Building A Mill Pond In Your Backyard

"Down by the old mill pond" is a line from an old song, and it brings out a nostalgic longing for the simple times when things were not as rushed and as hectic as they are today. Even if you've never seen an operating mill in your life, it still has an appeal for most people.

If you think of "Gone with the Wind" whenever you think of a mill pond, you may think this is not something you can build in your backyard. However, with a little ingenuity and creative planning you can build a working mill pond.

Obviously, if you have a really small backyard, you cannot build a huge water wheel churning around. But you could build a reduced scale version of the water wheel for your mill pond, and this could serve as your splashing fountain that drowns out your neighborhood noises, and creates a peaceful serene backyard oasis.

You wouldn't want to build your mill out of pine, as it would rot and fall apart in just a few months, and then all of your labor and expense would be wasted. You should build your mill out of Cypress; it will last for years with minimal upkeep and maintenance. It may cost a bit more up front, but it will more than make up the extra expense as you get to enjoy your mill pond for years. A working mill comes in two types, either an under-shot mill or an over-shot mill. The majority of mills were the under-shot type. This is where the stream is flowing at the same level on both sides of the mill, the wheel is lowered into the stream and the water turns the wheel from the bottom.

Most fountains on the other hand use an over-shot type wheel. This is where the water comes across the top of the wheel, and rotates it from the top down. Because this causes more splashing and gurgling, it is more popular with homeowners. It just seems like the right kind of water wheel to have for your mill pond.

You need a pump to get water up to the top of the wheel to get it to turn. This can be accomplished by either having a hose or a pipe bring water up to the top of the wheel. An effective and attractive way to accomplish this is by building a small building along side the wheel. This hides the electrical components, pump and tubing from view, and protects the equipment from the weather. It also adds a strong visual statement to your mill pond. You can get plans for building a mill pond and water wheel from lots of different places, probably the easiest place would be find a place online that sells them. If you have reasonable carpentry skills you can build the mill yourself. This is probably going to take most people a couple of weekends to construct.

After you complete your mill pond and water wheel, you want to landscape it. Use small plants around your mill to frame it. Keep in mind how big the mature plants will be. Keep the bigger plants behind the wheel house to keep the water wheel as the main focus of attention. Use lighting to enjoy your mill pond at night.

A beautiful mill pond will generate numerous complements from your neighbors and friends, and will provide you with a great place to relax after a stressful day at work.

To learn more about building a water pond or fountain your yard, please go to http://www.riparian.best-info-online.com For the best supplies and best prices for constructing your water garden, see our Water Pond Supplies

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