Construct a Small Garden Pond for Pennies – Well Almost!

A waterbed lined pond at Treetops, Coos Bay, Oregon

     Are you dying to dabble in water gardening.  Is the high cost of a flexible vinyl liner holding you back?  Well take heart, there is a less expensive way turn the dream of a small water garden, complete with opulent lily pads and shimmering goldfish, into reality.

     First, you need to beg, borrow, or steal a Queen or King size full motion water bed mattress.  The vinyl of waterbed mattresses is strong, comes in colors, is made to hold water, and is much more durable than the other alternative to the expensive pond liner, the 6 mil black plastic (which is only good for a couple of seasons and then must be changed) which costs around $50.00 for enough for a 6′ x 3′ x 3′ deep pond. My waterbed pond lasted for 11 years before we sold the house, and as far as I know is still holding water.

     Peruse the Want Ads, cruise the yard sales and check out E-bay. As a last resort, a new one can be purchased anywhere from $25.00 to $60.00.  You will still come out ahead when compared to the price of a 12 x 15 flexible vinyl pond liner at a cost of about $200.00.   If you ask around, someone may have one stuffed in the back of their garage or attic. 

      Once you have acquired your mattress, the rest is as easy as ABC. 

·         First off, dig your pond.  Keep it under about 6′ x 3′ 6″ x 3″ 6″ deep.   Try to pick a spot that is not filled with tree stumps and roots like yours truly, and you won’t end up in the emergency room with a bad back.

·         Line the bottom of your pond with sand, carpet, foam rubber,  or even layers of old newspapers, In order to prevent rocks or stones working their way up into your newly acquired liner.

·         Lay out your water bed mattress on the lawn, preferably in the sun (filler side up) to warm it enough until it is easy to handle.  Carefully cut down the middle of the top layer, and ONLY the top layer, (lengthwise) and along the top and bottom in an expanded H fashion (like a facial tissue box!)

·         Manhandle your pool liner into the excavated hole.  It helps to have friends at this point.  Temporarily anchor it with large bricks or rocks while you square it up and get it properly situated.  You should, with any luck, have about a foot left over on each side of your pond with more on each end.

·         When it is all nice and smooth and situated where you want it, fill the pond with water.   When the water nears the top, level your pool-edge, and place flat bricks or paving stones around the edge to hold the liner up.  Any liner left can be folded over the first layer of bricks, to be covered by larger decorative rocks; or if you are only using the one layer of pavers, make sure all remaining material is covered with dirt and rocks, or trimmed so it is not in the sunlight which can cause deterioration.

·         Now here comes the exciting part, for each square yard of water surface, add two bunches of oxygenating grasses, 1 water lily, 15″ of fish (i.e. 10-12 small goldfish, 2-3 larger Koi) and 12 water snails. Allow the pond water to warm up to the outdoor temperature, and sink the bag of goldfish into the water until both are the same temperature to avoid shocking the fish when you place them in their new home.

·         Around the edge, between and around the rocks plant creeping plants, Irish moss, creeping thyme or any other plant that will spread and droop over the rocks to hide the top of the pool liner.

Now comes the fun part.  Relax, sit back, and enjoy… or better yet, go out to dinner with the money you have just saved, because you surely won’t feel like cooking!