Revising Our Bridge Over the Backyard Kois Pond.

When we built our bridge, I used pictures of various bridge models from magazines to tell our carpenter person what I "wanted". Well, as it turned out, not far away from what I envisioned. However, safety factor slowly unvieled itself after a period of couples of years:
1. The curvature of of the bridge, though pleasing to the eyes, isn't safe! One can easily fall off the steep angle walking up and down the bridge.
2. The added slippery of the algea built-up being weathered outdoor, increases our chances of slip and fall 10 folds. Ouch!
3. Not to mention if there are neighboring children wanting to run and play nearby the area.

Luckily, thus far no broken ankles, or missing teeth from falling accidence. One or two Ouchies-cry, and a sore bee-hind, urggh!!!

So this weekend DH tries to rectify this error, wanna come along for the visual tour repair of our bridge?
Please join us, and give us your idea/thought on creating a safe(r) bridge to enjoy our tranquility spot of the water garden, our Koi Pond.

Top view:

Another view:

That's a nice concept. I can't offer any good advice, just admiration for your undertaking. And also for however you got your DH to do it!

http://www.gardenbridges.com/styles.html

http://www.cedarstore.com/spl/category/garden-bridges/256/?utm_campaign=google_content&utm_source=google&utm_term=garden+landscaping


Check these out.

This message was edited Dec 13, 2008 4:43 PM

This message was edited Dec 13, 2008 4:47 PM

Well, the project came to a hault. DH anticipated that it would take him a weekend to finish. Once he took up the cross boards, he realized it's more involved due to a middle ridge within the bridge that he didn't know it was there. You know, the one that reinforce the structure and made it sturdy. It's more complicated, now we've to stand back, looks for another solution. 1. Replace the whole bridge with another? 2. Stair stack both ends of the bridge to modify the steep angles in which we've to come up and down either ends of the bridge.

Thanks Snaple45 for the links, those could give us some ideas on modifying our current bridge structure.

Since it doesn't look really steep, I'd just nail some cleats on it and put some shingles between the cleats to help with the footing.

Wow, I think it looks great but I understand the practical side. I have no answers but love reading something new in the water garden section.

What do you keep in your pond?

You could also pre build an attractive wedge shape that is then attached to the existing bridge on either side to extend it out, thus making it less steep. That way, he wouldn't have to tear out what is already there.
Pam

I really like the bridge too - can you just build a fence so the "neighboring children" don't trespass into your yard?

The bridge just looks so nice in that spot! Maybe nail some sort of grippy material in strips on the wood?

Hi everyone, thanks for your input. I'll have DH look into some of the suggestion and see what we can come up with. Someone asked what we keep in our pond? I've several large Kois, half a dozen of Shubunkins, and maybe a dozen of gold fish. Aquatic plants consist of some Lousiana Iris, Lizard's tail, water lily. The pond is situated in the shade, the lily doesn't bloom well here due to lacks of adequate sunshine.

That sounds like a good bunch of fish. How big is the pond?

It's roughly 2000+ gallons. Our biggest Koi is about 4-5lbs.

Do you have any pics of the whole thing? It sounds great.

I'd like to see pics too.

I can't find a pix of the whole pond this morning, but this is just a corner of the bridge with the Japanese maple by the bridge (last month). There are two that framed the bridge at each end.

Oh my gosh, that's beautiful!

Thank you, I'll post more pix of the pond as I find them later...today we've a chance to put down our spring bulbs into the garden. I shall be back with more pix this evening. Thanks all for your interests.

Lily love the picture-the first thing I had to do was see where you live zone wise. I live I a colder zone-5-Chicago area. I can't wait to see more of your garden. Is the Acer in a container?

MM, I've good news for you. If you like the JM, it's hardy in your zone too. For those of us who are further South than I'm. Crimson Queen cultivar is taking our heat likes a champ.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/225079/

p.s. I meant to say, the Acer are planted in the ground. I'll have to do major pruning on these this winter. Wish me luck.

Acer's can be difficult to grow here. Is it a direct sun or indirect? I used to live in MA and saw acers everywhere (even had a very large one) but hardly see them here.