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The Softer Side of Pond Transition!
The Softer Side of Pond Transition One of the greatest challenges in water garden design is pond transition - creating a pond that fits into the rest of the yard as if it had always existed. Years ago, Gordon Ledbetter's lecture on water garden design was very inspirational to me. He made the point of the necklace effect while showing a photograph of a pond rimmed in stone. He continued his lecture showing wonderful photographs of his designs and the softer methods of pond transition. This led me to a continued interest in finding practical techniques that take advantage of the existing landscape - a combination of pond construction techniques, filtration techniques, and planting schemes that ease the transition from water to land. Attention to the details of pond construction is crucial. Since there is little or no rock in our coastal southeast and sandy soil, the use of pond edging is very helpful. Although such edging is not necessary, it is a very stable and extremely easy way to level the pond when used with anchors. The liner is simply placed over the edging and drapes behind it (see the illustration)) and makes it easy to backfill topsoil flush with the top of the edging. This enables the gardener the option to either plant lush pond side plants or lay grass right to the waters edge. We have found, also, another effective construction technique to soften pond edges - the transition shelf (see the illustration).
This enables the gardener to ease the water garden into its surroundings by placing rock on it or by creating a lush area of marginal aquatic plants that literally march out of the pond into the perimeter area. We like to make this shelf 1.5 to 2 feet wide and approximately 6 inches deep with a planting pocket toward the outside edge of the shelf. Pea gravel placed on the transition shelf may look harsh at first, but it softens in appearance as the garden matures. Another advantage of the transition shelf is its attraction to wildlife. The shallow shelf makes it an inviting bathing area for small birds and an easy entry for amphibians and reptiles.
Transition planting appears to grow from water's edge out into the surrounding ground or vice versa. Two types of plants make this effect possible:
Water in the landscape transforms the ordinary garden into one of magic and interest. No other form of gardening brings so many different elements together to create movement, sound, depth, and atmosphere. When building your next water garden or when working on your existing pond, consider all the possibilities that pond transition offers.
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