[adamt]

I'm new here and I'm looking for some advice. I was doing some spring cleaning in the yard last week when this little corner started yelling at me. For justice's sake I should have taken some pics of what the corner looked like before I started focusing on it but it didn't come to mind at the time. After I trimmed the tree up, it was saying shade garden then naturally the over achiever voice in my head started singing out, build a pond and I think that is a good idea. All the stones and bricks were randomly scattered in the corner covered by about 3 years worth of fallen rotten leaves, trash and random debris. I went ahead and broke the ground to stimulate the visual effectiveness of where I'm planning the actual pond layout. The bricks will be removed in trade for some more pond friendly rocks, I just used them for my initial layout. I got it cleaned up and this is what I'm working with.







In the last picture I displayed the projected placement of my waterfall with x and the skimmer with a green S. If the pond was laid out like this would there be proper circulation? Would I need to run the skimmer all the way to the corner?

My next and most important important question is how can I go about building my own skimmer and waterfall bucket? I'm thinking 5 gallon buckets but mostly I almost refuse to purchase a kit setup.
Thanks for looking
Adam

[trees]

I wouldn't put a pond there.

A much better use of that space would be to plant some large-ish evergreens to buffer the view of the neighbor's house and kids' fort. If you're truly feeling like over-achieving, incorporate them into a mixed shrub border which would help to soften the corner & take away some of the fence's prominence (both would be good things).

Ponds, especially small ponds like the one you're contemplating work best when you can be intimate with them. They are a hands-on addition to the yard and need to be in a location where you can enjoy the subtleties and nuances of a natural system at work. Next to a patio & viewable from a primary indoor living space is an ideal location.

Plant something big and trouble-free in that corner, gain some privacy from the neighbors and if you're interested in water gardening, find someplace where you'll enjoy the pond more.

That's my 2 cents...

[adamt]

Thanks for the input.
I forgot to mention that I am going to be building a small little bench where that 2x6 is laying across the corner of the fence. That spot is the most intimate location of the entire yard and makes me feel the most comfortable as the neighbor's house and fort are completely obscured when sitting that close to the fence.
I hate to turn down expert advice but I'm pretty sold on that location.

[4seasons]

well if your sold on that location why not get rid of the pond idea and go with a self contained bubbling rock or something. The area looks way too small for a falls and pond. that way you still can see and hear the water just don't have to worry about the neighbor's leaves in the fall. Epand the area more and give yourself plenty of room if and when plants go in.

[Stonehenge]

I think the location is fine, the size is way, way too small. Triple the size and you'd be at the edge of what would be a feasible and practical water feature size. I'm talking a kitchen table-sized pond, like this one.

As for skimmer and falls boxes - visit the big box stores and you'll be able to figure out a way to cobble a small but effective system together. It's pretty easy. I thought I had a little tutorial around here to do that, but I can't find it now.

[Stonehenge]

I gotta start pulling the trigger faster...

[Stonehenge]

Looks like I had the pictures, but didn't do the tutorial. Unfortunately I don't have time to write it now, but I can post up enough of the pics to get you started - these pics are of the falls box:

[Stonehenge]

It's what I'd call a back-of-the-pickup invention, but it's worked perfectly on several very small water features for us (but your would need to be much bigger for even this).