Few garden owners are likely to have a natural stream running across their property. Fortunately, you can build such a watercourse yourself with comparatively little effort. It is practical to create the right pond at the same time - this then serves as a water catch basin, in the depths of which the water pump is installed to protect it from frost and keeps the water continuously in circulation.
A stream increases the water quality in the pond
Garden design with water
Water has an extremely calming effect on the human mind, which is why the planned stream is best planned near a seat. Here you can relax after a hard day's work while listening to the rippling water and perhaps watching dragonflies dancing. In addition, bodies of water can fulfill very specific tasks in terms of garden design, for example by creating or subdividing different garden spaces or connecting them with one another.
Advantages of a stream for a fish pond
Especially if fish are to be kept in the planned garden pond, a stream is advantageous for ensuring high water quality. Many aquatic and bank plants clean the water that flows through them by filtering out excess nutrients. In addition, the water is enriched with oxygen as it passes through, especially if you incorporate turbulence and/or barrages or even a waterfall. Thus, the stream acts as a natural water filter, which, however, makes the artificial filter and water pump anything but superfluous. However, you should be able to get by with far less chemical use, which in turn benefits the goldfish.
Creating a pond and stream - tips and hints
Laying out a pond and stream in one go has undeniable advantages. For example, you can use the excavated earth from the pond seamlessly for the gradient of the creek, and a better connection between the two bodies of water can be achieved than with a subsequent installation. You can make it particularly easy if you buy matching finished parts and connect them to each other.
create slope
In order for the water to flow through the creek bed, a gradient of at least two percent, better still between three and five percent, is necessary. If you do not want to create the course of the stream on an already existing slope, you can create such an incline using the excavation from the pond. If the hill becomes quite steep, you should plan for a few barrages. With these you control the flow speed of the water, they also achieve an interesting look. Incidentally, the pond, in its function as a water catch basin, should always be located at the lowest point of the planned ensemble.
Connect pond and creek bed
Both bodies of water must be connected seamlessly and watertightly so that water losses are kept as low as possible. You can achieve this by using
- plastic trays
- concrete
- and pond liner.
You will also need the same materials to waterproof both the pond and the stream bed. Incidentally, concrete alone is not waterproof and must therefore be treated accordingly. This can be achieved with liquid pond liner (is sprayed on or spread) or with so-called sealing powder. Mix it with water to create a spreadable mass that is applied like paint.
tips
When it comes to planting, less is often more. Also make sure that a capillary barrier is installed at the edges of the pond and stream. This prevents the bank plants from drinking the waters dry in the truest sense of the word.