All occurring in the field of landscape design ideas is not enough money, time, and place. But this idea certainly, many people will like. Especially for those who are on the site have at least a small pond. Floating flowerbed nice variety to the serene surface of the water: she’ll sparkle in a new way. Drifting flower island does not require special tools, even if you decide to buy the finished product. What can we say about a bed that you can easily make with my own hands. The time it will not need a lot. But first decide whether you need in principle this design.
The contents
What we’re going to build?
Arranged man-made island is quite simple. It has a floating base, which made the cell for the different plants. Usually it is made of a porous material that allows the roots flowers freely enough nutrients and moisture from the pond. However, any basis you can do the special holes for this purpose. This method of cultivation is easy compared to hydroponics where there is no soil and no need to waste energy watering and fertilizing.
Floating bed is good because she is able to blend in seamlessly with any design style and will not look foreign body
Among ready-made models you can find such, which are specially designed solely for flowers in pots. They are arranged so that immersion of pots in water is only partial. The soil thus moistened, but not wet completely. Such facilities are also good. They are often used in swimming pools. The design of the island can quickly change. It is enough to take out cell in one of the pots and insert the new one.
Here is the flowerbed for a pool. In fact, it is a stand for potted plants. You can change the pots and your pool will be transformed
Why in the pond need a bed?
Indeed, what benefits it brings this floating flower island, in addition, he was very handsome? Although aesthetic appeal is itself a value. But as it turns out, is not the only.
- The benefit to the residents of pond and garden. If your pond is inhabited, then innovation will quickly come to appreciate. A bed will see water turtles and frogs, fish under her can relax from the summer heat, birds safe rafts will like it too.
- Compact design. Your mini garden will perfectly retain their shape, because the landing will not be able to grow uncontrollably, as nowhere.
- Protection from pests. Moles, mole crickets, ants and other underground inhabitants will not disturb the colors. By the way, water can put not only them, but also a small vegetable garden.
- The cultivation without irrigation. To water moisture-loving plants whose roots are in the water, there is no need. If a makeshift raft planting vegetation that does not like excess moisture, the bottom will have to make a solid and water as usual.
- Cleaning function. The presence of water-loving plants as water – for the benefit of the reservoir because their roots will purify it from organic substances and will not allow to razreshite unwanted algae.
As you can see, the reasons for creating a small but effective structure, abound. By the way, such structures can be safely left in the pond for the winter, their inhabitants will not freeze.
A small island – a real gift for the fish that live in your pond: they would be happy to hide under it in the heat
Select suitable plants
For our purposes, suitable for almost all plants, you can even use small shrubs.
- Water scavenger beetles. Any water scavenger beetles can be used.
- Not fans of moisture. Choose to be owners and a superficial root system.
For Bogolub instead of soil to use hydrogel or stones, which can keep it in the desired position. But note that in the absence of soil, the plants must be nourished by substances from the water, so the pool is better to use a design with pots and soil in them.
As you can see, the plants in the flowerbeds can be very different. Pleasant neighborhood bright floral Islands with the refreshing pond water scavenger beetles
Plant selection is based on its size in adulthood that, in the future it could not drown the island in which it grows. However, the overall types of one particular and not trying to land in such designs. It is therefore reasonable to focus on the colors.
Big fans of water travel proved lilies, hosts, astilby, papyrus or Cyperus, bog irises, Calla lilies and daylilies. The total Veres, deadnettle phormium, and plant a variety of ornamental grasses. Never refuse to swim sundew, forget-me-nots, horsetail, creeping Buttercup, globe flower, Highlander, watch, marigold, Calla, cottongrass and sedge.
The handsome fern and grass framing it look very impressive, like gorgeous feathers dress hat Royal Musketeers
Do not forget about those who used to live in the swamps. If possible, always use bushes cloudberry, lingonberry and cranberry. As regards the construction of pots, then it can be put absolutely any colorful and bright flowers.
General rules for all designs
Ready-made models floating beds you can buy in the store, but this option has two significant disadvantages:
- have to spend money;
- have to settle for just a standard option.
It is much better to do something on your own taste, decorating your pond favorite ass petunias or Calla lilies in the container, the form of which you yourself will like it.
So unpretentious, neat and very functional look floating beds that we offer in the shops. We will definitely do no worse
For a homemade need to choose the material to determine the size, figure out exactly how it will float on the water. It is always necessary to relate the parameters of the reservoir and future floating island.
Immersion depth depends on the type of future plants. If they are among those that usually grow on the ground, the waterline must not be higher than 7 cm from the plane of the bottom of the island. If you will be planting marsh residents and other lovers of the water, the sediment may reach 10-12 cm Depth is easily adjustable with the help of gravel.
