Building Natural Ponds: Create a Clean, Algae-free Pond without Pumps, Filters, or Chemicals Kindle Edition

I've had a pond for 25 years, read dozens of books, belonged to 2 pond clubs, and gone on dozens of tours, and I still learned a ton from Pavlis. Ponds can be a money pit of filters, pumps, UV lights, and treatments designed to do what he accomplishes with good design and an understanding of ecological balance. Whether you're just at the dreaming stage or you are an old ponder like me, this book is a great resource. And cheaper than barley extract or bio balls.

I was really excited to read this book, and there was a fair amount of useful information. But I was disappointed that there are only really a couple of examples in the book of this type of pond (his own and one he installed for a neighbor). Given the length of time he’s been doing this, I expected more examples of small and large ponds to give me ideas of what might work on my property. I plan to give it a try, but the lack of examples makes me less confident, especially as the one he installed with his neighbor as an example for this book has almost no plants in it. I also wish he focused more on native plantings as that’s my whole goal - increasing support for native wildlife of all kinds and native plants are essential to that goal.

I have been doing a lot of online research as I am about to build a Zone 5 all-natural koi pond enclosed within a greenhouse garden. I have done a lot of reading online so I have already learned quite a bit. I really don't think I gained any new information from this book. It was a good intro for someone who doesn't want to search online and do a lot of googling, but the useful/instructional information from this book that helps you understand how to do things and why could all probably be summarized in a couple of pages. That said, the author really has done a lot to disseminate this information, and most of what I had already learned online likely comes from people who first gained the information from him.

While researching ponds and pumps, I found this book. This was an easy to read and implement guide on building a pond without the use of pumps. I was so happy to learn that pumps are not needed! Built my pond after reading this and just love it! Recommended reading before you start your project!

Good overview for building and maintaining natural ponds.Wish it went more into pond aeration systems, as they seem pretty important to creating and maintaining a healthy ecosystem for fish and reducing duckweed and other aggressive plant life.

Probably the only book I'll ever read about building natural ponds. A must read for anyone looking to build this type of pond. Generally, this type of pond does not require a pump or a filter and there is no need to add any chemicals. The conventional pond building guides will guide you to do just the opposite. I'm thrilled about having read this book before building my natural pond because the outcome was fantastic, thanks to the author. The book also contains good information about plants and fish so that you can make an educated decision.

We built the pond, after reading this book. We wanted to have fish but not have a big chemistry lab going on all the time and changing out water all the time. This book had the answer in terms of adding enough plants and leaving the bottom undisturbed and other techniques to make our rather small pond function like a natural pond does. The double-sided protection of the liner is a great idea.

I bought 2 books on this subject and this book is the best one. I feel ready to build a natural pond, just after my many other outside projects...maybe in September.

Don’t bother. Just don’t bother. The photo I have attached contains EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF INFORMATION detailed in this book relevant to a natural pond with no pump/filter set up.The rest of the book is ever so slightly pretentious, and dull as dishwater. This of course is all subjective, and others may find it pleasant reading (very unlikely, but we’re all different). What is not subjective, and what is pretty critical for a book with this title, is that the title is completely misleading. This is a just a long winded instruction manual on how to set up a normal pond. That’s it. Not even a very good instruction manual either as it will leave you having set up a normal pond, but without a filter and pump. All it says about keeping it clear without these components is contained in the photo I have attached.It’s also a North American publication, which isn’t too much of a drama. The photo’s are drab and uninspiring and boring.I just can’t understand who has quality reviewed this book, or why they think it’s worth more than a quid or two.Just don’t bother. Read my photo above and you’ve completed this book.

Brilliant book. Thoroughly recommend it. All that I need now is a few thousand pounds and a long summer to implement the plan. Just ever so slightly American - which might put off 5% of English gardeners - but not a problem for me. The guy is well spoken, the book is well paced and extremely well edited. If you're thinking of planning a natural garden pond - this the bible.

It seems a bit like a manifesto for pump-free ponds, complete with the science. To be honest I found all that a bit of a pain. I just wanted to know what to do and TBH I'm not sure I've found out. Must of the manifesto could have been heavily precised and shoved in an unread appendix. Something like "minimum of x cubic metres of water with surface area y square meters, plants about z percent of the volume. Do do this and don't do any of that. Here's your annual maintenance diary." (If anyone knows of such an approach please let me know.)

I so far have found the book to be very informational and a very good for value book and would recommend it to anyone who has concerns about purchasing it to go ahead and purchase it

Very good book all the info you will need to make a natural pond