I have a query that I hope someone can give me some advice with,
I am filling in my old fishpond, as the ferns have now caused it to be in shade all the time, it has a slow leak, and my new neighbor wanted fish for his newly built pond, and we went fishing, got all mine out, and they live happily next door now...
Its about 1 1/2 metres deep is a kidney shape sort of, and about 3 metres long and the widest point, about 2 metres.
I have been chucking old potting mix, broken bricks, old pavers, all stuff like that to bulk it up a bit, but now have to get the "good" stuff into it.
My question is:
Should I use potting mix, as its sort of a confined area, or will garden soil be OK. Both will cost a fortune, whichever way I go.
I should mention that I am in the Dandenongs area of Victoria Australia, so our winters, while cold, and not snowy. Our summers can get rather scorching though.
I want to eventually plant bog or moisture loving plants.
Thanks for any advice you can give me...
Margaret
filling in a pond for a bog garden
I know little about Australian resources so bear with me if this not possible, but peat moss is a superb addition to a bog here in the states. My bog is 60% peat and 40% heavy garden soil, well mixed. It is lined with pond liner and has three 1/4" holes in the liner to allow for some slow drainage. It also has a buried irrigation pipe. I layed perforated PVC pipe across the bottom with a 90 degree extension of a solid piece to the surface so that I can hook a hose up to it. When we have a dry spell I can hook the hose up to the pipe and gently flood the bog from below. Mine is smaller than yours, about 2 metes by 2 meters and only 1 meter deep. The peat I bought in bales. The heavy soil was delivered.
You're going to have one magnificent bog when you're done!
Thanks a lot for your suggestion. I have printed it out, and will track down peat moss here. I haven't seen it anywhere, but then I have never looked so its sure to be around somewhere. The heavy soil is easy as we have beautiful mountain soil here, rich and dark and smells all foresty.
The pond is VERY squishy with old pond residue, I bought myself some new wellies, and climbed into the pond, so I could reach to trim up some of the ferns planted behind the pond, previously inaccessible, and when it came time to climb back out, could hardly pull the boots out of the mud!!! VERY pleased no-one was nearby with a camera!! LOL
Margaret
Glad you made it out unassisted! The pond muck is a very good sign that you will have excellent bog conditions. If you locate peat moss, and if it is prohibitively expensive, given the pond muck you already have, I don't think you will need to add much. I do hope you post picures, some as you go and the final result.