Archive by Author | Brian Holroyd

Where to find box-welded pond liners with free underlay

Box-welded pond liners are fabricated using either Butyl or Epalyn (EPDM) pond liner. When you order a box-welded or tailored-to-fit pond liner from Liners Online pond specialists, you will receive the Geotextile protective underlay cut to the exact dimensions absolutely free.

What is a box-welded pond liner?

Box-welded pond liners are fabricated to fit formal shaped ponds. These are generally square, rectangular or L-shaped ponds but not exclusive to these shapes. A circular pond with steep vertical sides can also be catered for. If a more curvaceous design is wanted, then a rubber pond liner can be hot-bonded together to give the same formal look as a box-welded pond liner. The most noted feature is that this type of liner is free from folds and creases giving a pond a formal, neat appearance. Butyl or Epalyn are used because they are very flexible, durable and can be readily manipulated into a vertical sided shaped pond.

Advantages of fitting a box-welded pond liner

fit exactly to the shape of the pond with no unsightly folds or creases.
easy and quick to install.
made to the exact pond dimensions with a lip to secure it in place using sandstone coping or your chosen edging slabs/rocks.
high quality long-life pond liner used.
welded corners and flanges with no site joins or flaps – hot bond vulcanised for maximum strength

To place an order or get a quotation simply go to our Contact Us page to fill in your pond details or telephone us on 01526 399 033. We will need the length, width or the diameter and the total depth of your pond together with the size of the lip required (150mm (6”) is standard). Box welded pond liners are prefabricated in our factory and welded to the specified dimensions so that the finished product simply drops into the hole with a perfect fit. Square pond lined with a box-welded pond liner

Important Autumn tasks for your garden pond

Oct10

Autumn brings with it key jobs that need to be done in both the garden and to ponds for both to prosper the following Spring. A garden pond that is neglected in Autumn is likely to suffer the the consquences of rapid algae growth. Following these three important steps will guarantee a healthy pond with less maintenance required in the warmer Spring and Summer months:

Remove fallen Autumn leaves from the pond surface as quickly as possible
- Fallen tree leaves should not be allowed to sink below the surface of the water. If they do they will start to rot. The result of this will be an increase in water nutrient levels throwing off the ecological balance of the water giving algal bloom and blanketweed a chance to thrive. Remove the leaves as frequently as possible with a net. Skim off the leaves and add them to the compost heap.
Prune back aquatic plants to get rid of dead or tatty growth
- Pruning will help improve water quality by reducing the chance of vegetation left to decay in your pond.
Check water quality and remove any blanketweed from the water surface
Remove silt from the bottom of your pond

Autumn pond cleaning

If its viable remove your pond pump, filter, lighting and any other equipment to give it a clean and overhaul. Pond pumps and filters work to maintain a healthy pond environment for all pond inhabitants during the Spring and Summer months. As plant and fish activity slows down, pond pumps and filters can gradually be turned down when the water temperature starts to drop below 10 degrees Celcius. This will also help to leave fish hiding in the deeper more sheltered parts of your pond undisturbed.

Fish are still active during Autumn, particularly on warmer days. If you have fish in your pond, continue feeding them enough for them to consume within five minutes.

It is always a good idea to monitor the water level of your pond. If you notice a drop (more than just from evaporation), check that your pond liner is still in good, water tight condition. If any repair work needs to be done, do it before the cold weather sets-in.

Once autumn pond maintenance tasks have been completed, there is generally nothing more to do for your garden pond until Spring.

Enjoy Autumn and the orange hues it brings to our gardens!

Essential tips for pond building and pond liner installation

Sep26

Garden ponds lined with a pond liner offer a wide range of pond building designs. Planning is an essential step towards creating the desired look. In this article we offer user friendly tips on what to consider in the planning and build phase.

Garden pond location

The following points should be considered when deciding where to site your pond.

