If there ’s one affair that ’s missing from most gardens , it ’s weewee . We love hone our lawns , creating stunning beds and borders , and growing toothsome yield and veg . But many of us forget about H2O , a fundamental feature of speech that benefits wildlife and increase the biodiversity in our gardens .
This summer , I set out to castrate this in my garden . Yet , I did n’t want to dig a cavernous golf hole , as I go in a letting , and I do n’t think my landlord would be very pleased ! So , instead , I had to get a small originative using a half - barrel .
In this web log post , I ’ll peach you through how to make a wildlife barrel pond on a budget – for less than £ 100 – in 8 soft steps .
Step-By-Step Guide to Making a Half-Barrel Pond
Making a half - cask pond is a playfulness , small projection anyone can take on , even if you ’re the least hard-nosed person you know ! It requires scarce any instrument , a modest budget , and can be completed in a duo of days .
Equipment You’ll Need:
If you want to sandpaper down the hoops , you ’ll require :
And if you choose to create your own wad , you ’ll also need :
Step 1. Acquire & Sand the Barrel
The first step to making a half - barrel pool is source the barrelful itself . You have two options here :
fortunately , both are pretty well-fixed to source . If you jazz Facebook Marketplace as much as I do , you ’ll roll in the hay that you’re able to get anything on there for a steal . After a small patience , I found a half - cask in my local domain for just £ 20 . So , if you ’re looking for a half - drum but do n’t screw where to begin , I definitely advocate hopping on Facebook Marketplace ! You may also receive barrel for cheap on eBay , Gumtree , Etsy , in garden centres or even sometimes places like B&M.
While all barrels should be sealed , it ’s worth looking for any serious damage when purchase these . If there are any cracks or jam , see for another . If you see slight gaps between the staves ( the objet d’art of wood making up the barrel ’s sides ) , do n’t concern . gun barrel are typically made of oak , and oak boom when it ’s wet . So , as presently as you add water supply to the barrel , the Sir Henry Joseph Wood should begin to varnish . How nerveless is that !
Depending on the stipulation of your drum , you may want to sandpaper it down . We sanded ours down as it had pretty serious rusting on the metal basketball hoop . We used aRyobi Cordless Combi Drillwith a metal preparation brush lay out from Screwfix to sand the hoops down , and this only postulate us around 30 minutes .
We were originally going to paint the basket with black Hammerite , but we decided against it as we liked the aged look . However , if your garden is more modern , this could be a right option for you .
Step 2. Plug the Hole or Add a Pond Liner
make the fire hydrant for the half - gun barrel was a little tricky , as local craft store only seem to sell hoopla cutter drill attachments up to 12.7 millimeter – this is n’t large enough to create a cask plug .
Instead , we decided to cut a part of oak using a holesaw drill bit – we used a 57 mm holesaw Makita bore bit to create a plug for our 27 - in diameter cask . However , you may need a unlike - sized drill adhesion , depending on the size of your barrel .
It ’s worth acquit in nous that if you go down this route , the holesaw bit tailor a circular fix in the centre of the plug . This obviously is n’t ideal . However , we were fortunate enough to have a dowel pin that was the perfect size of it for the hole . All we did after cutting our plug was insert the dowel , seal off it with CT1 sealer , then put the plug in place and seal it from the top and bottom .
If you do n’t have this type of equipment and would rather take a somewhat easier option , you’re able to utilize a pool line drive instead . In fact , even if you ’ve made a fire hydrant , we recommend using a liner . Why?Because barrelful often store alcohol , and intoxicant incorporate chemical substance that can strip into the pond pee , causing damage to the aquatic liveliness within .
There are several road you’re able to go down when purchase a pool liner – Butyl Rubber , Polyvinyl Chloride ( PVC ) , Low - Density Polyethylene ( LDP ) and Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer ( EPDM ) .
If you ’re look to fill in this labor on a budget , then a PVC liner is the best alternative for you . But if you ’re more interested in longevity , piece a Butyl Rubber ocean liner . These will last over 20 year and are strong , pliant , and durable . They ’re the crème de la crème of pond liners .
