What use can I make of emptied garden pond?

We used to have a very large garden pond, but emptied it out because I was worried that children might wander into my very large garden and accidently fall into our wildlife pond. Though my husband wants to fill in the void I would love to put it to some other use perhaps a sunken garden with drainage pipes.





I would appreciate suggestions that are realistic and not full of inuendo! Thank you all in advance.

What use can I make of emptied garden pond?
We have just built a fantastic bog garden for the children - we filled the pond with soil and planted lots of marginals, grasses and rushes etc. Its very peaceful and there are lots of wild creatures that the children enjoy spotting. You've got many of the pleasures of a pond without the inherent dangers. You don't need any special drainage or pipes, just make sure the area is kept wet and boggy and that you chose the right plants.
Reply:A large planter?? With nice flowers and bushes etc? A rockery? Build it up with rocks and flowers?
Reply:If you've just emptied the pond for the safety of the children and it was as large as it sounds then surely the only sensible thing to do is to fill it it. Depending on how deep it was if you do want to keep a feature there why not fill it the bottom so that it is not quite to deep and fill it with plants and rushes. Before the grow get a sheet of metal net and cover the top of the pond. The the plants will come through and the children can't fall in.
Reply:The most sensible solution would be to combine both your ideas!





Why not create a bog garden? There is a tremendous range of bog plants many of which flower beautifully and all attract wildlife.


A small pond area would be a good idea though for frogs, toads and native aquatics to use.
Reply:Makes a fantastic bog garden, you dont need drainage. Put a layer of gravel and sand in the bottom, then fill up to your required level with good quality topsoil/peat mix. Any good garden centre will advise you of suitable plants for this type of project.
Reply:A friend of mine has a sunken garden with gravel down. it's very nice, and doesn't have any artificial drainage in. Though your one being a pond it might require some. It is a nice effect though
Reply:If the hole is deep enough, why not plant a tree? would just need soil etc to backfil and would be something to look at for years to come
Reply:Why not try alpines and or herbs with surface of fine gravel
Reply:A nuclear fall out shelter? That's kind of a joke, but these days with North Korea being the way it is, it might not be a bad idea.
Reply:EMPTIED ponds make excellent boobie traps when evading baddies. Simply lay light sticks over said pond and cover with leaves. Also see 'Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves' as the emptied ponds in Sherwood Forest made great hiding places for robbing the rich and subsequently giving to the poor. Also note: When the rich were robbed thus becoming poor, did they then go to the back of the queue for Robins handouts?
Reply:Yes that sounds like a good idea!





Keep the ground lower but mabye pave it or stone it - I don't know how big your area is!





Have some trailing flowers like forget me not etc and drain it like you said.





What about put some light sticks or lamp sticks around the top of the circle on the higher ground and you could use the area for a barbeque etc. - sounds lovely huh!
Reply:If children visit your garden regularly, turn the old pond area into a sand pit. The areas that they don't use, try growing some sunloving or drought loving plants in there.
Reply:refill the pond.. bring in lots of water plants...


or build a floating house..


or bush it with plants


fill it up with mud..


setup an indoor playground for kids.. one large and huge one..


or build a tank for fish... and build a glass viewer of kids to view and enjoy them..





build squash / tennis / shuttle / basket ball court / football ground..soo many.. u can do it..
Reply:plant wild flowers and wild vegetation in the void area. Contract a landscaping design person to solve your problem!!!
Reply:Depending how deep it is and if it has shelves or not you could buy loads of plants/trees and sit them in it. Would be easy maintenance and you don't need to dig holes all over the garden to plant things.


Sand pit would be a safe option and at least you could then re-use it at some point later if you wanted a change.


If there are shelves you could always buy lots of garden gnomes and start your own little village !! Or other garden ornaments !!
Reply:How bout putting a big fountain in the center of it with nice plants around..... you probably already have it piped in with drainage.....that way you can still enjoy the sound of running water without actually having a pool of it.





Sounds nice...





Or, (don't know your climate) bring in some large mountain rocks and create a rock and cactus garden.
Reply:Would it make a good sandpit or play area for the children?
Reply:Ive moved into a house before Christmas the pool was removed so its all plants around the side it looks beautiful now its summer .mine was on a corner so trailers are going up the fence the middle bit is just flat my idea is to get some nice paving and pave maybe in a circle and just put chairs out .


plants include mini fir of various sizes and even there is some beautiful flowering plants and strawberry plants.
Reply:barbecue area?
Reply:try putting your husband in it and then fill it in!
Reply:turn it into a childrens sandpit or garden
Reply:Y have you emptied it. all you needed to do was to put a picket fence round it to stop people going into it , ie toddlers etc, all that wildlife gone, frogs toads newts, etc, i could go on %26amp; on, what a shame, there is such a vast range of plants u could plant round the edge
Reply:OOOH a big swimming pool but safer than a pond.....idk fill it in and make a garden or use it for a burial ground for dead pets or somthing lol
Reply:re-fill the pond!


What a shame that you've worried about this. Young kids should be supervised anyway, so a pond needn't be a problem.


Sorry, I can't think of a better use than as a nice pond.
Reply:a sand pit for kids??? or play area
Reply:I would make it into a rock garden. If you like birds, you could add a bird bath...it would make a great focal point. You also could add potted plants to the area to add interest. Or maybe make it a sculpture garden?





Kudos to you for considering the safety of others!
Reply:My parents turned their's into a flower bed.





Was that answer boring enough?
Reply:Make it in to a rockery or fill it with flowers.
Reply:I had the same situation and here is what i did. I turned my area into a play area for the children in the neighborhood that way I have no concerns about a child's safety.

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