Mandala garden fact sheet

Mandala Garden Fact Sheet A mandala isaa Garden concept that is used in permaculture because of its combination of Building Pond Fact Sheet aesthetics and practicality. It is a circular garden divided by walk-through paths and

keyholes which divide it into segments - like an apple pie that has been cut into equal parts. There are many variations to a mandala style garden.

A garden pond is a beautiful addition to any garden, whether it is filled with just plants or fish as well. Here is our simple guide whatand you resource need to know about building ponds.

A mandala garden is atotime saving design for agarden vegetable plot. By having the bulk of your vegetable beds in one large circle, come summer, you only Choosing Pond in the centre of the circle and turn on the tap and bingo, your needthe to Garden put a sprinkler vegetables are watered with no wastage around the edges and it has only taken one The first thing of that you need to consider is what type of pond that you want to build – one with minute your time. plants only, or one with fish and plants. This is because each pond needs to take into consideration the features that it has. Be carefulpermaculture that you don’t choose a pond that is too small as A mandala garden incorporates several practices: it will limit the amount of fish and plants that you can use.

Keyholes for easy access to plants  "No prevent disruption You also needdig" to principal considertothe location.

You to soil ecology will enjoy the pond for more if it is closer to and the soil conditioning (your mandala becomes  Mulching moisture retention home – make sureworm it is somewhere where you one big farm!) are easily able to see it. Be careful that the  Planting in different patterns rather than the conventional rows. pond does not get any runoff as chemicals and organic matter may is getmade intosothe pond, Crop rotation much easier to plan and put into practice - you only disrupting need its ecology.

Ensure that the plants to rotate your planting regime by one segment each season. get sunlight if you want to grow plants. Also be aware that generally speaking, the larger the pond is, the easier it is to maintain.

Location Types of Pond Choose a location for your garden: When building your pond, there are many options to choose from when it comes to materials. a sunny spotisnot by is trees or walls One oftheInmost popular theover-shadowed lined pond. This where you dig the hole to any shape that you 

On a flat piece of ground rather than on a steep slope

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Preferably slap-bang in the middle of a wasteful piece of resource-draining lawn

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If you are adventurous, make your Mandala vegetable garden the feature of your front yard, with companion plants like nasturtiums, marigolds and calendula to brighten it up.

Building a Garden Pond Fact Sheet

A garden pond isyour a beautiful addition to any garden, whether it is filled with just plants or fish as Building mandala garden well. Here is our simple guide to what you need to know about building garden ponds.

1. Choose your site and decide on the diameter of your mandala (six to eight Choosing the Garden Pond and the diameter of the circle made by your sprinkler on full segments is convenient pressure- if current water restrictions permit). Mark it out from the centre point - use The first thing that need to consider what type of pond that you want to build – one with tent pegs andyou some string lines for is this. plants only, or one with fish and plants. This is because each pond needs to take into consideration that it has. careful that don’t choose a pond that or is too small as 2. Line the the features circle with wads of Be overlapping wetyou newspaper or old underfelt carpet it will limit etc. the amount of fish and plants that you can use.

3. Use materials such as bricks, rocks or sleepers to form the segments, leaving You also needspace to consider You enough betweenthe thelocation. segments for a narrow walking/picking path. will enjoy the pond more if it is closer to the home – make sure it is somewhere where you4. With most of the hard work completed, are easily able to see it. Be careful that thefollow the principles of no dig gardening (see pond does not get any runoff as chemicals andFact sheet: No Dig Gardening) to build up organic matter may get into the pond,your garden ready for planting. disrupting its ecology. Ensure that the plants get sunlight if you want to grow plants. Also be5. Sit back and wait until Spring before aware that generally speaking, the larger theplanting, to allow the worms to do their work, pond is, the easier it is to maintain. or even better, plant a green manure crop such as lupins or tick beans (nitrogen fixers) Types of Pond which will later be slashed and left to rot down before your Spring planting.

When building your pond, there are many options to choose from when it comes to materials.

One of the most popular is the lined pond. This is where you dig the hole to any shape that you

Handy Hints 1. If you wish, you can mark out your mandala circle (taking care to leave your centre marker in place) and plant a crop of potatoes in mulch using the no-dig method. After harvesting the potatoes you will find the soil softened and enriched and worm enriched.

Building a Garden Pond Fact Sheet

A garden pond each is a beautiful anythe garden, whether it is filled with just lime, plantsblood or fish as 2. After croppingaddition season to feed mandala with manure/compost, well. Here is our simple guide to what you need to know about building garden ponds. and bone, etc to keep the worms happy and replace lost nutrients.

Choosing the Garden Pond 3. Make the centre of your mandala a useful feature in some way, e.g. put a tyre pond in the middle of the circle or build a bean tepee in the middle and train climbing The first thingup that beans it. you need to consider is what type of pond that you want to build – one with plants only, or one with fish and plants. This is because each pond needs to take into consideration the features that it has. Be careful that you don’t choose a pond that is too small as it will limit the amount of fish and plants that you can use.

Alternatively, drag up a chair and an umbrella and sit and enjoy the fruits of your You also need consider the location. You labour andtopray for a surplus!! will enjoy the pond more if it is closer to the home –NOTE: make Although sure it is somewhere the mandalawhere gardenyou will supply you with space for a wide variety of are easily able to see it.

Be careful that the still need extra beds for mass plantings of vegetables and fruits, you will probably pond does not get such any runoff as chemicals vegetables as potatoes, onions,and pumpkins, etc. organic matter may get into the pond, disrupting its ecology.inEnsure that thePermacultivator plants As reproduced part from The - Journal of Cool Climate get sunlight if you want to grow plants.

Also be Permaculture, Jill Cockram aware that generally speaking, the larger the pond is, the easier it is to maintain.

Types of Pond When building your pond, there are many options to choose from when it comes to materials.

One of the most popular is the lined pond. This is where you dig the hole to any shape that you