Pond wall deconstruction & reconstruction

Yes, I know, it's been a while! I thought I would be able to post something each week, but I'm lucky to do so each month (or every six months?)!

Here is an update and a photo of my pond wall reconstruction project, which I have been working on and off for several months. For pictures of how it looked last summer, check out this post. (I was going to post some photos during deconstruction, but didn't get a chance to take the photos; so last weekend my wife finally took a few of the almost finished project).


A lot of hard work as the wall, which I thought was just made with individual stones, was actually a poured cement wall with stone facing. I've found I could only work on it for a few hours as my arm got tired from heaving the sledgehammer.

In order to nibble away at the rock/cement, I used a chisel and sledgehammer. Wish I either had used a larger sledgehammer or a pick. Renting a jackhammer was also an option, but sometimes I prefer doing things without heavy machinery that makes lots of noise pollution. However I did do finally an all day blitz and was able to knock the last section of wall down. Was I glad! Now we are left with a pile of cement rubble, which we hope we can smash small and use for paths (talk about recycling!).

We also moved the filter further back to give us more of a run in our watercourse to the waterfall and to hide it better. We used some of the busted up concrete to build up the contours so we have enough of a slope (I hope!) for the water to run down.

Still to do:

• drain the pond and clean it well
• fasten rocks at pond edge so that they don't move
• buy a new pump and install it
  
• add a few more rocks underneath the large rocks at the edge of the waterfall to hide the liner
• set the water plant pots in place (currently in greenhouse) and fill the pond
• seal the flat rocks in the watercourse, so water goes over top of them not underneath
• seal the rocks on both sides of the watercourse
  
• test pump and waterfall and ensure there are no leaks
  
• make a sturdy net to guard against raccoons (it's me against them and I plan to win!)
  
• get new fish once pond has stabilized and we're sure net will do the trick
  
• reconfigure planting around pond, including planting bamboo to hide the filter - although in the photo above I noticed it is not that visible, but I still want to have some bamboo
• eventually build a low level wood deck to replace the paver patio
  

So lots of works still to do. But very satisfying!