colour, mine is dark grey). But it's been starved from the garden being neglected until I got there.
Rich - I swear the pile is twice the size of the hole!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D LOL Aqui
Pond now almost completed.
Friday was such a glorious day we managed to spend five and a half hours in the garden, including eating lunch on our newly constructed bench (it finally went up after we'd shouted at it a few times!)
Pond is teardrop shaped. one third of it goes straight down 2ft, another third has a marginal shelf and the final third is the beach (which still needs a bit of work to get the slope right).
And we found loads of gorgeous pebbles for the beach in the clay at the bottom (I think it must've been a stream once!)
Can't wait to show you all the finished product :D