Four Pond Edging Design Ideas

Installing a pond is not an easy task. It takes many hours of planning, designing, and creating each part of your pond. After plenty of digging, lining, and adding shelves for plants, you deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. But wait! There is one more thing that you need to do: pond edging.

As the term suggests, pond edging means making sure that the boundary of your pond blends well with the surrounding landscape. You can edge your pond using different materials, such as rocks, bricks, turfs, and plants. Each type of materials involves a different way of installing, cleaning, and maintenance.

However, before you decide on which material to use as your pond’s edge, you need to consider some factors first. For instance, do children often run and play in your garden? Do you live in a place where animals are free to run and move around? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should install a fixed edge to your pond. On the other hand, if your pond is situated in an enclosed or remote space, then a border made of rocks is enough.

In any case, regardless of the material that you plan to use, the main purpose of the edge is to separate the pond water from the soil around it. Otherwise, this could affect the quality and health of the pond. Furthermore, don’t forget to leave some gaps in the border. You may need them for installing a fountain, lights, and other features later on.

Different Types of Pond Edging

As cited earlier, you can use different materials in building the edge of your pond. The most common types of pond edging are:

Pavement

Paving around your pond is necessary if you live in an area where there are a lot of people around. The great thing about pavements is that they are neat and there are plenty of colors and designs to choose from. They also do a fantastic job of separating the pond water from the soil around it. This way, you can make sure that the plants on the outside cannot go inside the pond.

When installing pavement, be sure to place the slabs on the ground around the pond and not on the pool itself. This is because slabs tend to crack or break if placed on the pool material. Even if your pond is made from concrete, avoid putting slabs on top of the concrete walls. They may look neat and tidy now, but after some time, the slabs will only cause stress to the walls of the pond. For best results, flatten the earth around the pond and put some polyethylene on top of the walls before placing the slabs.

 

Bricks

Many pond owners choose to install bricks around the pond for a more classic look. Usually, one layer of bricks is enough to serve as the pond edge. However, you can always add more layers and create spaces for arranging potted plants around your pond. For a more natural look, you can add a creeping plant such as thyme between the cracks. These plants will look great as they grow and creep over the edge of the pond. Like using pavement, adding bricks means that the area around the pond should be strong enough to hold these materials.

Bricks are also great for building a wall on one side of your pond. Before you build one, though, make sure that the wall will have a strong foundation. Brick walls make a beautiful addition to your garden pond. You can use it to install a wall fountain or as a place for hanging different kinds of plants. You can also use it as the backdrop for a bench where visitors can sit and enjoy the view. To avoid any damage, make sure that that the brick wall stands on the ground and not on the pond material itself.

Rocks and Gravel

If you prefer a more natural look, then you should use rocks and gravel as your pond’s edge. The great thing about rocks is that they come in all shapes and sizes, so you can design your pond’s edge in any way you want. If you plan to use rocks, make sure that your pond has a shelf where you can place them in such a way that they are half above the water. Use only strong, solid rocks. Softer rocks tend to break more easily and release minerals into the pond water. These minerals could affect the chemistry of the water, which, in turn, could affect the fish. You should also consider using cement to keep your gravel and rocks in place. You never know when an animal would step over and break your rocky arrangement.

Aside from rocks and gravel, you can also use pebbles as pond edging. You can use them to create a pebble beach; just make sure that you cement them into place. Moreover, avoid using pebbles with sharp edges, as these can cause injury to the people and animals around the pond.

Plants and Turf

If you are into gardening and you would like to make your pond as natural-looking as possible, then you should use plants as pond edging. You can place marginal plants around the edge of your pond. You can create a shelf around the pond and put potted plants all around it. Plants are the most natural way to blend your pond with its surroundings. Remember, though, that they also need regular cleaning. You need to get rid of fallen leaves, flower, or petals frequently.

Installing turf also helps in creating a natural look to your pond’s edge. Like plants, turf requires a lot of maintenance. From time to time, you need to trim them by hand and make sure that trimmings do not fall into the water. You also need to include a drainage channel before you install turf.

Choosing Your Pond Edging

As you can see, pond edging involves many different options. If you want something that is more permanent and easy to maintain, then you can use pavement, bricks, rocks, and gravel. But if you want your pond to appear as natural as possible and you have plenty of time to maintain it, you can use plants and turf instead. Whichever material you choose, make sure that you can commit yourself to cleaning and maintaining your pond.