Near water and power supply – to operate pond pump and filter.
Accessible for the delivery of all the materials needed for your pond build – and perhaps a small digger to excavate the hole.
Amount of direct sunlight in mid-summer as this will ultimately affect the water temperature and the life within the pond.
Avoid extremes of light and shadow. A pond needs at least 6 hours of sunlight in summer. Water lilies need sun to flower and grow. A pond is synonymous with water lilies as they provide shade and shelter for fish or other water-loving creatures.
Trees can be a menace to ponds particularly in the Autumn when they start to loose their leaves so avoid positioning a pond too near non-evergreen trees and large shrubs. If leaves sink to the bottom of a pond they will, in time turn to sludge which then starts to affect the health of the pond water due to an increase in nutrient levels. The result is an algae build-up.
Avoid the front garden or anyother area which is easily accessible by children.

Pond size and depth

The best solution for a healthy, hormonious pond is to build is to build the biggest that space and budget will allow.

From experience, a pond of 20m² is ideal as it requires less maintenance, easily accommodates water lily growth with out the risk of the pond being caste into a shadow of doom!
If you are going to accommodate fish, a pond should be dug to a depth of at least 1 meter to prevent water freezing over in winter and to provide shelter for fish.
Deeper, bigger ponds lose less oxygen during the hot summer periods.

Flexible pond liners

Flat sheet PVC or rubber pond liners are the most popular choice when it comes to making a pond water tight. The reason is that they offer a wide choice in pond design, easy to instore and offers the ability to add on a stream or other additions to the pond.

Choose a pond liner that offers the following features:
- frost proof
- puncture resistant.
- resists the pressure of growing roots and ground movement
- flexible enough to mould into the contours of a pond design
- guaranteed to last for 20 years or more
- UV resistant and withstands extremes in temperature
Buy from an authorised aquatic shop or online store. Avoid buying builders rubber liners. A pond liner must be environmentally friendly and not leach chemicals into the water
Pond liners can be bought in a choice of thickness. Those of 0.85mm or 1mm in thickness are most suitable for larger ponds where the pressure of water baring down on it is much greater
Sheets of rubber pond liner can be hot bonded together to accommodate large pond design dimmensions.
When placing an order for a protective underlay and pond liner, you will first need to take exact measurements of your pond build. The calculations are:
- pond liner length required = pond length + 2 x depth + 2 x edge width
- pond width required = pond width + 2 x depth + 2 x edge width (pond edge of around 40 to 50cm is needed to create an overlap to secure the pond liner in place using boulders or your choice of edging material)

Garden pond edging to secure pond liner

The edging is a very important step in a pond build and pond liner installation. Not only does it mark the transition from land to water (or vica versa) but also plays a role in protecting a pond liner from visiting wildlife (and their claws!) and securing it in place. Bare edging doesn’t look natural and exposed pond liner also risks damage by UV rays.

Use gravel, boulders or other attractive stones where the bank is shallow (to avoid them rolling into the pond)
Other choices for edging include paving stones

A pond is an attractive addition to any size garden and creates a wonderful opportunity to examine nature close up. When building a pond, make sure it is accessible from at least one side for maintenance purposes, to add or cut back aquatic plants, feed fish or skim-off fallen leaves. Floating aquatic plants will help maintain a healthy pond by keeping algae away – so a worthy addition. When adding plants to your completed pond build, don’t get over enthusiatic – at least a third of the pond surface needs to be free of plant cover to allow for enough sunlight to penetrate the water.

Happy pond building!

Articles offering further assistance in planning and building a pond:

7 Things you should know about heron and fish pond designs

Sep19

Fish pond and general garden pond designs have no limitations when it comes to creativity. Rubber pond liners are flexible and allow for many bespoke styles to suit both garden and the purpose for which a pond is being built. Deciding on where to site your pond, style, size and depth of pond should very much be guided by whether your pond is to home Koi fish, aquatic plants or for the purpose of providing water and a home for wild life.

