Making a stock tank pond | (I have NO IDEA what I'm doing!) | The Impatient Gardener

I am out of my element on this one! I've never done any water gardening before, much less any in a pond, but I'm giving it a shot anyway.
Links:
Stock tank: bit.ly/2F5rCPA
Solar fountain: amzn.to/2XJdzGD (affiliate link)
🎼 "Cute" by Bensound.com
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[@Stauffer-fs8kz]

Can't wait to see the progress/update! Love that you are letting us learn with you! Thanks for the interesting video! SO FUN!

[@erinskibinski1442]

This is why I love your channel. We are like all learning together. LOL

[@OrigamiCalm]

I started a patio pond last year too and also had one of those fountains 😂. I found the ones with the solar panel separate work really well.. but then there's the wire.

[@teresasimmons6768]

🤣 that solar thing spitting water out was cracking me up 🤣 I think it will beautiful 😍❤️

[@aubreybenjamin8927]

I am loving your stock tank pond, so I had to do a search and see if you had created a how-to video. This video cracked me up! That solar fountain. Lol! Love it. Your little pond has inspired me to think about having my own someday. Thanks!

[@amyflatten9114]

Love this!!! ... and your humor. Gardening and life are supposed to be fun so I appreciate that you’re enjoying it too! :)

[@dallastaylor5479]

I applaud your attempt to stretch. I've only had water fountains and banished them from my garden because it was a constant chore to keep enough water in them. It evaporated so fast that it became more a chore than it was worth.

[@jleighblue]

What a fun, fascinating project! I look forward to seeing how things develop. I think its so fun to try something new to learn and grow.

[@li1misskates]

This is so inspiring! I've been researching container ponds for days, and just stumbled upon your video, and your update pond video. You're great! I am now looking for circular stock tanks online!! Thanks for posting this.

[@lisawalters5482]

This video is hilarious. What a hoot. The little “spitter” stole the show. Bahahaha. Seriously, I hope it works. Sounds like a great idea.

[@DixieGirl9876]

Good luck with your water garden! I did my first pond this year too, love it! A whole new way to garden with lots to learn. If you drill holes in you pots they will stay down better and allow for better water circulation. Creeping Jenny is a nice plant to spread across the surface of the water, you can even find it with the annuals, just remove the potting soil and plant it in rocks or clay soil.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

DixieGirl9876 Thank you!

[@stephanieraphael8338]

Creeping Jenny is very versatile! My bog garden, which lives in our unheated greenhouse, has creeping Jenny and ajuga reptans growing under water. Their foliage colors contrast beautifully. Being common ground covers, they kind of need something to crawl over. You could try floating a piece of mesh cut to the shape you want them to cover. Virginia blue flag Iris does well in ours, perhaps you could experiment with other water loving irises. Pond life is fascinating!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

@@stephanieraphael8338 Does the creeping Jenny float on the surface?

[@stephanieraphael8338]

@The Impatient Gardener Nope, it will grow up through the water if planted near the surface but it needs something to crawl on if you want it to look like it's floating. Piled up bricks or stones, driftwood, other plant stems, Jenny will creep on anything if you let her.

[@cashk100]

This is a great idea. I’m inspired. A friend of mine got a pond solar pump on Amazon.

[@juangalvan3818]

Hi. I can give you this tip about the water lily: You do not have to raise it up the way you did. You can set its pot on the floor, and the pedals will reach the surface easily! Also, you can add dye to the water to make it darker and it adds a bit of character. There are dyes that are safe for plants and fish. Helps hide the pots and bricks.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Yes, I think I’m going to get some dye. Thanks for reminding me.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I have been wanting to do this! I will see how yours works for you. Glad you are being the guinea pig for me. :)

[@shannonholmberg8835]

If you punch holes in your upside down pots it will allow the air to escape as they sink and they won’t float! :)

[@theresagarden9204]

Love your water garden by the way!

[@dawnsingh1900]

Wish I could have a water garden but we live in the high desert and it's not practical here. Great fun to watch you do it!

[@GardeningSpirit]

the veg garden looks awesome!! love the gate color

[@shuvanidev]

I dug an inground pond when we lived in our first house and it was beautiful. You did the plants right, don't worry they will fill out over the summer and give the water time to settle, the dirt will sink to the bottom. It might get funky off and on until it reaches it's own balance. One of the things that was different for my pond was that I had a black plastic liner, so you couldn't see the upturned pots as well as you can in your light colored background. I also put some rocks in the bottom because I had some fish in mine as well. Oh, and I also got some snails to keep the sides of the pond clean - they eat the slimy algae that builds up on the sides and bottom. I know you will have fun getting more plants to diversify and populate your pond. But what a clever idea to use a stock tank and your garden is going to be gorgeous!!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Ooh, snail housekeepers!

