Turning a pond into a planter is a great way to add some beauty and functionality to your garden. There are many ways to go about doing this, and the best approach will depend on your specific situation and needs.
Here, you will find a step-by-step guide explaining how to turn a pond into a planter.
The Steps Involved In How to Turn a Pond into a Planter
A pond is a water feature that is man-made, and usually contains many decorative features such as fish, algae, aquatic plants, or rocks. Ponds are often used for their aesthetic value.
There are several different approaches that you can take to convert your old pond into a planter. Each approach has pluses and minuses, but the ultimate decision should be based on your specific situation.
Drain the Water
You can define an old pond as a water feature that has fish or other creatures. If you want to turn your pond into a planter, the first step is to drain the water out of the pond.
After draining your garden pond, you may notice that debris and algae have landed on the bottom of your pond. Next, you will need to clean the pond before planting anything.
Remove any Garden Debris or Algae
You will need to remove all of this debris and algae from the bottom of your pond before you can begin filling it with soil. If you do not get rid of this debris, it will end up clogging the drain holes in your planter boxes.
To clean out your old pond, you will need to use a pond net. Or, if your pond is too large to remove debris from easily, then you can lift out the planter boxes and scrub them down with a stiff brush.
Clean the Pond
If they’re used to fish in your pond, this step should be easy for you since they have left behind natural fertilizer. If your pond doesn’t have fish, you will need to purchase some fish fertilizer at any local hardware store or online.
You are going to use this fertilizer to give the algae in your pond enough nutrients to ensure that it will not grow back, but not so many nutrients that you kill off all of the other plant life in your planter.
To clean out the pond, you will need to add enough fish fertilizer until algae blooms occur. These blooms will typically last about a day or less. Once the blooms have cleared up, then add more fertilizer and repeat this process until no more algae blooms appear.
Seal the Bottom
There are two different ways to approach this step, depending on what you have used in the past to line your pond. If you have never lined your pond with anything before, then skip this step.
If you have been using a liner in the past, then you will need to remove all of it from the bottom of your pond. Once the liner is removed, you will need to use a good pond sealer to prevent water from leaking through your new planter.
Fill the Pond with Soil
Once the bottom of your pond has been sealed, all you have left to do is fill it up with soil! You can purchase potting soil at any gardening store, but you can always order it online if you want to use soil better suited for gardens.
The most important thing is to make sure that the soil has good drainage. You can do this step very easily if your old pond plant was in it since using regular potting soil will provide plenty of drainage for your plants.
Line the Bottom with Pebbles
If your old pond did not have a liner in it before, then you will need to line the bottom with pebbles before adding any soil or plants. These pebbles will help ensure that water drains out and they will prevent soil from leaking out.
You can use either smooth pebbles or ones with a few bumps, but one thing to consider before using pebbles is how you plan to get around them once your plants begin to grow. If the plants are tall, you may need to pull out some of the pebbles, so you are not stepping on them.
Plant Your Garden
Once the bottom of your planter has been lined with smooth pebbles, then it is time to plant your garden! You can either use seeds, plants that have already sprouted, or even potted plants that have already grown a few inches tall.
If you plan to grow floating water lilies in your pond, you will need to find some of these at your local hardware store or online.
Once everything is planted, it is time to add water! If you use potted plants, make sure that the plastic pot can drain completely before adding any more water. If it doesn’t drain, it will kill the plant.
Now that your planter is finished, make sure to sit back and enjoy it!
Avoid These Mistakes When Keeping Ponds as Planters
When people turn their ponds into planters, they commonly make a few mistakes that need to be avoided, but here are the most common mistakes to avoid:
Improper Drainage
New planters will likely leak water unless they are properly sealed at the bottom Once you have finished turning your old pond into a planter, then it is time to fill it up with soil and plants!
Not Using Potting Soil
Using regular soil will not allow the plants to properly drain and will cause them to suffocate and die Make sure that your soil has good drainage before adding it to your planter, or else you may kill off the plants in your garden!
Poorly Placed Pond Liner
If your new planter has a liner in it that was never there before, then it will likely leak water unless the bottom has been sealed? The biggest mistake that you can make while turning your old pond into a planter is not properly sealing it at the bottom.
If any water leaks through the soil, it will cause problems for your plants.
Not Using Gravel
Using pebbles or stones in place of gravel will not give water plants proper drainage One of the best things about turning your old pond into a planter is that you can use water plants to give it an interesting look.
If you are using these plants, then make sure that they get enough light so that they can properly grow and thrive in your new garden.