So, why does the purpose of a pond dictate the design of a pond build? Wildlife needs easy access into the water and an exit route to avoid drowning, the presence of Herons could cause havoc to a fish pond so slopping sides should be avoided and aquatic plants need shelves upon which baskets can be placed and lastly, easy access to a pond for maintenance purposes also needs to be considered.

Pond designs and fish survival

Fish ponds can either be of a formal rectangular design or steep-sided creative styles with curves and plinths. If lined with a rubber pond liner, there is no real limitation as to what can be achieved. Butyl and Epalyn rubber pond liners can be fabricated into a tailored-to-fit or box-welded pond liner for steep-sided square or rectangular designs or they can be readily moulded into the contours of a more rounded kidney shaped or similar pond design. Vertically sided pond designs do, to some extent deter heron from feeding off Koi or gold fish. But this is not an absolute guarantee. Although steep sided ponds do pose a challenge to Heron, they are determined and patient creatures and are known to stand as still as a log watching and waiting for a fish to swim to the surface for an easy picking!

If herons become a persistent problem to your fish pond and you have tried alternative deterants such as netting or enclosed wire grids then turning your pond into a wildlife haven maybe the best alternative. Unless, of course you are willing to try a redesign with steep sides, greater depth and inclusive of rocks and bolders positioned in such a way as to create a place for fish to hide when they feel threatened.

What do we know about Herons and a fish pond?

They eat predominantely fish, but also love amphibians, small mammals, worms and small birds.
They fish mainly at dawn or dusk – a time when fish are also the most active. This is why their visit to a fish pond often goes unnoticed (unless of course you are up and about very early!)
They visit garden ponds for easy pickings particularly at the start of the breeding season or harsh weather conditions when their usual food supply dwindles.
A fish pond located near canels, lagoons. lakes or other water sources that are home to Heron are most vulnerable to their visits.
They are a protected species in the UK
Herons nest in tree tops
They can appear to be quite arrogant – noice and movement is not always enough to deter them away from a pond.

Steep sided raised ponds are the safer option for keeping fish. No matter what the shape there really is no limit to what can be achieved when you line with a Butyl or Epalyn pond liner. The brick work creates a very appealing finish. Geotextile protective underlay and pond liner need to be secured in place once the build is complete. This can be done by securing them in place with metal rivets hammered into the brick work, as seen in this photograph.

For more information about pond liners, tailored-to-fit pond liners or about installing a pond liner into a deep, steep-sided pond then please visit our Pond Liners website or contact us on 01526 399 033

Previous blog articles >>

4 Valuable reasons ponds need aquatic plants

Planning a pond but not sure which pond liner to buy

4 Valuable reasons why ponds need aquatic plants

Aug24

Aquatic plants perform an important role in all types of ponds whether in residential or public gardens, obstacles on golf courses or those that make-up the landscape of office parks. There are four important reasons to justify why they are so important.

Importance of aquatic plants

Enhances the beauty of a pond, adds colour, gives height and bredth
Keeps pond healthy by balancing the ecosystem. Plants act as a biological filter
Pond water is kept clear and free of algae by reducing the levels of sunlight
Creates a wildlife habitat by providing a shelter for fish and other visiting creatures

The best time of the year to plant is mid spring to early summer. It is recommended that you do your research before going out to buy plants. Some aquatic plants grow vigorously and are therefore better suited to big ponds. Planted in a sm Aquatic plants including waterlilies all pond and you risk spending a lot of the summer having to cut back to allow sufficient light to your pond. Plants thrive when planted in the right conditions, so always read the labels before making a purchase. Some marginal plants have spiky, sharp roots which could damage a pond liner, even a durable puncture resistant rubber Butyl pond liner could suffer at the root of such aqautic plants. You will also need to invest in the right type of planting basket and soil (pond potting soil is free of fertiliser so that it doesn’t affect the natural balance in the water).