[@janwhite6212]

You are informative and hilarious!!! So enjoy your channel.

[@MichiganGardenGal]

We have that water pump for our pond and it works great 🤗. It is funny at first 😂 but hey you can’t beat the price. We didn’t have an electrical source to plug a pump into!

[@rachelwright7655]

Try finding a barley basket for planting and also to help keep your water clean.

[@sugarmuffin319]

I've never heard of mosquito dunks!! Thanks for the tip :)

[@danielphillips5229]

that solar fountain is pretty cool!

[@debbiemann1265]

It's gonna look very pretty when all the plants get growing,, that water fountain was cracking me up lol

[@kessell637]

Looking forward to an update on this one. 😆 Like you said, not exactly a thing of beauty - yet. I also bought a solar fountain, but we have so much wind, the water blows out of my little water garden. Oops!

[@alanbrooksby4381]

Looks like fun.

[@charlescox2840]

Good luck with your start. It took me two years to get my first bloom then the plant bloomed five times. When I removed the gold fish and clean the tank the gold fish also eat that lily plant since removing the fish the plants are regrowing. Gold fish and any crap like fish will eat plants. I am harvesting about a pound of duck weed just to give to the isolated gold fish. Hopefully they will be good fertilizer since I am removing the gold fish and replace them with Blue gills, Tilapia, and Cat fish. In our local Pet Smart you can purchase minnows for .16 each so one hundred of they make a nice small school in a tank like that just add some air. They will eat the mosquitoes. Just saying good happy luck!!

[@starlakelsey2782]

Didn't realize you were a comedienne too! Enjoyed this one very much. Got a good belly laugh. Will be fun to see how this works out!

[@fbi1961]

Starla Kelsey comedienne? 😂

[@rjtherocker]

Put holes in top of your pots upside down, they float cause air is trapped

[@Prash1c]

Yes, if you drill holes into your pots, you won't need to spend more time with weights/ballasts and keep the space open. Say Nay to buoyancy! :D

[@JP-qd6sz]

NAY!

[@yoshi4721]

NAY

[@lindafraser1396]

OMG!! You made my day! I haven’t laughed that hard for a long time

[@deananderson2143]

Add pieces of coleus in their loves water in the winter put in your decorativ jars out in the window beautiful

[@tanngke]

I would recommend some guppies or mosquito fish to put in there to eat the mosquitoes. They breed like crazy so you’ll probably have a colony of fish for a long time! I also recommend watching a video on how to cycle your pond. A plant that provides coverage and grows quickly is Anacharis. You can plant them on the bottom or let them float but they must be submerged. Also all the plants you do have in the should provide oxygen!

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Great suggestions. Thank you!

[@ollvebranch]

I feel the same. Just bought a 3 metre long, 30cm wide, 25cm deep, galvanised cattle trough with the idea of digging a gravelled trench and sinking it into the ground and making a rill type water feature with a spillway for that calming trickling water sound and keeping the water clean, with foot bridge going over. Ever since, I’ve been thinking about: Where’s the water coming from? How the heck does the water re-circulate? What size pump? Do I need to dig a trench to bury the pump water inlet tube thingy to an outdoor tap? How do I power it? Do I need to dig a trench to bury the power cable to an outdoor electric switch? Do I need a sump? What is a sump? Will slugs make a city-like colony underneath? Is the depth too shallow for water plants? I’m thinking I’ll just go on a course! I’m probably in over my head!

[@CCCC-tq8yo]

Whow that's huge

[@vongeisen]

Not sure which planting zone you are in. Make floating baskets with impatients in the spring time. I use square water lily baskets, burlap or window screening. Cable ties with pool noodles cut & put on top of baskets. They float nicely. If you have any fish, the plants will will grow like crazy. Same goes for water celery which is gorgeous too. Keeps the water fairly clear, summer plants do well, and you don’t have to water them.

[@Tom-gardenplants1849]

Thanks for sharing ^^

[@ExposedRoot]

Believe it or not that solar fountain works wonders with water movement. It works great when it's got enough sun. It doesn't need to go all day. Just enough to keep the water from getting funky. Through in a few fish. Ask at your local pet store to see which ones would be most beneficial. Snails too.

[@donnaferguson3665]

Be sure to fertilize your water lily with aquatic plant food (I use PondTabbs) monthly!

[@fernandoperez6318]

I’m goona use this idea for fish

[@joycevann7738]

Metal stock tanks have zinc in them that will leach into the water that can harm the fish; the plants not so much. It is good to line the tank with a pond liner if you choose to put fish in them.

