Natural or artificial pond is one of the most popular landscape design elements. It performs several important functions and always attracts attention. Today to equip a small pond in the country or in the garden will not be difficult and does not take much time. There are many ways to do this quickly and easily. One of them - equipment without the use of a film - will be discussed in the article.

Choosing a place for the pond

Today, an artificial reservoir can be equipped with almost any country, personal, garden plot, even a small one.

This element is equipped for several purposes:

• decorative;
• for swimming;
• for keeping fish, other underwater inhabitants, waterfowl, breeding aquatic plants.

Did you know? The Roman emperor Claudius Caesar was also engaged in decorating his garden by making decorative compositions. He especially liked to grow rose bushes, which he gave to his relatives.

So that the efforts to equip the pond were not in vain, and he fully fulfilled his mission, he must be correctly placed, to choose the right shape and size. In addition, it should be in harmony with other elements on the site.

It is advisable that the area near the pond most of the day is lit by the sun - about 6-7 hours. Moreover, the sun's rays should fall on it in the morning, and after lunch there should be a shadow. Such a location will reduce the risk of stagnant processes and flowering water.

Ideal is a place that can be approached from all sides, as well as one that is located near trees. Under the crowns you do not need to have a pond, because in the autumn period leaves will fall into it and pollute it. For the same reason, you should not create a pond in the immediate vicinity of the lawn - when it is mowed, the mowed grass will certainly fall into the water.

Important! When choosing a place under an artificial reservoir, it is necessary to take into account that the trees are located at a distance no closer than 4 m.

Be sure to place a pond on a site sheltered on all sides from drafts. Do not equip the pond in the lowlands so that meltwater does not flow into it. When choosing a place, one should take into account the level of groundwater. The bottom should be placed above them. Otherwise, it will be necessary to resort to additional constructive and technological measures.

Ways of waterproofing without a film

Once a place for a reservoir has been selected, it should be decided on its most optimal design and type of waterproofing of the walls and bottom. The last measure is necessary to retain water and strengthen the structure from mechanical and environmental influences. It is made using special materials for laying between the soil and water.

Today there are several ways to equip the bottom and walls of the pond:

• flexible insulation (PVC, polyethylene film, butyl rubber membrane, bentonite mats);
• liquid rubber;
• plastic bowls;
• concrete pouring;
• clay castle.

If you correctly choose a waterproofing and lay it in a quality manner, this will prevent the development of rotting, flowering, and the spread of bacteria, make the pond attractive, and help keep the coastline longer.

You can also equip the pond without waterproofing. Such a reservoir will be as close to natural conditions as possible. This means that if you do not regularly clean and change the water in it, it will bloom and smell unpleasant. Another way is to create a barrier between the soil and water mechanically by sealing the bottom. Each of the described methods has advantages and disadvantages. It is worth considering the features of the most common of them.

Did you know? According to Feng Shui teachings, a pond located on a site will certainly bring wealth and happiness to its owner.

Bentonite mats

Such material after contact with water is able to increase in size by 15 times. After swelling, it is characterized by excellent water resistance. When installing such mats to the bottom, press them with heavy material. During operation, it is necessary to ensure that the waterproofing of the pond is not disturbed.

Liquid rubber

This is one of the most advanced materials used for waterproofing ponds. Such water sources can have a long service life (warranty - up to 20 years) and be very reliable (it is almost impossible to damage this waterproofing). The material is environmentally friendly. Putting liquid rubber is easy. It freezes quite quickly, while perfectly repeating the shape of the future reservoir, making it look natural.

Plastic bowls

Ready bowls for the pond are plastic containers of the type of bath. They come in different sizes and shapes. They are buried in the ground and filled with water. This method is one of the easiest. The pond from the bowl is easy to do with your own hands.

• Among the advantages of plastic bowls are:
• reasonable price;
• a large assortment;
• quick and easy installation;
• long term of operation;
• easy care.

• Of the shortcomings, the following are worth mentioning:
• you can not change the shape of the reservoir;
• fragility of the structure.

Concrete pouring

It is easy to fill the bottom and walls of the reservoir with concrete. It is enough to follow the step-by-step instructions for filling. As a result of such waterproofing, a reliable, strong and durable construction is obtained.

Important! If the pond in which it is planned to breed fish is waterproofed with concrete, then it should be covered with liquid glass on top. This is necessary so that concrete chips do not get into the water.

In this way, you can fill the pits of a large volume. They can be made of various forms. However, the whole process takes a lot of time and flies a pretty penny.

Natural waterproofing with a clay castle

For laying on the bottom of an artificial reservoir, such natural material as oily plastic fine clay is used. It is not washed away by groundwater, in the wet state it is very plastic, can absorb a large amount of water and not pass it. Clay lock is performed by tamping layers in the formwork. This method of waterproofing allows you to equip the pond at the lowest cost.

In addition, it is well used in the construction of reservoirs in areas where stagnation of melt moisture, a high level of groundwater and spring flooding are observed. Significantly improve the waterproofing properties of the coating of the bottom of the reservoir can be, if you combine 2 materials, for example, clay and film.

• Among the advantages of using clay for pond waterproofing are the following:
• availability;
• environmental friendliness;
• simplicity of laying;
• long service life;
• lack of need for repair work.

Of the disadvantages, it should be noted that clay has the property to expand at frosty temperatures.

Necessary tools and materials

To organize a pond with a clay castle, you don’t need special equipment, serious tools and expensive materials.

Did you know? Decorative parks and gardens, including those with ponds, were laid by the ancient Greeks in the 10th – 8th centuries. BC e. The ancient Greek style of landscape design has characteristic features: utilitarianism and straight paths, decorated with columns, vases, sculptures.

Getting started, you should prepare:

• greasy clay with a sand content of 5–15%, which wrinkles well, holds its shape, does not crumble and does not spread, has a plasticine consistency;
• special soil compactor;
• geotextiles;
• a shovel;
• sand or gravel;
• gravel.

Phased construction

There are two ways to install a clay castle:

• using formwork equipment 5–10 cm high;
• layers that are formed outside the pit, and then are laid in the pit ready-made.

A step-by-step installation instruction is as follows:

1. Before laying clay waterproofing, dig a pit and make a flat shore.
2. Well tamp the bed.
3. Knead the clay.
4. Lay and compact the first layer using a sealant.
5. Wait for it to dry.
6. Lay 2 more clay layers in the same way. The recommended thickness of each of them is 8–12 cm.
7. Make reinforcement layers at the edges of the reservoir 15 cm higher than the expected water level.
8. Cover the upper clay layer with geotextile or film.
9. Form the bottom of a 2–3 cm layer of coarse gravel, a 5–7 cm layer of crushed stone or sand.

It is important that work be carried out quickly, since external factors, such as sun rays, precipitation, wind, have a negative impact on the quality and uniformity of the clay castle.

Thus, to equip an artificial reservoir on the site, knowing the technology, is easy and simple. For its construction, it is worth choosing a good place, taking into account the composition of the soil, the location of groundwater, the features of the relief, the illumination and the presence of plants. It is also important to choose the right waterproofing method. The simplest and cheapest is a natural, clay castle.