Building Natural Ponds , livre ebook

New Society Publishers - Robert Pavlis

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

127 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

Features offered to: Mother Earth News, Better Homes and Gardens
Excerpts offered to GRIT, The Family Handyman, Pond Trade Magazine
Advertising in Mother Earth News
Promotion on author's website www.gardenfundamentals.com, www.gardenmyths.com
Galley available on Edelweiss
Promotion to master gardeners, Farmsmart and landscaping organizations
Publicity and promotion in conjunction with the author's speaking engagements
Promotion via New Society Publishers social media platforms.

The author has been gardening for 40 years and is the owner and developer of Aspen Grove Gardens, a 6-acre botanical garden that features over 2,500 varieties of plants
Robert is the author of two popular blogs: GardenMyths, investigating the truths behind common gardening myths; and GardenFundamentals, providing general gardening and garden design information.
Robert is a well-known lecturer and speaker whose audiences include Master Gardener groups, horticultural societies, orchid societies, and garden shows
Building Natural Ponds teaches readers to create a natural pond that is clean and algae free without the use of pumps, filters, or chemicals
The book demonstrates design techniques that mimic a native pond in both aesthetics and functionality
Cover ntural swimming pools, which are gaining in popularity
Offer troubleshooting tips
Building Natural Ponds is the first book that uses designs that work without electricity.
The author set out to develop a pond design that would mimic nature and provide a low-maintenance solution for homeowners.His design has now been in operation for 9 years and the water is clear and algae-free. Plants, insects, and amphibians thrive.

Build a natural pond for wildlife, beauty, and quiet contemplation

Typical backyard ponds are a complicated mess of pipes, pumps, filters, and nasty chemicals designed to adjust pH and keep algae at bay. Hardly the bucolic, natural ecosystem beloved by dragonflies, frogs, and songbirds.

The antidote is a natural pond, free of hassle, cost, and complexity and designed as a fully functional ecosystem, ideal for biodiversity, swimming, irrigation, and quiet contemplation.

Building Natural Ponds is the first step-by-step guide to designing and building natural ponds that use no pumps, filters, chemicals, or electricity and mimic native ponds in both aesthetics and functionality. Highly illustrated with how-to drawings and photographs, coverage includes:

Understanding pond ecosystems and natural algae control
Planning, design, siting, and pond aesthetics
Step-by-step guidance for construction, plants and fish, and maintenance and trouble shooting
Scaling up to large ponds, pools, bogs, and rain gardens.

Whether you're a backyard gardener looking to add a small serene natural water feature or a homesteader with visions of a large pond for fish, swimming, and irrigation, Building Natural Ponds is the complete guide to building ponds in tune with nature, where plants, insects, and amphibians thrive in blissful serenity.

Robert Pavlis , a Master Gardener with over 40 years of gardening experience, is owner and developer of Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden featuring over 2,500 varieties of plants. A well-respected speaker and teacher, Robert has published articles in Mother Earth News , Ontario Gardening magazine, the widely read blog GardenMyths.com, which explodes common gardening myths and gardening information site GardenFundamentals.com.

Introduction

1. Understanding a Balanced Ecosystem
Oxygen Cycle
Nutrients
pH
Algae
Animals
Trees and Shrubs
Plants
Microbes
Maintaining Balance in the Ecosystem

2. Environmental Benefits
Pond Ecosystem
Breeding Site for Amphibians
Dragonflies and Mosquitoes
Birds and Mammals
Water Conservation
Environmental Awareness
Less Lawn
Permaculture Food Sources

3. Natural Looking Designs
Native Ponds
Man-made Ponds
How Natural Can You Get?
The Borrowed View
Enjoy the Pond
Stones, Stones, and More Stones
Plants Are Key
Your Final Design

4. Planning and Design
Location
Legal Issues
Access to Electrical Power
Size
Depth
Water Source
Bogs and Rain Gardens
Trees
Pond Liners
Human Access
Rocks
Shape of the Pond and Planting Shelves
Plants
Excavated Soil

5. Building
Site Evaluation
Soil Type
Installing a Preformed Pond
Flexible Pond Liners
Digging the Hole for a Flexible Liner
Preparing the Hole
Installing the Pond Liner
Footings for a Dock or Bridge
Adding Water
Protecting Planting Shelves
Stones for the Planting Shelf
Leveling the Pond Edge
Adding the Spillway
Allowing for Inflow
Edging the Pond
Adding the Finishing Touches

6. Fish
Fish Care
Hobby Fish
Game Fish

7. Plants
Planting
Fertilizing
Starting Small
Too Many Plants
Plant Pests and Diseases
Undesirable Pond Plants
Selection of Water Plants
Workhorse Water Plants

8. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Don't Do These Things
Adding Water
Removing Organics
Winter Care
Pond Leaks

9. Large-scale Ponds
Special Pond Types
Regulations and Permits
Water Sources
Liner Options
General Construction Considerations
Aerators and Fountains
Constructing Dams
Designing the Inflow
Designing the Outflow
Plants
Eutrophication

10. Pools, Bogs, and Rain Gardens
Natural Swimming Pools
Bogs
Rain Gardens

References
Index
About the Author
A Note About the Publisher

Sujets

Jardinage

Jardin décoratif

Landscape

Gardening

Landscape architecture

Lakes

Informations

Publié par	New Society Publishers
Date de parution	07 avril 2017
Nombre de lectures	2
EAN13	9781771422352
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,1250€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Praise for Building Natural Ponds
I love all things water, and I was thrilled to read the most comprehensive book on designing and building natural ponds. Pavlis has provided detailed, step-by-step instructions about all aspects of ponds. He even discusses large dams, rain gardens, bog gardens, maintenance and much more. What intrigued me was ways to build ponds that did not require any pumps or filtration, and could be set up by anyone with basic skills in shaping soil, placing stone and planting. A must-read for the garden enthusiast and designer.
- Dr. Ross Mars, Permaculture Elder and author, The Permaculture Transition Manual and The Basics of Permaculture Design
I ve never put in a pond, but after reading Robert Pavlis Building Natural Ponds , I am confident that I could do it. And, after reading the book, I will! The book is very thorough, with guidance for every step from planning to digging to stocking with fish to planting to...well, everything you need to know.
- Lee Reich, PhD, author, The Pruning Book, Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden and Landscaping with Fruit www.leereich.com
Build your own golden pond with this complete, authoritative and wonderfully illustrated guide. Robert Pavlis has a knack for making a complex, natural ecosystem seem both straightforward and accessible. Building Natural Ponds is the perfect book for anyone who wants a pond, or is eager to improve the one they already have by making it a healthy, functioning ecosystem without any pumps, pipes, chemicals-or algae. From small ponds to large, with a plethora of plant options and covering everything from planning and designing to construction, Building Natural Ponds covers it all. Pavlis is just the right person to lead us to some water in our backyards or on our homesteads.
- John D. Ivanko, co-author, Rural Renaissance and ECOpreneuring
There are many reasons to add a water feature to the landscape. Whether it s a tranquil stone lined goldfish pool, or a larger pond for swimming, fishing and irrigation, a pond can greatly increase the biodiversity and beauty of a landscape. They can help manage storm water and provide harvests of food and craft materials. Building Natural Ponds is a detailed guide to planning, designing and building ponds, enhancing both your landscape and your life with open water.
- Darrell E. Frey, Three Sisters Farm, author, Bioshelter Market Garden and The Food Forest Handbook
I ve always warned gardeners that a pond, however wonderful for its contribution, will be the most maintenance-demanding aspect of the landscape. The dream is to create a balanced miniature ecosystem in which you don t need massive pumps and filters-after all, there aren t any such machines in a natural pond. How can that dream be realized? With nature s help, Robert Pavlis shows us how.
- Ken Druse, award-winning author www.KenDruse.com
As someone who has struggled with an assortment of pond challenges over the past 15 years, I can say with certainty that this is the book that every pond owner or wanna-be needs to read. It s always wonderful to come across an author who, like me, ignored all the people who said something couldn t be done-and learned how to do it!
- Deborah Niemann, author, Homegrown and Handmade, Ecothrifty , and Raising Goats Naturally

Copyright 2017 by Robert Pavlis.
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Diane McIntosh.
Central pond image: author supplied; all others iStock.
All interior images Robert Pavlis unless otherwise noted.

