ORNAMENTAL 
POOLS 
FOR 
LAWNS 
AND CARDENS 
Inexpensive—with Concrete 
EASY TO BUILD 
Ornamental pools are a never-ending source of 
delight. Form early spring until late in fall, your 
garden pool sets a beautiful stage for enjoyment of 
colorful fish and aquatic plants. The ornamental 
pool is the center of enjoyment in your “outdoor 
living room." 
Designing the Pool 
The general character of your garden—whether 
it is formal, or informal in a natural setting—will 
suggest the style. 
Small species of water lilies require only a small 
pool—three feet or more in diameter. Larger varie¬ 
ties must have a pool at least six feet wide. Depth 
depends upon the type of planting. For water lilies, 
a depth of at least 22 inches is desirable. 
Carden pools may be combined with rock gar¬ 
dens, often with a miniature waterfall running 
down a rocky course into the pool. 
Building the Pool 
Excavate to the required depth including the 
thickness of the floor. Pools with vertical sides are 
built with forms. If the soil is firm, no outside form 
is needed. 
Pools with sloping sides often are built by “plas¬ 
tering” a stiff concrete in place. Wire mesh rein¬ 
forcement is used. Natural rock may be set in the 
concrete. 
Pools having curved or irregular shaped walls are 
made with forms of 20 gauge galvanized iron, 
readily bent to the desired shape. 
Reinforcement 
Reinforcement should be used as shown in the 
accompanying drawings. Place the floor and walls in 
one operation to avoid construction joints. 
Support the interior wall forms across the top of 
the excavation so that the bottom hangs six inches 
from the bottom of the pit. Spreaders, or braces, 
extending across the pool from one form to the 
other, prevent bulging when the forms are filled 
with concrete. 
Making the Concrete 
Strong, durable, watertight concrete is easily 
made. Most important is the amount of water used 
per sack of cement. 
Use about 4Vz to 5 gallons of water per sack. 
The correct mix (determined by a trial batch) 
should be plastic, holding its shape well, but not 
crumbly. If too stiff, use slightly less sand and 
gravel; if “runny,” add sand and gravel until the 
proper proportion is obtained. 
