[Laura]

hi all
ian and i are in the process of "constructing" a wildlife pond in one corner of our plot - to ecourage the frogs and the toads to eat the slugs!  i've started digging the hole today which was hard going in the hot weather with the rubble, knot weed root, debris and glass ridden soil.  however the most of the hole is dug with a little further levelling and tidying to be done on sunday.  
has anyone got any tips regarding ponds - especially any cost effective ideas for pond liners, i'd heard butyl pond liner was the best but i'm horrified by the cost.  plantwise we should be ok as i'm planning on raiding a friend's pond for bits and pieces.  any info would be gratefully received
Laura

[Tensing]

My pond liner was about £15 from B&Q.

My son (14) dug and lined pond all by himself in a weekend, really pleased with him.

How big is your pond, as there are often large offcuts of pond liner on ebay.

[Laura]

many thanks Caroline, i shall go ebaying tonight!!!  well done your boy for building the pond himself, it was very hard work digging mine and i haven't got it finished yet but i do have the weekend off (hurrah) to spend at the plot so i will hopefully get it done.

[noshed]

Don't forget to show us a pic.

[milkman]

When acquiring pond weed and plants from other people's ponds also ask for a bucket of sludge from the bottom of their pond to go in the bottom of yours, then you will immediately have all sorts of useful wildlife colonising your pond and it should help your pond to 'settle in'.  

Don't worry if your pond water turns green initially - it is all part of the settling in process - it may stay green for what may seem to be ages but then one day you will look at it and it will have suddenly and magically turned clear.

[Laura]

i shall make sure to get both plants and sludge, i'm hoping that the frogs and toads are playing in there now.  we've started a gallery and proudly uploaded our pond - please have a look - can't figure out how to post a pic here though

[milkman]

your pond looks great - I'm sure you'll have all sorts of wildlife visiting.  If it gets some sunshine during the day watch out for dragonflies sunbathing on your edging stones.

[GrannieAnnie]

My firend has just inherited a pond and its full of duckweed, any experts out there with ideas of getting rid of it without using money?  she hasn't got any!!!!1

[Jake]

My firend has just inherited a pond and its full of duckweed, any experts out there with ideas of getting rid of it without using money?  she hasn't got any!!!!1

I heard on Gardeners Question Time a while back that you should just leave it, it will eventually get to the stage of comming and going as it starves itself and then repeats the process. Otherwise its just a lot of hard work skiming it off.

[Tensing]

My firend has just inherited a pond and its full of duckweed, any experts out there with ideas of getting rid of it without using money?  she hasn't got any!!!!1

Bag it all up and send it to me for my ducks, they love it and can clear a pond full in an hour.

Seriously I'll pay the postage.

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Caroline, it'll be easier if I just buy her a duck!!!!!!!

Is that why its called duck weed then?  Stupid question, but I know nothing about ponds.

[Tensing]

I think it is yes. My ducks just eat anything green especially if it is the pond.