Pond re-design: Why we did it

We moved to this property in 1994 specifically to create an ornamental garden. We spent the first two and a half years planning and designing the pond, which was going to be the centerpiece of the space. We belonged to a local pond group so we got to see a lot of water features in home gardens. That helped us decide what we did and did not want in ours.

Specifically we wanted a stream with multiple waterfalls to act as a natural filtration system. 

Eventually the pond was well-covered with waterlilies whose leaves kept the water cool; another method of keeping algae at bay. 

Though the pond was in the sunniest spot in the garden — to make sure the lilies got enough sun to bloom — it was surrounded by trees which created a maintenance nightmare.

With three large Locust trees, it was impossible to keep the leaves from falling into the pond each fall. That meant that ideally we needed to empty the pond and clean it out each spring. (Look for the rocks marking the edge of the pond; the leaves make it blend into the grass and the deck.)

Mark, with very little help from me, did that messy job for years. It was easy in the early days when he was younger and when there were multiple unplanted areas where we could spread out the muck and let it compost. Along with cleaning out the rotting debris, he divided the water lilies, repotted and repositioned them back in the pond.

The last bare spot was the former moss garden where Mark dumped the slimy debris a few month before I began to redesign and plant this area in 2017. 

That was the last time he seriously cleaned out the pond. He never was able to do this job without help and we found it almost impossible to hire a company to do the kind of job we needed done — with the care we always use when working in the garden. 

During our COVID summer at home, the pond started having more problems than not being cleaned out. It sprang three leaks. Mark managed to find and repair two of them. But the third one was the problem. It was likely located in the rubber liner somewhere under the rocks in the stream; a location which meant it would never be able to be found and fixed. We had to turn off the pond pump because of the leak, which made the water eutrophy. 

We knew it was time for a change; a big change. All winter long we talked about what we might do; we looked at most of the garden books we own for inspiration and information. It didn't take long before we agreed to turn our wet pond into a symbolic water feature; something Mark had been interested in from the day we moved here. 

In those early day of creating our garden, I was less enthused about having a traditional raked gravel garden like Ryoanji (below). Over the years, I have come to appreciate this classic style of Japanese garden and was excited to make the change.  

Our new gravel garden has one major difference from the traditional Japanese style garden. We followed Olbrich Botanical Gardens' directions on creating sustainable gravel gardens like they've done with the one illustrated below. Thus, someday we can plant directly into our gravel garden should we, or the next owners of our house, decide to do so. (More on that in the upcoming posts about making the change-over.)

OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS PHOTO

Comments

[Kristin]

I enjoyed reading this more than I ever thought I could enjoy reading about pond maintenance! It's great to hear about the process and thinking behind this big change, and I look forward to reading the rest.

[Linda Brazill]

KRISTIN ​I figured people were shocked when we said we were getting rid of the pond. So it would be worth explaining why we're doing it. ​ ​I am probably going to do a week or two or all the different projects that were involved.​

[danger garden]

I am looking forward to more in this series!

[Kris P]

As spectacular as you pond was, I entirely understand your decision. I've wanted a pond forever - I even talked about building one in our former tiny garden - but I've always known it could become a nightmare. Given the drought, the challenges in keeping out raccoons, and the maintenance required, we'll never have one here - heck, the maintenance of our fountain is a huge chore. I like your hybrid gravel/raked garden idea and look forward to seeing it evolve.

[Beth@PlantPostings]

This all makes sense. And following Olbrich's gravel garden model makes sense, too. I'm always in awe of their gravel gardens...and your garden, too.

[hb]

Ponds are a maintenance issue to be sure! You enjoyed it (mostly) while you had it, and then it was time for something else. Why not? Gardening is about change.

[Barbara H.]

Guess I'm going backwards in my reading. Missed this so catching up now. Yes, I was one of the shocked people but it sure makes a lot of sense and it's probably not only amazing but a testament to Mark's dedication (and yours) that it lasted so long. Looking forward to the coming posts about the changes.

[Linda Brazill]

BARBRA — I am finding I look at the gravel garden in a more focused way more often than I looked at the pond. I tended to pay attention to water lilies or a reflection but I think I rather just took it for granted. The gravel garden makes a statement that can't be ignored

[Frank]

It's interesting to hear your thought process and how the idea develops. Regarding the sustainable gravel garden, that's the main reason behind my choice of coarse sand for the paths. I've always liked packed earth paths, but the sand is easier to rake and keep weed-free and if it comes to it I can just seed grass or dig it under.