We chose a PVC liner because this was what was useable to us on the day , it was tinny , and we project to channelize the pool to a new base in the next twosome of years , anyway .
To ascertain you get the correct - sized pond liner , measure out one side of the gun barrel and times that economic value by two , then measure the barrel ’s base and add the values together . Buy more than you need , as the ocean liner will require to deform to fit the barrel , and you ’ll want to have enough !
READ NEXT : The Best Pond Liners
Step 3. Cut the Liner
When it comes to switch off the liner , you may do this now or when you begin to fill up the bbl . We only made a rough cut before filling ours up slenderly because we wanted to see whether the water pushed the liner in a especial direction . This manner , we could ensure our liner was big enough to almost strive the top of the gun barrel .
There ’s no real technique to doing this , and it ’s passably straightforward . The one recommendation I have is to staple your lining before cutting it – this stops it from pother around when you ’re trying to shorten it .
You ’ll belike find that , when it comes to staple the lining , you have a portion of excess liner , which causes some difficulties when you attempt to jibe it well in the barrel . We found that pen up the liner helped us get a neater convulsion . We then went along the line drive and stapled the crimp so they did n’t flap around when we impart the weewee .
you’re able to use a staple ordnance or even just a stapler for this . Our basic gun ran out of staple midway through , so we resort to my home office stapler , and that still worked a treat ( with a little oomph ! ) .
Step 4. Buy Pond Baskets, Pond Plants, Pond Soil and Gravel
Now it ’s clock time to snitch ! First on your inclination is pond baskets – you ’ll need these rather than other industrial plant container , as pond baskets have thousands of flyspeck cakehole that allow water to get in and your plant ’ etymon to elaborate . You ’ll also need an array of plant , pond soil , and some gravel -the stuff you find from the local garden center is fine – we bought a £ 4 bag from Wickes , and it was perfect !
What you buy is really up to you . We choose two pool basket , one in the shape of a kidney bean and another smaller , orbitual one . We did n’t want to crowd together the pool and desire to be able to add pond lilies later down the seam . However , if you want to fill your pond with flora from the get - go , go for it !
While choose industrial plant , I recommend take care for UK and European natives . These plants can handle our fluctuating temperature , so they will survive the UK ’s hardest Robert Lee Frost and hot summer day . In light of this , we chose :
READ NEXT : Types of Pond Plants ( Your Guide to the Best Aquatic Plants )
Step 5. Source Old Bricks, Logs, Branches, and Rocks
If you want to preface worm and other pattern of wildlife into your pond , you ’ll require small corner and crannies for them to hide in . rock-and-roll are important to admit in your barrel pool for this intellect , as you may use an array of big and small rocks to create some spaces for insects to nestle in . You ’ll also want a larger rock ‘n’ roll or two , as you may prop these halfway out of the water system , provide a perching blot for reptiles and washup birds !
To create ramps and bridges across your pond for birds , you ’ll need sure-enough logs and branch . You may have some of these lying around , but if you do n’t , you could search for “ vivarium branches ” online – there are some comparatively cheap ones on eBay and Amazon !
finally , you ’ll need something for your pond baskets to endure on , as many pond plants like to be partially , but not fully , submerged . House bricks are idealistic for this . If you ’ve generate any lying around , that ’s great ! If you do n’t and need to source them , attempt to find oneself some with hole in them – these provide valuable habitats for insects .
Step 6. Wash & Pot Your Plants
You ’ll be amazed by how much soil is on shop - bought gravel . It ’s significant to wash anything going into your pool , include the gravel . Otherwise , you ’ll stop up with a super murky pond straight from the offset .
Pond baskets make a wonderful screen , so you’re able to simply place your gravel inside and gargle it off under an outdoor pat or hose . recall to move the stones around to ensure you get all of the crap off until the water escape clean underneath . Then do the same for your rocks , bricks , and log .
Now , it ’s time to pot your plants ! withdraw the gravel from your pond baskets and tot your pool grime . We used Velda Pond Soil , but Westland Aquatic Pond Soil is also a expectant choice . Pot your flora up like you would any other plants , but leave 1 - 2 inches of space so you could cover the soil with a stratum of gravel .
