Don't underestimate the amount of soil it takes to fill a pond. My (inherited with the house) one is half-full now, but according to 'soil estimating tools' I still need about 6-7 tonnes of soil! D'oh!
(Pond is 5m x 3m and currently about 350mm deep)
Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.
Don't underestimate the amount of soil it takes to fill a pond. My (inherited with the house) one is half-full now, but according to 'soil estimating tools' I still need about 6-7 tonnes of soil! D'oh!
(Pond is 5m x 3m and currently about 350mm deep)
Just to make you feel better - the soil will settle too once the rain gets into it over the next 12 months or so. You will probably have to top it up.
I thought I'd be clever when I removed our pond and part filled it with rubble. That left big air gaps which the soil obviously found its way into over time and levels kept dropping. After several years we had a patio built over it, and it's still possible to see a slight depression in the slabs where the pond was.
Don't leave your compost scoop in the bag then decide to tip the whole thing is a pot, arrange and dig in your plants, add grit on top for a good finish and then can't find your scoop anywhere... #doh!
Don't allow your neighbours' puppy to run round all your newly labelled plant pots gleefully removing all the labels "for the fun of it". When I say "allow" I didn't exactly have a choice - it is very open here, low stone walls etc. I had to take action though when I was hanging out the washing and she pinched and ran down the drive with a pair of my knickers - wouldn't mind as much but they were Bridget Jones-style! My arthritic hips have never moved so quick
Martina Franca, Puglia, southern Italy Love living in Italy but a Loiner at heart
Don't tip a pot of what you thought was old compost straight on to the borders of your new garden, without checking it for vine weevil grubs first. I spent a good hour picking these little buggers out of the soil so as not to spread the vine weevil problem to a new neighbourhood!
Don't try to fill in a pond completely, leave it a bit concave and create a bog garden. That way it won't matter if the soil settles and it gives some lovely new planting opportunities.
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(Pond is 5m x 3m and currently about 350mm deep)
Love living in Italy but a Loiner at heart