About Formal Garden Ponds
A formal garden pond provides a focal point to any formal garden or outdoor area. Designed to provide visual display and functional appeal, the pond holds more than outside beauty, it can hold plants and fish as well. Showcased in a prized rose garden or tucked away in backyard in the city, a formal garden pond is meant to offer a place for reflection and decorative ambiance. Does this Spark an idea?
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Significance
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When many think of a formal garden pond, they think of it being surrounded by a pristine English garden with marble statues and immaculate kept lawns. A formal pond is designed to draw in the eye and allow for a place where one can sit and observe the beauty of the pond. A pond usually holds circulating water inside a lined shell trimmed at the rim with brick, stone or marble. The shape or formation of the pond signifies the formality of the pond. A pond is considered formal if it is rectangle or geometric in nature.
Function
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A formal garden pond is designed at either a raised or ground level. A raised level pond is built up into a deck or patio and has a fountain in the middle that helps to promote water flow. A ground level pond is oftentimes in the center of a large garden or walkway and provides a ledge for sitting and relaxing. A garden pond can be functional year-round--even in frozen temperatures if a pump system is utilized to prevent water from freezing over.
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Types
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A formal garden pond is traditionally supported by a vinyl, pre-formed or fabricated plastic liner. The area is excavated by a professional excavator or contracting company before installing the liner. If needed, a concrete base is established if a fountain is designed to be placed in the middle. An older formal garden pond is often concrete poured or laid with brick. A concrete pond is expensive to build but can be molded to the exact shape and specifications of the homeowner. A brick pond is typically raised but is easy to shape with the addition of a flexible PVC or pre-formed liner. Sheet rock, brick, stone and marble are oftentimes built up as edging on most ponds and installed after the pond has been built.
Features
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Once a pond is built, the addition of a formal landscape will improve the appearance of the surrounding area. Some popular landscape choices are hedged gardens--where decorative hedges and meticulous shrubbery surround the pond. A rose garden--where blooming roses are showcased around the pond area, adds a touch of color. Blooming annuals, such as geraniums and impatiens, can be color coordinated to provide added style throughout the summer season. Garden statues, looking glasses, benches and large wind chimes can also accent a formal garden pond. Koi fish and water plants, such as lilies, can be placed inside of the pond to make it come to life. Statue fountains that provide a trickle of water flow are popular in many formal gardens.
Considerations
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One should consider that most formal garden ponds are best designed at the same time other landscape elements are added--this allows for any plantings to age with the pond. Installing a garden pond into an existing area in which several trees and plants need to be removed can be time consuming and costly. Clearing the area of overgrown vegetation and stone usually requires a professional haul away. Most ponds that are created from a concrete base can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000 depending on the size of the pond itself, filtration, surrounding statuary and plants. Smaller PVC lined ponds are less expensive and run between $1,000 and $3,000 to build. One should also take into consideration the cost of brick as well as rock and stone for trim as the prices fluctuate per geographical location and availability.
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Resources
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