The degree of immersion of the plants in the water depends on how it likes the water. The higher the need for moisture, the lower can be precipitated as a bed
Make a floating bed by yourself
We offer you to familiarize yourself with a few very simple options for self-production of such beds. This requires familiar and available tools and very inexpensive materials. All four of your options have been tested and successfully tested.
Option #1 — layered structure of nonwoven filter
For work we need: piece of cardboard, non-woven filter material, foam, fishing line, a mixture of peat and floral ground. Tools: pen or pencil, scissors, needle, x-ACTO knife. Do not forget the flowers for planting. Start to work.
On a piece of cardboard draw an outline of the future building, then the template should be cut. With the help of it cut out filter so many blanks, so they can provide the desired height of the future flower bed. Devem fishing line with a needle and sew all the layers of the filter together. No need to sew along the edge. It may well be that you have to trim the edge of the workpiece with a utility knife.
The first method of creating a floating island is not difficult. You just need to be patient and take things nice and slowly
The resulting platform cut out the recess leaving the perimeter of the bumpers. Few punctures fill in the blank with foam. To ensure a good buoyancy of the object may need ten or more punctures. Now we wait until the foam becomes fairly solid. Test the raft for buoyancy. If flowers have large roots, you can make additional notches or grooves in the filter or in the foam.
In the pores of the filter rubbing moist soil, the recess is filled with a mixture of flower soil and peat. All, you can put a ready-made island in the pond.
Despite the fact that the test raft was held in some open water swim ahead of him in the barrel, which played a small pond
Option #2 — a simple design of the furnace filter
This basic structure, for which you will need: two reusable furnace filter, hose clamps, flexible wire, scissors, foam and a can of green paint.
The first filter is to identify, and then cut holes in the places where flowers will be planted. Put together two items and to bind them with staples along the perimeter. Formed between the layers gently push the foam, thus ensuring the buoyancy of the structure. Large portions of foam to add is impossible, because it can break the surface.
Furnace filters were similar to the normal pieces, not too thick foam, but is much more rigid. Possible, keeping the overall meaning structures, make it from another material that’s easier to find
When the foam has dried, it is better to paint the island in green to make it look as naturally as possible. To the side should be screwed wire to fix a position of the raft in the pond. The wells plant and we launch the finished product on the water. Wire or anchoring on the shore, or on the bottom.
Option #3 — an island of foam
The foam will need to cut out the base for future flower bed. Still need: coconut Mat, needle and strong thread, a bit of soil. If any components are not present, advice on replacement, see below.
The third method is also not complicated. If we want to make a large flower bed, you can take either a thick piece of foam or some thin that will have to be joined together
Of foam cut the desired shape with a hole for the seedlings. Billet wrap coconut Mat and fix its strong thread so that it is firmly held on the base. You can sheathe it on the bottom hidden from view, and in 6-8 directions. In the coconut fiber to RUB a bit of soil, and then plant flowers. To pull the finished product on the water.
Option #4 — noodle+coconut fiber
To make a very small but rather cute design, you will need a plastic flower hanging pots, noodle (flexible stick to water aerobics), coconut fiber. Noodle is better to choose blue or green. However, if you want to make the raft more visible, it is possible, conversely, to give preference to contrasting colours.
Through such simple and vivid details you can build on your body of water a holiday. Let it be colorful, unique and very positive
Hanging elements with pots will have to be removed. At the bottom of the hole can be repaired with sealant. Noodle the need to tightly placed under the edge of the tank and secure it to the remaining languishing in the pot holes from the suspended parts. So the product will be good to stay afloat. Noodle, of course, have to crop to fit.
Coconut fiber is to wrap the pot with two sides and moisten with water to swollen. To secure the seedling fiber should be stretched. Filling out the capacity, you can release it into the pond. To improve buoyancy should reduce the contents of the pot or add another noodle.
Some General tips finally
If you decide to decorate your garden and pond, take some practical advice:
- coconut fiber can be replaced with moss;
- if you plan to run the island in the pool, several coffee filters under the roots of the seedlings will help to purify the incoming water from unwanted impurities;
- better anchor pin to the bottom of the pond than on the shore;
- the foam can be replaced by polystyrene, Styrofoam or other foam insulator.
It should also be noted that if your pond is home to fish, soil to plants do not need: all you need they will get out of the water.
Of course, the options do not exhaust all the variety of possibilities. It is important to understand the General principles of these installations and you can do something not worse
This popular idea can be implemented on your site repeatedly. It all depends on the size of the water body. Several static or slowly floating in the water raft enliven your landscape.