The crushed rock prevent the soil from run away into the water when you bring down it into your pond and will bring home the bacon scores of little space for insect to lay their testis .
Step 7. Fill Up Your Pond!
You may have already filled your pond up slightly like we did to see where the water pushed the ocean liner . However , now it ’s time to fill it up full ! At this point , you ’re in all likelihood asking , “ What do I occupy it up with ? ” Well , you ’ve got two options :
OR
If you hoard rain , then this is by far the serious water you could put in your half - barrel pond . However , if ( like me ) you do n’t accumulate rain , then water tap water works very well , too .
But there ’s one caveat when filling your pond up with tap urine . Tap pee bear Cl and atomic number 7 , which will get your pool to become cloudy for the first few day or even a week . as luck would have it , the atomic number 17 will disappear over clock time , and your pool plant life will use the nitrogen , so it will clear eventually . Do n’t ’ worry ; it wo n’t appear bubbly for farseeing ( granted you have enough pond plants ! ) .
Step 8. Assemble Your Pond!
And finally , the moment you ’ve been waiting for – gathering ! Use your brick to make platforms for your plant so they ’re the right height .
Then , create a basis for a large rock or log using brick . Ensure that part of your rock candy or log is poking out of the water , as this will cater an outflow for any frogs or other reptiles that need to climb out . We bought a tilt for £ 7 from Wickes – we picked one which naturally had several heights so that it could provide stair for reptilian .
This is also the peak where you ’ll want to tote up your branches or logs . As a bbl planter is n’t solid ground level , you ’ll need to lean a branch or log up against the side of your barrel so that reptile can rise from the trading floor to the barrel and back down again .
Placing a branch across your barrel will also provide a perching smirch for birds so they can scope out their surroundings before go in for a drink or bath .
Final Word on How to Make a Wildlife Barrel Pond
Creating a half - barrel pond is a rewarding and eco - well-disposed project that can transmute your garden into a boom habitat for various forms of wildlife . While it may seem like a small endeavour , it can have a significant shock on the local biodiversity and provide a peaceful oasis for you to enjoy .
By following the 8 well-heeled stairs outlined in this scout , you may bring in water system to your garden without the pauperization for overweening dig or a turgid budget .
glad pond - making !
Wildlife Half-Barrel Pond FAQs
Can I use a half-barrel as a pond?
Yes , as barrels often bear liquidness such as intoxicant , oil , or water , half - barrels are an idealistic choice of container for a garden pond . If you do use a barrel that antecedently contained alcoholic drink , however , it ’s best to utilise a pond liner or aquatic sealant . Otherwise , the chemical substance from the barrel will leak into the water . This wo n’t do your plant or the local wildlife any undecomposed !
What do I need for a barrel pond?
To produce a wildlife barrelful pool , you ’ll need a half - barrel , pond line drive , an array of bricks , rocks , logs , and branches , pond field goal , pond land , pond flora , gravel , and urine . The tools you ’ll require admit a staple shooter or stapler , a holesaw attachment , a combi drill , and ideally a hose , but a watering can would do . If you need to remove rust fungus from the hoop , you ’ll also need emery paper or a sword brush attachment for a combi drill .
Do I need to line a barrel pond?
If your half - barrel previously hold back a form of alcohol , it ’s best to line it with a pond liner . If you ’re unsure about your barrel ’s previous chronicle , it ’s better to be secure than sorry and draw it . This will prevent chemical substance from leach out into your pool water supply and causing harm to your aquatic plants and wildlife .
How do I keep my pond barrel water clear?
plant are the Florida key to keeping your barrel water clear . You should n’t demand to do an awing lot to keep your pond clear if you ’ve choose your plants right . Choose a range of plants for your barrel pool , ensuring at least 60 % of those you ’ve choose are pond plants specifically , as these will help keep your pond water clear .
If you ’ve loved learning how to make a wildlife barrel pool and want other idea for adding water to your garden , you ’ll love our blog post,28 Natural Garden Pond Ideas ( Raised & Waterfall Designs ) !
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