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Selecting a Site
Selecting your water lily pool site is important but generally more for aesthetics. A suitable site is one that gets a minimum of four hours of sunlight per day. Your main consideration should be where the water lily pool looks best then how you can best show off the plants and animals that will be placed inside the pool.
Other things to consider when choosing a site:
- Avoid overhanging trees as they will stop water lilies from blooming.
- Avoid sites that are exposed to cold winds.
- Place the water lily pool somewhere it can be easily filled and emptied.
Formal and Informal Pools
The two main types of water lily pools in terms of aesthetics are formal and informal pools. Formal pools are those with a severe and regular shape. They are carefully planned and have beautifully landscaped features. Any water lily pool that has an irregular shape and looks more like a natural pool or pond is classified as an informal pool. Whatever type of pool you choose, avoid extremely odd shapes like stars or triangles. These shapes are not formal designs and also are not natural like an informal pool.
Building Materials for Pools
You can build a water lily pool out of practically any strong material that can remain sealed. The best material, however, is simple reinforced concrete. This type of water lily pool is easy and inexpensive to build, yet it is sturdy and easy to clean. For smaller pools, another great option is pools made from metal or wooden tanks and tubs. These pools are simple to install and are extremely cheap. However, you need to make sure that any wood you use is aged sufficiently and that all exposed metal is painted with rubber-based paint to avoid rust. Although not as effective as reinforced concrete, other types of material you can use for your pool include:
• Regular concrete
• Bricks
• Prefabricated pools