Gardening and Horticulture - Optical Illusion

We just cracked and filled a small cement pond to eliminate maintenance problems for the homeowner. We left the shape of the pond, with rock edging, with the idea of mulching it with blue rubber mulch, leaving the impression it was still a water pond.
Because of the cost, finding rubber mulch locally, especially the blue mulch, is a problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what else to use that would give the optical illusion of water?
Appreciate any ideas, Thanks.

Hello Jo Ann

Have you considered sod? - the colour might be wrong, but it would give a feel of a natural scene, especially if kept long and allowed to blow in the wind. Depending on the variety of grass(es) you chose, you could get anywhere from various shades of green to tan to reddish brown to bluish in colour.

Or what about river rock or beach pebbles to simulate a dry stream bed or lake bottom? Dolomite chips would provide a crisp, white surface or wood chips a more natural area. There may even be coloured wood chips available in your area... (there are a few mfg's in Southern Ontario trying to make an entrance in the landscape mulch industry with coloured wood chips).

Try typing 'Landscape Mulch' in a good search engine - I got over 61,000 hits with many leads to mfgs and distributers of varous products that are available.

Just out of curiosity, is this the same pond you wrote about back in August?

Hope this helps a bit...

Good Luck

Howie

Good Morning,

Yes, this is the same pond I posted about on cracking the bottom for drainage.

I was all for the colored stone but the homeowner wasn't too receptive about that. I even considered spray painting some mulch myself. I'll check out the web as you suggested and see what I can find. Thanks for your input.
Jo

JoAnn:

Could you link to a picture? It's hard to envision just what you're trying to do.

Also, where is the pond located? Optical illusions in landscaping usually only work well at a distance. Colored stone chips could simulate water from 50 yards, but might not look too good up close.

At a distance, a blue tarp, spray painted with streaks and mottles of gray & white, might be an answer. With plants, possibly decorative grasses (something tall enough to cast shade over the tarped area) at the edges, this might achieve the effect you're looking for. Be sure to poke holes to allow for drainage.

Hope this helps...

I feel like I have been talking about this too much but for me it is the coolest new thing! I concrete artist can acid stain your concrete a blue-green then add two or three coats of sealer. It gives the look of marble and is durable, durable, durable! Check out some acid staining sites for photos. Have fun!

Hi Jo Ann,

If I'm understanding this, you are asking what you can use to cover the area where the water was. I was thinking that plexi glass in a blue or blue green tint would work. If not, I've seen glass shards that are tumbled might work. Even marbles would give the illusion if the correct color is used. The marbles could be imbedded into a mortar mix.

Hope this was helpful,
Newt

Thank you to all for your suggestions.
I've been pondering the idea of Plexiglass for my own pond since last year to avoid the maintenance. I was going to paint the underside with some kind of pond scene. I hesitate because my pond is much larger and not filled in and it may pose a saftely hazard without any under support, however, it may work on the pond I've been referring to...food for thought.
Thanks again.