Skipping Steps Infiltration Process
It is crucial that you have a pump with a filter attached in order to have cleaner water in your garden. It is best to remove all of the dirt from your old pond before turning it into a planter because this too will cause the pump’s filters to stop working overtime.
Using an electronic filter for your pump is one of the best ways to cleanse leftover chemicals and sediment from your water, making planting easier and allowing plants to grow.
Choose the Type of Garden You Want
There are many types of gardens you can choose from before you turn your old pond into a planter. Some of the most common types include:
Regular Garden
This garden is great if you want to plant low-growing plants such as flowers or vegetables.
Floating Garden
This type of garden consists of large, thick green leaves that help give your pond a fresh look. If you plan on using floating water lilies, then this is the best type of garden for them!
Tropical Garden
If you want to make your garden truly exotic, find plants native to tropical areas. This type of garden is not for beginners because the plants are harder to care for.
Carnivorous Garden
If you love watching insects get trapped by epic traps, then this is the perfect type of garden for you! It attracts all sorts of bugs and insects, so make sure that you have a pond net or insect spray on hand before starting this type of garden.
Pondless Waterfall Garden
If you want to put an emphasis on the waterfall, then find plants that can grow around it. This type of garden is perfect for small ponds and waterfalls!
The possibilities are endless when it comes to turning your old pond into a planter or even just adding natural elements such as rocks, wood, and river stones to give your pond a different look.
Container Garden
This type of garden is especially useful if you don’t have space for a traditional garden. Simply place it on your porch, balcony, or rooftop, and you’re all set!
Choosing a type of garden can help you decide what kind of plants to use and how the soil should be placed. Make sure that your container pond has drainage holes at the bottom if you plan on using water plants!
The Benefits of Turning Your Pond into a Planter
Turning your old pond into a planter can be done easily and cheaply here are some of the main benefits:
Prevents Wildlife from Getting Into It
If you want to prevent animals such as raccoons or possums from getting into your pond, then turning it into a planter is one of the best ways to do this. It can also keep children and pets safe by making it impossible for them to fall in and get hurt.
Resists Algae Growth
If you want to prevent algae from building up in your pond, you will need to do a lot of regular work such as scrubbing and cleaning it. If you do not have the time to take care of this, turning your old pond into a planter is the best option for keeping algae off your water’s surface.
Saves Money
You can save a lot of money by turning your old pond into a planter because it is easy and cheap to do! All you must do is remove the water and dirt from your old pond, patch up its hole and then fill it with soil and plants.
Additions such as stones and pebbles can be added to make it look more interesting, but this is completely optional.
Improves the Garden’s Environment
Turning an old pond into a planter will provide you with cleaner water for your plants to grow in. It also provides trees and other plants with cleaner water, making them healthier and happier!
If you are trying to create a beautiful garden, you should consider turning your old pond into a planter.
Makes It Easier To Grow Water Plants
Water plants such as lilies and lotuses need clean, well-circulated water in order to grow properly and thrive. If you often have dead leaves and dirt in your pond, then it will not have a good circulation and it will be very difficult for a water plant to grow.
Turning your old pond into a planter will solve this problem because you can lay out stones, gravel, and other materials at the bottom of the pond to help circulate the water.
Creating a Beautiful Garden
You can create an attractive garden that everyone will love by turning your old pond into a planter! You do not need to be an expert gardener or landscaper in order to turn your pond into a gorgeous water feature. All you need to do is fill it with soil and plants in order for your garden to flourish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Turn a Pond into a Planter without Chemicals?
If you are looking for an environmentally friendly way to turn your old pond into a planter, you should consider using organic gardening materials instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
What Do I Need To Create a Waterfall Garden in My Pond?
To turn your old pond into a planter, you will need to drain the water and dirt from it using a pump. Once you have removed the water and dirt, patch up any holes in your old pond. After this, use small rocks at the bottom of the pond to help circulate the water, creating a waterfall effect.
What Should I Use if My Pond has Algae?
There are many different products that you can use to kill algae in your pond; however, the most environmentally friendly option is using organic gardening materials.
How Do I Prevent Plants from Overgrowing My Pond?
You can use some sort of barrier to control the plants’ growth, such as a rough stone wall. This will restrict their growth, so they don’t overshadow your water feature.
Summary
This is an easy way to turn a pond into a planter, so you can improve the look of your garden and keep water plants around. Not only is this a great way to add some value to your home, but it can also be a fun project for you and your family to work on together. If you are looking for an easy way to make your garden, turning your old pond into a planter is the perfect solution!