[@greatgardensforall]

Hilarious! That thingy was sooo funny 😁 good luck with this, I have a pond and they are a lot of work but so soothing and beautiful 🌸

[@Cenepk101]

That was hilarious.... Spurting fountain .. Good Job !

[@Prash1c]

@7:08 Yay! It works :D

[@TexasMyTexas]

Good morning from Texas!! 🤠 What kind of material are your raised beds made from? Thanks for the great video. 🤗🤗

[@Tracy-zj4sr]

Two suggestions: the stock tank looks like...well, a stock tank. Shiny galvanized whatever is t the look you want when everything else in that lovely garden was so well coordinated. Consider painting the tank with metal paint. Something dark, semi matte, and much more subtle. Second suggestion: rather than look at cloudy, dirty water, bricks and plastic pots....(what are you thinking?? Lol), add a few drops of pond water dye. It’s total non toxic and will tint your water very dark brown or black, making it a great foil for the plants.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Tracy L Thanks for the suggestions. Pond dye was the next thing in there so that one is checked off. Appreciate the thought on painting as well.

[@sandraengstrand2784]

*water facts with Erin* 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lauradaniel7596]

I don't know but wonder if you could put your solar fountain under a grow light to fake the sun and get it jump started for you?

[@Jack-oc2xq]

Did you try putting the plastic pots in the pond facing the right way so they fill with water then turning them upside down while staying under the water level, if you put them straight down the oxygen will stay in the pot and it will want to float which also means it will tip over very easily, or you could just make a small hole in the base of the pot and that will release the oxygen. Love how the vegetable garden is looking, also how on earth do you have tulips blooming in June?

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Yeah I was being really stupid on the no hole in the pot thing.

[@cherylanderson3340]

You may want to get free standing solar panels to operate a filter & aerator, to keep the water clean. Wondering about your climate & year 'round weather, so where are you located? Stacking real rocks - some with flat sides, others more rounded could be very attractive, with some plants raised up above current water level, yet with feet still in moving water. With a set up like that, with solar pump, you could build a trickling waterfall, which would sound great & would also help with hydrating & filtering water. You could build in various depths of shallow areas where birds can land in & splash around, & one with pebbles atop clean play sand, where bees, dragonflies & butterflies can land & drink from the wet sand & in between the pebbles too. Love the fenced in garden. Do you have deer? I need to protect from groundhogs, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons & skunks, so wondering what it would cost to fence in the garden like you did. I do have a brick patio & I guess could fence in that plus surrounding beds... What a relief that would be...

[@ginaboyce9502]

Try red root floaters instead of hyacinth they’re so beautiful for floating plants and available at most fish stores

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Thank you! I will look that up. I've never heard of them.

[@curiosity2314]

Low voltage electric might be an option for some over high voltage, just an idea.

[@stubbsaquatics6080]

Plants in a pond make it. Take a look at mine. The one round one is a over sized stock tank. The others are liner.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

I empty the pond for winter.

[@terrijohnson2191]

Hi Erin, I could not get past the first 5 seconds of this video because I had to stop it to say that the gate to your vegetable garden is absolutely stunning!!! It so match the rest if the garden.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Thank you! I spent a lot of time figuring out what I wanted for that gate because it’s probably the only garden gate I’ll ever have.

[@karmicpopcorn6440]

I love it! The water spitter! Crossing my fingers, I have no idea either, but I do like the final product!

[@ginonicolas3900]

What type of soil are you using for the plants?

[@Ishisah]

Subscribed.

[@Kischme71]

Did you do an update later in the year? Duckweed might be nice in there to help with coverage

[@TheImpatientGardener]

I did toy with adding duckweed; I think it's beautiful. Turns out that between the lily and the clover it was pretty much full. You can see what it looked like later in the September tour video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3XMoYqYhLWsmc0

[@markritacco270]

Instead of mosquito dunks please use some comet goldfish as they will eat the bugs and mosquito larvae. You can get them for like fifty cents from the pet store. I have a small 20-gallon pond in my garden with just water lily and have had this setup for over six years with the lilies blooming every year.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Mark Ritacco I thought about fish but here’s my problem: What do I do with them at the end of summer? I couldn’t bring myself to kill them.

[@markritacco270]

Your pond is much deeper than mine, but I have mine in a raised bed. In the winter goldfish can stay in the pond, provided there is an air hole. When the pond's surface freezes over, make a hole in the ice. Goldfish that tolerate cold will hibernate at the bottom of the water in a dormant state, (I have had mine [only two due to the size of my pond] for a few years and they live a healthy life) so do not add food to the water during this time. I am just giving this as a suggestion and am not trying to sway you. I think you are doing a wonderful job with your home, garden, and animals as well as your KZbin channel.

