Shade Gardening: Shade Garden Inspiration - Show off your garden!, 1 by chuck7701

chuck7701 wrote:
We put a small 30 gallon barrel pond in several years when the tree was smaller!! Now the roots have lifted one side of the pond. So consider situating it a good distance from any tree base or major roots. We wanted a larger concrete pond, but the installer said if we went with a larger one that close to the oak tree, there was a good chance it would harm the tree now if not later.

If you sink it into the ground, level with sand/gravel and line the bottom with concrete squares for bottom support for walking in to clean, and fill in the sides with larger gravel and sand. The other consideration is cleaning and draining when installing and landscaping around it. How and where to drain and/or clean it. Under a tree and you will be cleaning regularly!!!!!

Other than that, use your imagination. Start with lots of ferns, hostas and indigenous bog/creek plants. Corkscrew Rush grass makes a nice addition in or around the pond.

Chuck