Printed in Canada. First printing March 2017.
Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of Building Natural Ponds should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below. To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com
Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:
New Society Publishers
P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
(250) 247-9737
L IBRARY AND A RCHIVES C ANADA C ATALOGUING IN P UBLICATION
Pavlis, Robert, 1953-, author
Building natural ponds : create a clean, algae-free pond without pumps,
filters, or chemicals / Robert Pavlis.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-0-86571-845-6 (softcover).-ISBN 978-1-55092-640-8 (PDF). - ISBN 978-1-77142-235-2 (HTML)
1. Ponds-Design and construction. 2. Water in landscape architecture. I. Title.
SB475.8.P38 2017
714
C2017-900413-1 C2017-900414-X
New Society Publishers mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision.
Dedicated to my wife, Judy, who has always stood by me while I explore crazy ideas. This book would not be possible without her support .
Contents
Introduction
1. Understanding a Balanced Ecosystem
Oxygen Cycle
Nutrients
pH
Algae
Animals
Trees and Shrubs
Plants
Microbes
Maintaining Balance in the Ecosystem
2. Environmental Benefits
Pond Ecosystem
Breeding Site for Amphibians
Dragonflies and Mosquitoes
Birds and Mammals
Water Conservation
Environmental Awareness
Less Lawn
Permaculture Food Sources
3. Natural Looking Designs
Native Ponds
Man-made Ponds
How Natural Can You Get?
The Borrowed View
Enjoy the Pond
Stones, Stones, and More Stones
Plants Are Key
Your Final Design
4. Planning and Design
Location
Legal Issues
Access to Electrical Power
Size
Depth
Water Source
Bogs and Rain Gardens
Trees
Pond Liners
Human Access
Rocks
Shape of the Pond and Planting Shelves
Plants
Excavated Soil
5. Building
Site Evaluation
Soil Type
Installing a Preformed Pond
Flexible Pond Liners
Digging the Hole for a Flexible Liner
Preparing the Hole
Installing the Pond Liner
Footings for a Dock or Bridge
Adding Water
Protecting Planting Shelves
Stones for the Planting Shelf
Leveling the Pond Edge
Adding the Spillway
Allowing for Inflow
Edging the Pond
Adding the Finishing Touches
6. Fish
Fish Care
Hobby Fish
Game Fish
7. Plants
Planting
Fertilizing
Starting Small
Too Many Plants
Plant Pests and Diseases
Undesirable Pond Plants
Selection of Water Plants
Workhorse Water Plants
8. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Don t Do These Things
Adding Water
Removing Organics
Winter Care
Pond Leaks
9. Large-scale Ponds
Special Pond Types
Regulations and Permits
Water Sources
Liner Options
General Construction Considerations
Aerators and Fountains
Constructing Dams
Designing the Inflow
Designing the Outflow
Plants
Eutrophication
10. Pools, Bogs, and Rain Gardens
Natural Swimming Pools
Bogs
Rain Gardens
References
Index
About the Author
A Note About the Publisher
Introduction
I have always wanted a larger pond in my new garden, and it was time to plan for it. It would be located at the top of a hill, next to a wooded area. This is a very natural area that has not been cultivated for many years. The design of the new pond had to fit into this environment and look as old as the mature trees and shrubs around it.
Pond building was not entirely new to me. I had built a few small traditional ponds in the past, and my last project was a large, multi-level waterfall and pond combination. These had all followed traditional designs and used pumps to keep the water clean. My new pond would be in an area that did not have electricity, and I didn t really want to run a new electric line to the location. I wondered, is it possible to build a pond with no electricity?
Why not just build a pond, fill it with water, and let nature take care of things? That seemed like a simple solution to the electricity problem. After much research in books and online, one point became very clear. Everybody agreed on one thing. A natural lined pond without pumps and filters would never work. In no time at all, it would become an algae cesspool of stinking organic matter. These so-called experts gave some vague reasons why it would not work, but nobody said that they had actually tried it.
My background is in chemistry and biology, and I have been studying plants and gardening all my life. I understood water chemistry, and the biology of water life. I maintained aquariums and bred fish for over ten years. One of my projects was to set up two five-foot long aquariums with no air and no filters. They contained a limited number of fish and lots of plants. All I did was feed the fish and replace some water once a month. After five years, they were still going strong with no water quality problems and no need for chemicals. In that time, they were never dismantled for cleaning. The plants and fish grew so well that I had to remove some every six months. The key to these self-sufficient aquariums was the plants-lots of them. They were my air pump and filter, and they cleaned up the fish poop for me.
Why could I not replicate the self-contained aquariums in a pond? Mother Nature does it all of the time. Everything I knew about ponds, water chemistry, fish, and plants told me that it would work. Everything I read told me it would not.
After a lot of thought, I concluded that the experts must be wrong. I convinced myself that if a pond was designed correctly, following nature s guidelines, it would work. So I set out to prove the experts wrong.
That was eight years ago. Almost from day one, the pond was a success. In the first couple of years, I did have some algae in the pond, but that was because the plants had not yet established themselves. To be honest, I cheaped out and did not buy enough plants. Each year as the plants multiplied, the amount of algae decreased. I ll explain this key relationship later in more detail.
About four years into the project, the water was crystal clear. I could easily see to the bottom of my fo