By David
Fife,
Scotland 
I want to construct a rectangular, raised, timber-framed, ornamental pool, for a couple of irises and water lilies - no fish. The area is 8 ft X 4ft (2.4m X 1.3m) approx. I don't want it to be more than 2ft (60cms) above ground level, ideally. Is this depth sufficient to grow these plants in baskets, placed on the pool base, allowing for winter cold/freezing of the water, etc.? Thank You!
27 Nov, 2010
Answers
Have you considered using railway sleepers for the construction in conjunction with a heavy duty pond liner?Just a thought...I saw one the other day and it looked fab.
27 Nov, 2010
Do irises want to be in water as deep as that, David? I see them as marginal plants with the rhizomes being at or above water level and the roots going down into the water. You could make a raised level in a section of the pool to accomadate this. There are water lilies that require deep water and ones that prefer shallow. You will need to check them out and buy a suitable one. I can't remember what our water lily is but the pond is only about 18" deep.
27 Nov, 2010
Thank You all, I now have plenty to think about, now. I will, of course, be using pondliner, and I like the idea of using sleepers. I hadn't thought of the idea of a shelf - wonderful! Will look at water lillies in more detail, and choose wisely. Forgot, also, to say that the pool is to be built in my friends' garden, not my own. Had hoped to begin this weekend, but got snowed in. ;-(
Thank You all, Very Much. :-))
28 Nov, 2010
old sleepers will last far longer than most other wood . it mite be worth putting a divider in your pool so either plant doesnt overun the other one . especialy yellow iris i think mite just survive 2 feet deep but if not it has a real take over nature .
28 Nov, 2010
I believe that my friends are thinking of the yellow flag irises, Np. Am looking at more detail, now, into sourcing, locally, railway sleepers. The only problem will be getting them there, as my friends live 1 mile up a deeply-rutted farm track, and nobody delivers, except for the mail van - and it will only do it once a week. Would have to arrange delivery to the beginning of the track, and on a day we were all available, to carry them to the garden. Otherwise, would not be surprised if they got nicked!!! :-))
28 Nov, 2010
youl have to cover them david and make sure you time carrying them with the delivery .
29 Nov, 2010
Yes, Np, this will be another, military-style, excercise, lol! :-))
29 Nov, 2010
Get them delivered quickly, David, and you can drag them up on sledges!
30 Nov, 2010
i guess so lol .
30 Nov, 2010
yes its ample depth but remember irises are real thugs and to a degree so are lillies so bear that in mind .also if wood sits next to water it will rot so i would put your triangle up on dug in blocks at least and use tanalised wood .
27 Nov, 2010