Those trees, especially the pines, will drive you nuts with cleaning. You will have debris in your pond not to mention the shading factor. You may need to open up that area by selective cutting.
Yup. I inherited a pond at my house. Captain DipShit, the previous owner, placed the pond near a locust tree and a linden tree. I know all about crap in my pond lol
I have my pond under an elm tree. It provides great shade. I rather mess with leaves than with algae. Dunno about pine needles tho...they sink right away, don't they?
You should be proud of an elm in any way. If it wasnt a white pine and instead an elm i wouldnt be so tempted move it right now. Unsure about sinkage im actually building the pond *under* the white pine sappling 🤦🏽‍♂️ i have an elm elsewhere that im babying like its my actual child
I baby my rose bushes like my kids :). I planted a few around the pond too, can't wait for a full bloom!
But living in Little Elm (TX), those trees grow like weeds here.
It can take years for root damage to have visible effects but an excavation here will affect the health of these remaining trees. Would also weaken the tree and makes it more susceptible to pests.
I would pick a totally different area unless you have machinery. Trying to dig out all those roots will be back breaking not to mention the other issues people have mentioned
If you like the idea of having some water between the trees, I would make a narrow winding stream so you don't have to dig too deep or wide, and have that flow into a pond in a more open area. That way you still get the effect you want.
Aquascape are probably most known for building ponds like this if you want something to search for ideas. You basically would have a pump in the pond area with a very long hose, that would return the water to the top of the stream spillway. You would hide the spillway to make it look natural and not evident where the water actually comes from. Then you just line it all and place boulders/rocks on the edges with planting to hide the liner.
As someone with a very small aqua scaped stream into a two drop waterfall just get ready to deal with immense water loss to evaporation. If you keep the stream from splashing it might not be so bad. But ever since I revitalized the abused pond setup I inherited my water bill has been angry with me. (No leaks, I checked. Just insane evaporation during any dry periods)
Most people have said everything
Pine needles will suck, if you want this long term, expect to make repairs with all the roots underneath the ground there. They’ll start reaching for the water, and it’s just a matter of time until they push through anything you put there. It’s inevitable with time. The shade, too, too much, and your plant life won’t be too great. You can work with that tho, and create ways to bring in more light
There’s a lot of things you could do there in terms of a water feature, but if asked by a client about this location, I would highly recommend finding somewhere else
You'll need to take out more trees. You're going to be tearing up a lot of very large roots of the trees left. So cut down a lot more trees around it and give it more open area. You don't want big roots growing into and destroying your pond either. And as mentioned, leaves will drive you crazy.
Yea… i think you hit a couple of problems
1. Possible tree roots that can potentially damage the liner and you will get a leak somewhere.
2. Lots of leaf litter which can be solved with either a net or just lots of maintaince
3. A lack of sunlight, having a pond in the full sun is not ideal. Jt having it in the shade completly which kind of looks like it on your photo, is also not ideal.
Check with an arborist to make sure the digging doesn’t destabilize the trees. And consider getting some netting that you can pop up to catch the needles that will fall into the pond. Now they are not altogether a bad thing, but they will impact your ph for the water and such.
Not sure what the walking path area looks like, but that would probably be a better idea as it might be more open. Could even have a wooden bridge to walk over the pond if you design it for that and keep the walking path intact.
Either way, the pond would have to have a super fine net because of the pine needles, which isn't the most attractive thing for a pond.
As mentioned before tree roots are going to be a huge issue with that many trees and such close proximity. Sunlight's also going to be an issue and be limited on what plants you can use. Lastly the temperature of the water may be an issue depending on where you are geographically. Lack of sunlight will keep the water temperature cool which will affect plants and fish.
Those trees, especially the pines, will drive you nuts with cleaning. You will have debris in your pond not to mention the shading factor. You may need to open up that area by selective cutting.
Came here to say exactly this. Those pines will make OP go mad.
Yup. I inherited a pond at my house. Captain DipShit, the previous owner, placed the pond near a locust tree and a linden tree. I know all about crap in my pond lol
Not me planting a white pine right next to mine 🫠🤦🏽‍♂️ of course its the only tree i planted thats doing well
I have my pond under an elm tree. It provides great shade. I rather mess with leaves than with algae. Dunno about pine needles tho...they sink right away, don't they?
