Additional Choices
More Pool Designs
If basic techniques of pool construction do not appeal to you, think about using one of these other pool designs for your water garden. Some are more effective than others, but in the right situation they can all be a useful addition to your water lily garden.
Puddling with Clay
Although no longer seen as an effective way of constructing a water lily pool, “puddling with clay” is one of the original and pioneering methods used in pool construction. Clay pools often leak and require a steady stream of water to replace water lost from seepage. This colder water makes water lily growth extremely hard. Also, the clay attracts crawfish which can burrow through the sides and destroy the pool. This pool type is best avoided. However, a smaller version of a puddled clay pool can be constructed if you have the patience, and acts like an artificial dew pond. You use a thick layer of straw in the excavation to create a small pool that will eventually sustain itself with water.
Puddling with Concrete
Although puddling can be extremely ineffective with clay, it is amazingly effective when concrete is used. Almost half of the water lily pools constructed now use this method because it is cheaper and less complex. Although it might not be as strong as a formed concrete pool, it is still adequately stable. The main advantages of puddling with concrete are: less use of concrete mixture and pools can be formed into any desired shape.
Puddling with concrete is very similar to a formed concrete pool. You also need to dig to the same level of around 3 feet for the 2 foot pool, although you can probably do with 2 or 3 inches less of tamped cinder or stone for a puddle concrete pool. The main difference is that you do not form the sides, but place the sides in much like the floor. However, reinforcing is crucial and you must make sure all corners are heavily reinforced with steel to keep the structure sturdy.
Again, it will take around 48 hours for the pool to set and around ten days of keep it covered and moist for it to be fully ready.