Slightly larger pond systems are ideal for sprucing up with small jetties made of solid wood or even a curved wooden bridge. The quality and lifespan depends on the type of wood chosen, so it is better to avoid cheap wood for the sake of appearance.
Which types of wood are suitable for garden ponds?
Wood species such as larch, spruce, pine, red cedar, oak and robinia are suitable for garden ponds. Depending on the type of wood, resistance, durability and price vary. Popular wooden elements include bridges, footbridges and seats. Proper planning and construction are crucial for safety and longevity.
Only: the right place must first be found for the rustic wooden bridge made of western red cedar, oak or robinia. This shows again that a pond area can never be too big. The most popular elements made of natural wood, which not only look great but are also useful, include:
- Bridges and footbridges;
- Wooden decks;
- Seating;
Before you start building the cozy pond terrace or a jetty, you must ensure that the wood is of high quality in the interest of its later load-bearing capacity, because not every type of wood is suitable for outdoor use.
The favorites for building ponds with wood
- Larch: very durable, but rarely available commercially; Long lasting even without impregnation;
- Spruce: not particularly resistant softwood; Outdoor use only with impregnation; Shelf life between five and eight years; cheap price;
- Pine: moderately resistant with impregnation; Outdoor durability between eight and ten years;
- Red Cedar: Imported wood, mostly from Canada; the reddish color looks particularly elegant; lasts up to 15 years even without impregnation; The disadvantage is the high price;
- Oak & Robinia: (still) medium price, good suitability for outdoor use, durability of the hardwoods is between 15 and 20 years;
- Tropical woods: last permanently even without impregnation; difficult to edit; negative environmental impact, as the wood usually comes from non-renewable sources;
Professional work – a question of safety
Piers, bridges and decks should not just be randomly placed in the water with pile support. Their footprint must be large enough so that they cannot damage the bank area with the plants or the pond sealing. The load-bearing structure of wooden decks and jetties must therefore start at least one meter (better 1.50 meters) in front of the edge of the pool. Building bridges yourself requires a certain knowledge of static values and should therefore only be carried out by experts in the field in the interest of practical and safe accessibility.
Tip
The construction of structures made of wood should be approached with caution if the water surface is less than 30 m2, as they tend to disrupt the appearance of small pond systems.