Swimming pond

Natural swimming ponds have a wide variety, making them a unique addition to any garden. Depending on personal preferences, you can opt for sleek, modern designs that resemble conventional blue pools, requiring a solid foundation and separate space for the plant filter. For those who lean more toward an authentic natural look, there are swim ponds that blend seamlessly into the landscape. This can be achieved with subtle separations such as a hardwood shoring underwater. There are also design options such as pond fountains or waterfalls that provide natural flow between the filter and swimming areas. As for pond edges, the possibilities are endless. From seamless transitions from the grass to the pond to wooden decking that floats above the water, sometimes combined with a water ladder. Finishes can be designed to hide the pond edges for an aesthetically pleasing look.

Each option comes with its own set of advantages and limitations. A swimming pond flaunts natural splendor and offers ecological benefits, while a traditional pool may be simpler to set up and maintain. Here are some comparisons between a swimming pond and a swimming pool:

• Costs: A swimming pond is often more economical to construct. The investment is mainly pond liner, pond plants and pond substrate. On the other hand, a pool can be more expensive because of the required foundation and equipment.
• Aesthetics: A swimming pond offers a natural look that attracts both people and pond animals. In contrast, the typical light blue of a swimming pool can appear less natural.
• Maintenance: Thanks to a natural plant filter, a swimming pond requires minimal maintenance. In contrast, a swimming pool often requires chemicals and special equipment to keep the water clear.
• Shape and design: A swimming pond can be constructed in any natural shape, whereas a swimming pool often has a standard rectangular shape.
• Ecology: A swimming pond is completely biological thanks to the presence of aquatic plants and pond bacteria, eliminating the need for harmful chemicals.
• Year-round enjoyment: Even outside the swimming season, a swimming pond is a joy to behold and a nice place to be because of the vibrancy of plants and animals. A pool, on the other hand, often covered, can look deserted out of season.

A swimming pond versus a conventional pool: which is more financially advantageous? A natural swimming pond is generally less expensive than a conventional pool. For those considering installing a pool in the garden, the swimming pond is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. The distinction between the two lies mainly in the filtration method: traditional swimming pools use chlorine and filtration systems, while swimming ponds employ natural filtration of aquatic plants in pond substrate . Investment costs vary considerably: a standard 4×10-meter pool ranges between €25,000 and €40,000. By comparison, a swimming pond of the same size with an essential plant filter of about 8×20 meters costs on average around €15,000, especially when using quality pond liner. Still, costs can vary depending on material selection, surface area, shape and plant selection. Despite the initial cost, a well-designed swimming pond offers the advantage of self-sufficiency and minimal maintenance. When considering dimensions, it is important to keep in mind a 1:2 ratio (swim section to plant filter) for optimal functionality.

In the hot summer months, it is nice to cool off in a pool of water. Many people immediately think of the sea or a swimming pool. This is not surprising because pools are everywhere and there are many different types of pools such as a subtropical pool or a tropical pool. A natural pool is a beautiful and environmentally friendly alternative for your garden if you are looking for a place to swim.

Which pool is best for your garden depends on how much land you have and how big your budget is. In the case of people with small gardens, an inflatable pool is the best pool to buy.

If you like more of a natural effect in your garden, it is best to build a swimming pond in the garden. This natural pool contains natural water which means that no chlorine is used, which is the case with a swimming pool.

Also, a swimming pond requires much less maintenance than a pool because it is a natural water source and a swimming pond is a lot cheaper to build and maintain.

Disadvantages of a non-natural pool:

1. Your pool needs regular cleaning which takes a lot of time.
2. A water pump and a chlorination system must be purchased to keep the pool water clear and clean, unfortunately these resources are expensive to purchase and consume a lot of electricity.
3. Chlorine must be added to pool water to keep pool water healthy. Chlorine is not good for the skin because it contains chemicals.
4. Animals that end up in the pool have difficulty getting out of it because of the straight walls a pool has.

Advantages of a natural swimming pond:

1. For nature lovers, a swimming pond is ideal because it can be seamlessly integrated into your garden due to the natural look a swimming pond has.
2. A swimming pond costs on average about 40,000 euros less in construction, this make swimming ponds a great alternative for people looking for a cost-saving alternative.
3. A swimming pond requires little to no maintenance and no chlorine derivatives need to be added to the water to keep it healthy. In fact, filtering water is done by planting different types of aquatic plants in the pond, which makes the swimming pond virtually maintenance-free. You can also choose to build a plant filter in your pond. A plant filter you can easily build yourself.

1. The depth and shape of a swimming pond play a major role in determining how the pond should be dug. A plan of the yard should be made showing the desired pond design. The location of the plant filter or natural marsh should be considered when making the design. Once this is done, use markers to indicate where the excavation for the pond should take place in relation to other elements in the garden.
2. The necessary excavation work must be done to build a swimming pond. The deeper the swimming pond, the more soil must be stabilized to prevent groundwater from becoming a problem. The walls of your swimming pond must be well solid to prevent collapse, with deeper pools requiring heavier and sturdier walls. A very important part of the swimming pond is the plant filter. An optimal depth for this component is -40 cm from the water level in the pond. The shoring between the swimming area and the filter part of the pond should be placed about -10 cm under water to keep pond substrate and aquatic plants out of the swimming area.
3. Once the bottom, walls and filter area are solid and ready, you can start applying a good rubber liner. We recommend using rubber liner or EPDM pond liner because it will last for at least thirty years, making it much more durable than PVC liner. When installing the liner, make sure that you cover it properly at the edges, for example with hardwood cover battens or stones.
4. Once the pond liner is in place, the plant filter can be set up in your swimming pond. First start with a layer of pond substrate of 20 cm, but do not fill the pond with water yet. Plant the chosen pond plants (read more about aquatic plants below ) in the layer of substrate, this will give the pond plants a solid base. Then pour in about 10 cm pond substrate , so at the same height (or just below it) as the wooden or stone barrier that is under water. This is how you create a natural filter. Next, fill the entire pond with water and add pond bacteria for a good start. Keep in mind that it will take a few years for the filter to work optimally because roots need time to grow over the entire surface.

When it comes to plants for a swimming pond, there are many great species to choose from. For starters, water lilies are an excellent addition because their large leaves provide the water with shade which prevents algae formation, they also serve as hiding places for your pond fish or other pond animals. In addition, aquatic plants such as the iris, pickerel weed and the great reedmace provide a natural looking bank along the perimeter of your pond. Underwater oxygen plants such as elodea densa and moss balls help filter pollutants from the water and add oxygen to the water. If you want to place a nice mix of pond plants in your swimming pond, it is recommended that you purchase a pond plant kit.