Expert: Richard Clark - 5/13/2008

Question
Hello and thank you...   I bought a modular last year with a yard that was eroding behind the house.  After looking around and talking to people, it was suggested that i dig a pond and with the dirt (orange clay) to be dumped amd spread behind house for a yard. It appeared to be the most inexpensive of alternatives, and the grass appears to be coming in pretty nicely.(some eroding on the edges,hoping it will stop as I add move ivy to hold the clay) No one was looking to dump dirt anywhere due to decrease in home building... so bringing in dirt was going to be pretty expensive..  well, when he was digging he hit a large boulder, and believes it cracked.  Usually when u dig a pond in this clay, it usually will hold water, and needless to say mine isn't. It appears to be draining thru the cracked boulder.. My question is... Is there a way to seal the boulder, maybe by packing the dirt on top of it?  my other recourse is to get a pond liner, which is probably going to be expensive by the time you get is prepped and lined with an underliner.  I am a divorced woman on a somewhat limted amount of money to spend.  If you have any other suggestions, or if this is beyond your realm of knowledge... know that i thank you for your time
thanks
Debi

Answer
Debi
Sorry I don't know what to suggest as a way to seal the leak. I farm in sand. I thought clay would hold water. Is there any way to drain the pond to check to see if the water is draining because of the crack in the boulder? The boulder might have been knocked loose and the water is seeping around it and the clay might seal around the boulder over time. Hope you can find out a easy way to do the job.
Richard