I'm considering adding a small pond to my wildlife garden, either as a simple container or a garden feature. I have a few questions for anyone who's created a small pond before. I'd love to hear about your experiences regarding:
1. The maintenance needed—how much time and money do you invest?
2. Any issues with unwanted visitors, like rats?
3. The benefits you've noticed—has it attracted more wildlife or different species?
4. The overall cost of setting it up?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
9 Answers
c
I created a pond using a plastic half barrel. I have a water lily, some irises, and lots of oxygenating weeds. Surprisingly low maintenance! I just need to remove fallen leaves occasionally. The local birds love it for drinking and bathing, and I've even added two tiny goldfish. The setup cost me around £50 and was definitely worth it for the wildlife it attracts! Just a small tip—make sure to build a solid base for your barrel; mine tilts a bit now!
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r
I repurposed a Mexican hat feeder as a pond! It was cheap, just some cobbles and stones with water—super easy to maintain. I just top it up every now and then. The birds use it for drinking and bathing, and luckily, I've had no issues with algae so far!
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Have you dealt with algae at all?