How to make a dry pond

You may have heard of a dry creek as part of a landscape.  It gives the feel of a water feature without actually using water.  Some are designed to fill when there is sufficient rain.  Others are strickly for appearance.  I installed a dry pond instead of a creek which takes less space and time but gives a similar feel.

Step 1: Determine a location and size

Do you want your pond to fill with rainwater?  Are there other features nearby which could cause problems such as falling leaves filling your pond? Would it look like it fits or would it look out of place in the chosen location? Will it be a trip hazard or in any way a problem in the location you have chosen?

How large is appropriate for the spot?  You will need rocks to fill it and plants and larger rocks to surround it.  The larger your pond the more time involved and the expense. 

Is the chosen area away from tree roots?  Digging around tree roots can be difficult and harmful to the tree.

Comments

[cfuse]

It would be trivial to incorporate this idea into a larger swale.