Man Turns An Old Wine Barrel Into A Cheaper DIY Pond That Adds A Rustic Touch

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When garden ponds are mentioned, people will often think of something that's sunk into the ground. That can be a lot of work. If you want the benefits of adding a pond to your yard but with less effort, then creating an above-ground version could be the solution. Over on YouTube, Ozponds uses an old wine barrel to make an attractive rustic pond that contains plants, a natural filtration system to reduce maintenance, and even a few fish.

The first thing you will need, of course, is half a barrel. Second-hand barrels in good condition are quite valuable within the wines and spirits trade (for adding flavor), with the cost starting at around $65. You might find one at a yard sale, or at a garden center. Readymade half-barrels are available at garden centers and home improvement stores, too. (Note that ones made of real wood will be pricier than barrel planters made to look like wood, but made from a material like resin.)

As Kev from Ozponds points out, if the barrel is dry, it'll probably leak a bit at first, but the wood should swell once the water has been in for a few days. To your barrel, make a void at the bottom. Kev uses some leftover filter material, but rolled-up aquatic mesh or even plastic garden mesh could do the job. It's about providing a platform for a gravel layer that will also allow water to circulate naturally (importantly, no pump is needed for this DIY pond). In the video, he talks about adding "drainage rocks," which basically means the gravel or stone has been washed so it's clean.

Putting together a DIY wine-barrel pond like this is one of the backyard trends perfectly suited to small urban or city homes. It uses a method called anoxic filtration, a biological filtration system that features a very low level of oxygen; this filtration helps keep the water clean and requires less maintenance. It also removes toxins so it's safe for fish. The filter doesn't need power or a pump.

Instead, it uses a mesh lily pond basket, additive-free kitty litter, and a source of iron. For the iron, Kev uses a product called palagonite, a volcanic rock mineral, from Oliver Knott. He does say, however, that laterite is usually recommended, and you can buy that from aquarium suppliers, or online in the United States. You'll also need a water lily.

The kitty litter, iron source, and water lily are added to the basket, followed by a layer of gravel at the top. The gravel helps hold the contents down, and also matches the rest of the wine barrel pond landscaping. The finished filter is lowered into the pond. Aquatic plants can be added, and, when the water clears, fish can be introduced; note that some species have the advantage that they will eat mosquito larvae.

On that note, if you'd rather not have fish or deal with the care and feeding that's involved, then a floating solar pump can keep the pond water from going stagnant and deter mosquitoes during the day. Plus, the fountain sound can be very pleasant. You also could use Mosquito Dunks in your pond (Amazon, $26.99). They only kill mosquito larvae, so they're safe for people, pets, birds, and fish.