EXHIBITOR PROFILE
If you are thinking of taking the plunge into miniature pond ownership, visit us at Scone Palace Garden Fair where we will be exhibiting, and take home one of the beautiful 600cm water bowls we will have for sale with a special discount during the show.
While we can supply raised ponds or any size and shape of pond, our best seller is the 600mm diameter water bowl. This offers a fantastic introduction to water gardening and is small enough to fit into any location, yet large enough to support a full diverse aquatic habitat. These ponds are a fantastic addition to a patio, deck, or strategically placed in a bed or border.
Whilst some regular pots are suitable donors for ponds, in fact the majority are not. The main problems are to do with the weight of the water, which is heavier than soil, and will over time distort or break many repurposed planters, particularly if they are made of plastic.
Other materials, such as so called ‘fibre stone’, are barely suitable for making pots, let alone ponds as these will shatter and break at the first sign of frost. It’s the same story with ceramics and terracotta, while metal planters are usually some kind of steel based material which will start to rust as soon as the protective coating is breached.
The ideal material to make a pond is in fact, fibreglass. It is super strong, lightweight, inherently waterproof, does not rot and can be built to survive freezing. There is a reason why nowadays almost all boats and superyachts are made from fibreglass!
Given this, you will not be surprised that all our ponds are manufactured from fibreglass. Again, these are not repurposed fibreglass planters, which although better than the alternatives given above, are still not the right strength and construction for long term pond use.
All our purpose built ponds, water bowls, and water features are constructed with thicker walls, a solid strengthened base for stability, additional internal wall strengthening depending upon the size, and are sanded smooth inside before being hydro coated in black (or a colour of your choice) to ensure they are, and remain fully waterproof. Our raised ponds also feature broad rollover lips for extra strength and a fully finished appearance. Once fully cured, usually about 2 weeks after manufacture, our ponds are totally safe for fish, amphibians, water invertebrates, and plants.
Best of all, we are the experts in finishing fibreglass to take on the appearance of a wide variety of materials including stone, concrete, earthenware, antique lead, vintage bronze, brass, and copper plus Verdigris, and not forgetting Corten (rusty) steel. This last, along with our special blend of Verdigris and rust, ‘verdirust’, are the most popular. At a recent RHS show we exhibited at in Manchester, these latter two finishes made up 85% of our water bowl sales. We can however, also give you plain matt or gloss paint finish in literally any colour from any manufacturer or colour standard (e.g. RAL, BS, Pantone etc).
Having ordered and received your perfect water bowl or raised pond, you need to make sure you site it somewhere it will receive good light but not full sunlight all day.
Next you need to add substrate to the base. Add washed gravel, stones, and rocks to make a variable range of depths and to act as stands for your plants. If you want to attract creatures in, then you will also need to use stones and logs to create ramps leading up the sides of the bowl so that they can climb in and out at will.
Now carefully add the water without disturbing your handiwork so far. Ideally use harvested rainwater as most tap water contains at least a modicum of chemicals, although Scotland is blessed with much purer tap water than most of the UK so it’s not the end of the world if tap is all you have. Leaving tap water in a bucket for a few days also improves its quality for pond use, so try that if all else fails. Fill the water bowl to within a couple of centimetres of the top.
Now to add the plants. Ideally you need about 3 or 4 for a pond of this size and should consider a good mix of oxygenators and marginals. To keep things tidy, keep the plants in aquatic baskets and to prevent undue spread.
One particular favourite for smaller ponds of this type is the dwarf waterlily Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Rubra’. To encourage wildlife try to buy native plants wherever possible, good examples of which are water mint, Mentha aquatica, and Lesser Spearwort, Ranunculus flammula. Both provide good cover for insects and invertebrates and are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hoverflies.
Now just watch and wait. In no time, your pot pond will be a haven of wildlife and a self-sustaining ecosystem requiring only occasional upkeep. It offers a charming and accessible way to introduce the beauty and tranquillity of water features into any garden space. With careful planning and maintenance, you can create a miniature oasis that delights the senses and invites a thriving ecosystem into your outdoor environment.
So roll up your sleeves, unleash your creativity, and embark on the journey of creating your own aquatic haven in a pot.
If you are thinking of taking the plunge into miniature pond ownership then we have the very offer for you! Visit us at Scone Palace Garden Fair and take home one of the beautiful 600cm water bowls we will have for sale during the show. With a special discount and no delivery charge, this is the best price we have ever offered for this wonderful pond. See you there!
Alternatively please visit www.livingreendesign.com to see our full range of waterbowls, raised ponds, and water features and order online for delivery anywhere in the UK, Europe, and beyond.
Now, for the first time, Livingreen Design is selling its product direct to the public via its web shop www.livingreendesign.com giving everyone the option of buying professional grade products that can potentially last a lifetime and that are not available in garden centres. Order online, or give them a call on 0131 440 9804. They have a small showroom in Loanhead, Edinburgh, and are delighted to see customers in person by appointment, which is particularly helpful for a large purchase where bespoke items are required.