Constructing a swimming pond | Tips for swimming pond construction naturally

If you want to combine the useful with the pleasant, go for a natural swimming pond in the garden. Animal life can run its course in the plant filter, while you enjoy a refreshing dip in the virtually maintenance-free pond. Indeed, with a well-designed natural pool, nature will provide most of the maintenance. For this reason, it is crucial to build it the right way. Using our tips and handy step-by-step plan, you can build your own natural pool.

All about building a swimming pond

• Aquatic plants for a swimming pond
• Types of swimming ponds
• Swimming pond costs
• Best place for a natural swimming pool
• Advantages of swimming pond versus swimming pool
• Building a swimming pond in five steps
• Common natural pool problems: Algae formation
• Water lilies in the swimming pond

Aquatic plants for a swimming pond

Aquatic plants, marsh plants and oxygen plants together form an important part for your nature pool. They provide biological filtration of the water. If you have all these plants in your nature pool in the right amounts, you won't need a pump or special filter. We recommend planting four to twelve pond plants per square meter for optimal results. Especially for natural swimming ponds, Simon has chosen a selection of aquatic plants that are often used as swamp filters: yellow lisces, calamus, pikeweed, dwarf cinquefoil, featherweed. Complete plant filter packages are also available.

Types of swimming ponds

One natural swimming pond is not the other. There are many variations possible and that is precisely the fun of a swimming pond in the garden. You can design and decorate it in your own way. Those who like to imitate the traditional blue pool as much as possible will need to build a large foundation surrounded by space for the plant filter. This is a more sleek swimming pond. But there are also much more natural variants, where you incorporate the separation between filter and swimming area in an unobtrusive way, such as with a hardwood shoring underwater. Or you work with a small pond fountain or pond waterfall to let the water flow from the filter part to the swimming part. There are plenty of options. The finish of the bank also has many differences. You can create a natural transition from the grass into the natural pond. Many people choose wooden decks that float on a small elevation above the water, with or without a water ladder attached. The actual edge of the pond then falls under the decking so you don't see it.

Swimming pond costs

What does a natural swimming pond cost? Building a swimming pond is also possible when you have a small garden. The costs of a small swimming pond vary between € 150 and € 400 per m². This price includes all digging, material and maintenance costs. Prices for building a swimming pool are on average higher. There are several factors that determine the price of pond construction, namely: available surface area, pond shape, choice of materials and choice of aquatic plants. Your swimming pond will be completely self-sustaining and practically maintenance-free if you design it correctly.

Best place for a natural swimming pool

The spot in the garden where you build your natural pool is an important choice. You want enough sun so the pond plants can grow well and you don't have to swim in the shade. A spot with about six hours of sunshine a day is suitable. In addition, a location next to a tree is not useful, because then you get unnecessary leaves in the pond that you have to shovel out. Also consider the accessibility of your pond. Place the plant filter at the back and the swimming area at the front, so you can easily get in and out.

Advantages of swimming pond versus swimming pool

1. A swimming pond is cheaper to construct; you invest mainly in pond liner, pond plants and pond substrate, a pool is expensive because of the foundation and equipment needed.
2. A swimming pond looks and is attractive to people and pond animals alike; the familiar light blue of a swimming pool doesn't do much of a natural job.
3. A swimming pond requires little maintenance; thanks to the plant filter, the pond maintains itself extremely well, where a swimming pool often requires (chemical) agents and equipment to keep the water clear.
4. You can have a swimming pond made in any (natural) shape, a pool often boils down to a rectangular concrete one.
5. A swimming pond is entirely organic because of the many aquatic plants and pond bacteria, and so environmentally harmful chemicals are not needed.
6. A swimming pond is also a joy to watch or sit next to outside the swimming season because so many plants and animals can be found there; a swimming pool then lies (often covered) abandoned.

Building a swimming pond in five steps

To build a swimming pond, in addition to sufficient space, you need a number of things. Think of digging materials to dig the natural pond, material to make the shoring from, good pond liner and pond substrate. Of course, the right selection of different types of aquatic plants should not be missing either. Simon explains in five steps how to build your own swimming pond.

Common natural pool problems: Algae formation

Solution: Plant enough oxygen plants in the plant filter (at least 4 oxygen plants per square meter and a maximum of 12 oxygen plants per square meter).

Water lilies in the swimming pond

For the ultimate swimming pond, you obviously need water lilies. These complete your plant filter. They come in many shapes and sizes, for different depths and they are also hardy. We supply them including a basket, which is convenient because then you can easily place them in the pond substrate. A water lily can already be planted at a depth of -10 cm and will also ensure that the sun stays out of the pond so that the water heats up less quickly.