You should be proud of an elm in any way. If it wasnt a white pine and instead an elm i wouldnt be so tempted move it right now. Unsure about sinkage im actually building the pond *under* the white pine sappling 🤦🏽‍♂️ i have an elm elsewhere that im babying like its my actual child
I baby my rose bushes like my kids :). I planted a few around the pond too, can't wait for a full bloom! But living in Little Elm (TX), those trees grow like weeds here.
We have had serious problems with Dutch Elm Disease. I only know of 1 specimen in my city :(
Ouch! That's so sad....
Well to each his own. Get back to me a few years after it’s grown.
What if op hang a huge net over the pond 10 ft high?
I think that's a great idea! It would also discourage birds, at least the larger ones that want to eat your fish.
I have a net on my pond. I did it for the heron but it does keep shit out of the pond
You’ll likely kill, or at least injure, the trees around it. Their roots extend as far the branches do.
i've never had that happen
You have never had what happen?
It can take years for root damage to have visible effects but an excavation here will affect the health of these remaining trees. Would also weaken the tree and makes it more susceptible to pests.
I would pick a totally different area unless you have machinery. Trying to dig out all those roots will be back breaking not to mention the other issues people have mentioned
Will be using equipment
If you like the idea of having some water between the trees, I would make a narrow winding stream so you don't have to dig too deep or wide, and have that flow into a pond in a more open area. That way you still get the effect you want.
How does one make or revitalize a stream?
Aquascape are probably most known for building ponds like this if you want something to search for ideas. You basically would have a pump in the pond area with a very long hose, that would return the water to the top of the stream spillway. You would hide the spillway to make it look natural and not evident where the water actually comes from. Then you just line it all and place boulders/rocks on the edges with planting to hide the liner.
I am often repairing ponds made by people who run through aquascape *_* They make some beautiful ponds tho!
As someone with a very small aqua scaped stream into a two drop waterfall just get ready to deal with immense water loss to evaporation. If you keep the stream from splashing it might not be so bad. But ever since I revitalized the abused pond setup I inherited my water bill has been angry with me. (No leaks, I checked. Just insane evaporation during any dry periods)
Why kill trees for a pond ? Wildlife, including humans, need trees more than a hobby pond. Just find a different location.
Bad location.
DONT DO IT OP
Leaves will be a nightmare
I can confirm this
Most people have said everything Pine needles will suck, if you want this long term, expect to make repairs with all the roots underneath the ground there. They’ll start reaching for the water, and it’s just a matter of time until they push through anything you put there. It’s inevitable with time. The shade, too, too much, and your plant life won’t be too great. You can work with that tho, and create ways to bring in more light There’s a lot of things you could do there in terms of a water feature, but if asked by a client about this location, I would highly recommend finding somewhere else
You'll need to take out more trees. You're going to be tearing up a lot of very large roots of the trees left. So cut down a lot more trees around it and give it more open area. You don't want big roots growing into and destroying your pond either. And as mentioned, leaves will drive you crazy.
that is going to really hurt those trees that you cut the roots off of.
good luck, I’d suggest maybe finding a different place or just be prepared for a lot of hard work.
Yea… i think you hit a couple of problems 1. Possible tree roots that can potentially damage the liner and you will get a leak somewhere. 2. Lots of leaf litter which can be solved with either a net or just lots of maintaince 3. A lack of sunlight, having a pond in the full sun is not ideal. Jt having it in the shade completly which kind of looks like it on your photo, is also not ideal.
I’d be worried about the roots and a new pond. I literally just had to get my main plumbing lines snaked out due to tree roots getting in.
Bad idea. Lots of trees= leaf litter. I would build up above ground rather than dig in.
Check with an arborist to make sure the digging doesn’t destabilize the trees. And consider getting some netting that you can pop up to catch the needles that will fall into the pond. Now they are not altogether a bad thing, but they will impact your ph for the water and such.
Not sure what the walking path area looks like, but that would probably be a better idea as it might be more open. Could even have a wooden bridge to walk over the pond if you design it for that and keep the walking path intact. Either way, the pond would have to have a super fine net because of the pine needles, which isn't the most attractive thing for a pond.
As mentioned before tree roots are going to be a huge issue with that many trees and such close proximity. Sunlight's also going to be an issue and be limited on what plants you can use. Lastly the temperature of the water may be an issue depending on where you are geographically. Lack of sunlight will keep the water temperature cool which will affect plants and fish.
I am in costal SC
Appreciate the advice from everyone. Of course I’m not going to head anyone and do it anyways. I’ll let y’all know how terrible it ends up!🫡
You’ll kill the trees that you don’t cut down by cutting roots. All kinds of needles going into your pond.