Garden of the Day: Instant Pond
[nggallery id=”23757″ template=galleryview] This Park Slope gardener sent in her tales of bird feeders and goldfish ponds… The “before” was taken in 1984. I added the pool in 1993. It’s a kit from a company called SunLand in California that I’d seen it in a magazine about five years before I bought the house. Basically,…
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This Park Slope gardener sent in her tales of bird feeders and goldfish ponds… The “before” was taken in 1984. I added the pool in 1993. It’s a kit from a company called SunLand in California that I’d seen it in a magazine about five years before I bought the house. Basically, you build a box out of marine ply and they supply a vinyl liner to your specifications. Then you do some simple p.v.c. plumbing for the pump & filter. I have to take the equipment out each winter and reinstall it each spring as well as draining the pool half way; it’s two feet above the ground and two below.
I did most of the work myself except installing the fence—digging the hole for the pool, running the electrical conduit, building the deck & shed and installing the arm for the bird feeders, which are on pulleys so I can fill them easily. The dirt from the hole for the pool was exactly what I needed to make the garden level side-to-side so I didn’t have to trundle it through the house. The goldfish can live in the pond year ’round so long as it’s more than 18 inches deep and this one’s 24 inches. I put a heater in there in the winter just to keep a breathing hole when water freezes. Leaf net is to keep cats out as well as leaves. I take the feeders down in the summer for the pleasure of people sitting underneath on the patio.
I adore my pool – having one was a major reason I bought a house. It is truly a delight & well worth the effort it takes. Hope you get one too.
Okay, so honestly, this is my dream backyard. I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years or so (a looooong time ago) and have missed it so much since moving to NYC in 1993. And the feelings have gotten all riled up again since the Phelpsification of the Olympics. So exciting. Sigh
I saw your pool and had a tiny involuntary gasp of admiration and jealousy. Some may take complex gardening and high maintenance flowers and shrubs, I’ll take the high maintenance pool, thanks. Love it.
No, sorry. I looked it up about 30 years ago & again just before I built the pool. Nowadays it’s probably available on line – maybe Building Dept. link. When I’ve mentioned it to people who know those kinds of things, they’ve agreed it is so. Rules may be different for “above ground”.
I’ve heard (but haven’t actually looked it up) that pools are permissible in Brooklyn if they are less than a certain number of feet in diameter. I’ve never heard of the proximity to cables or number of feet in the ground being an issue. Does the home owner have a citation to the code and/or a website s/he could share?
The kit was around $2000. but that was 15 years ago. Petro chemicals have gone up so the liner will cost more. Go on line to SunlandPools.com to see their line. Then also compare w/ prices at Poseidon Pools here in Brooklyn. I had to put in a new filter this year & it was cheaper from Poseidon than from Sunland which hasn’t usually been the case.
Deck prices, too, will have changed but maybe not as much – there’s more demand now so greater competition.
The law when I installed mine was that in NYC a pool can only be 2′ in the ground & 2 feet above if it’s within 25 feet of any cables – not just power – the ones above mine are phone & video lines.
So the box for my pool is built in 8×4 foot panels of marine ply set into a sand-lined hole. There are buttresses around the perimeter – plans for which came w/ the kit.
If you’re into active swimming, you can position a one-horse power motor to make a current. I didn’t think I’d want that & got a half-horse & put seats at each corner. I found it was boring & now “swim” against a belt for my waist attached to a line that I anchor on the deck.
There is labor w/ upkeep as w/ any pool & it’s a bother having to take the filter, pump & heater in every winter but it’s well worth the effort.
Lisa,
I’m curious about the pool. Growing up in California, I am only familiar with “in ground” pools. I’ve been looking into various options and yours looks rather inviting. Can you let me know any pro’s and con’s you’ve experienced and total cost of the project. ( btw, i already have the pit excavated so that would not be a cost issue)…. thanks!!!!
It’s creeping thyme & moss among the pavers & various sedums, etc. among the rocks of the planters. My soil has a high lime content which I’m told is a big help. I also try to keep it moist when we’ve had a lot of sun & pavers are bedded in sand over clay.
By the way, the 1st sentence should have read, “…her tales of bird feeders…”
Is that VERY vibrant looking moss that I see at some of the joints of your bluestone? How do get it to grow so healthily?