[@portiaholliday8741]

You are entering an area of gardening where most of us are unfamiliar. Iggy: "Go on Girl Do you thang, Do your thang, Stop" 🎼 We are wondering Where is Here? Swamp Milkweed thrives in water. I've seen it in a water garden AND it is a HOST PLANT for the Monarch. One lady, Evelyn in our garden club has a water garden. I will try to have her contact you.

[@breweinok]

add one or two more water fountains to balance it out, maybe?

[@theresagarden9204]

Get a few goldfish they help fertilize the plants and also some snails.

[@charlescox2840]

No to snails they eat your plants and will multiply greatly. Believe me I added a couple at the first of the year and in the last week have removed thousands. They will total eat a plant until nothing is left.

[@marilynruggeberg]

Goldfish will also eat the Mosquito Larvae

[@dontbea7237]

Dwarf tiger Lilly's are bullet proof and prolific as can be

[@chrissyofoldstones3210]

that solar water pump only works properly when lit by direct sun lol I recommend checking out rachel o'leary's channel, she has a series on summertime tub ponds

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Thank you, I will!

[@MsStuff00]

Please place some kind of mosquito donut so that you don’t attract them. I got smelly water and red worms because I didn’t 😫had to start over. I also had to keep my doggies away from lapping water 😆Otherwise great start!!☺️🤗

[@redlantern3371]

Solar thing...#roulettedish . I *bet* it's gonna look really cool in a few weeks. :)

[@TheImpatientGardener]

It does look like a roulette dish! 😀

[@banderaitaly]

What size tank is it? The link no longer works

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

I put in a koi pond next to my vegetables and I water my garden from it.

[@HenHo90]

Erin, just remember to gradually lower the waterlily as it gets bigger in the next few years as they are a deep water plant, but also in cold climates to lower it right down in winter to prevent it getting killed when the water surface freezes over. They can be brought back up to a desired level in the spring. Once they are in a permanent level well below the freezing line then you no longer need to do this. As for floating plants, are you allowed to have European frogbit (they have leaves like miniature waterlilies and white flowers) or duckweed? The European frogbit are hardy in places with cold winters. What they do is form pods when it's too cold and sink down to the bottom of a pond and re-emerge in the spring. The vegetable garden is looking great, wish you all the success this growing season.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

Foliage Fan Thank you! Very helpful information. I think both duckweed and frogbit are ok here. The frogbit sounds nice. I’m a bit afraid of duckweed but I would think it would be easy to manage in a confined pond.

[@tacotac10]

Where do you find the hornwart in SE Wisconsin? Does Steins carry them?

[@TheImpatientGardener]

I ordered that online, but I still haven’t found a good local source for water plants.

[@joannbishop892]

How are your tulips blooming so beautifully in June?

[@TheImpatientGardener]

We’ve had a super cool spring and the bulbs really liked it (far more than I did).

[@terrijohnson2191]

of the garden

[@deborahminter6231]

Add pothos and a goldfish

[@sugarmuffin319]

Not in a metal one!

[@nowirehangers2815]

That would cook fish in the Aussie sun It’s an oven

[@duaneknight631]

Hello, is your tank 4w x 48 tall ?

[@TheImpatientGardener]

48" diameter.

[@ElizabethHall0]

Updates ????

[@rodrigolara6733]

The hornwort looks way to brown. Wonder if it is mostly dead.

[@TheImpatientGardener]

I think it was suffering a bit. It came in the mail way too early and was living in a bucket for a long time. It bounced back quickly though once I got it in the stock tank.

[@Sunshine-rt3vc]

Ceder block

[@sunilsunil-by2sq]

Tank how much sister

[@Ishisah]

Spray paint it copper.

[@DianeCee0]

Can you go to a pond or lake and "borrow" some of those invasive plants?

[@mochitwa]

Hmm there may be a fine or something for owning them. They are illegal. Its also about spreading them to new pond/lakes and such.

[@DianeCee0]

@@mochitwa she would be helping the environment by removing some from the wild

[@DianeCee0]

@@mochitwa I'm sure in a steel tub, they won't spread

[@mochitwa]

@@DianeCee0 yes true, but it could be as shes trasporting, or say now shes got 30 in the tub and they go to the compost and happen to pass a stream on the way. or someone takes a few for their pond... shed be very responsible im sure.... its just some people arnt and not worth ruining natural surroundings for a few plants. So many other nice options.

[@DianeCee0]

@@mochitwa "it ain't a crime if you don't get caught" lol

[@redlily8101]

If you kill the mosquito larvae, the dragonflys and tadpoles you are trying to provide habitat for will have nothing to eat....

[@Nephilim12340]

Your hornwort looks very..........dead.......

[@TheImpatientGardener]

As I recall it was pretty sad at that point (was shipped way too early and I was trying to keep it alive). Some of it turned out to be alive though.