Types of aquatic plants

Aquatic plants fall into four sub-categories depending on where in the pond they should be planted.

Bog plants – suited to damp areas to the outer ground of a pond
Floating plants such as waterlilies give cover to spawning fish and aquatic insects.
Marginal plants are planted on shelves around the outer periphery of a pond. They are perfect for natural or wildlife ponds providing much needed cover. Popular choices include the Arum Lily, Iris, Lobella and Cyperus (Paper Reed Papyrus). For some marginal aquatic plants the depth of water they are grown in is very important, so read labels and check the requirements before buying.
Oxygenating plants are planted in the deeper waters of a pond

Plant aquatic plants that are easy to grow and maintain. Try to have a mix as well as variety of floating and submerged plants that suit your pond size. When positioning aquatic plants in your pond it is best not to use a garden fork or stick to aid your planting as you may inadvertantly touch the bottom of your pond and damage the pond liner. A further tip is the take any off cuts of rubber pond liner or geotextile protective underlay to place under your plant basket or boulders used to position your aquatic plants. Protecting the pond liner from damage should always be considered when placing plants in your pond.

One further tip is to ensure the plants you buy are healthy and free of pests or disease. It is advisable to rinse them off under clean water before adding to your pond.

How to install a Geotextile protective underlay liner

Aug17

Geotextile protective underlay is a tough, permeable material that is used to separate, reinforce and protect the primary pond liner from being punctured by rocks or other sharp objects. Geotextile is made from high quality mechanically bonded polyproplene and available in different grades of thickness for different application types. Geotextile, as sold by Liners Online is needle punched in the manufacturing process to add ‘air’ to the fabric to give it highly effective cushioning properties.

A lot of effort (and money!) goes into building a pond so it is worth the extra spend installing a pond liner protective underlay. The integrity of a pond liner is compromised when installed directly onto the ground because the force exerted by the weight of the water onto the pond liner will push it down onto any rough points in the ground creating straining points that may puncture over time. Water weighs one tonne per square meter, so that is a lot of force pushing down on the pond liner of an average size pond. Installing geotextile protective underlay

Geotextile underlay also acts as an escape route for any gasses that may build up under a pond liner. For garden pond designs that include the placement of soil, gravel, rocks or concrete features above the pond liner, then it is highly recommended to install Geotextile both above and below the pond liner for added protection.

Geotextile protective underlay installation

Dig the hole for your pond to the desired size and shape. Use a spirit level to ensure the ground around the periphery of your pond dug-out is level.
Prepare the top most layer of soil by removing as many stones, rocks and roots as possible. Use a granular fill if you find any weak soil pockets. Smooth the ground as much as possible.
Take accurate measurements of your pond to order the exact size Geotextile protective underlay.
For large ponds wider than the role of underlay, ensure a sufficient overlap (by 12 to 18 inches) so that any ground movement won’t expose the pond liner to any rough, stony ground risking a puncture.
For garden pond builds it is important to lay a protective underlay first. Geotextile is permeable and has the ability to reinforce and protect all types of pond liner.
When laying over the ground, secure it is place using ground pegs or boulders so it doesn’t slide out of place when installing the pond liner.

Why install a protective overlay liner?

There are a few situations where protective underlay liner is used on top of the pond liner such as around the edge of a pond before the stones or slabs, that will form the border of the pond, are put in place. Similarly, if your pond features an underwater shelf or platform for shallow water plants, those areas too should use a protective overlay. The presence of an overlay can also provide some protection against the sharp claws of pet dogs or cats – and even the stab of a heron’s beak!

Another area that can benefit from a protective pond liner overlay is underneath objects such as stone features or plant containers that you add to your pond. Or, when creating an attractive pebbled pond floor. As well as protecting the pond liner, the textured surface of the fabric will discourage pebbles and other features sliding about.

You might find our previous Blog article ‘How to get your pond liner size just right’ helpful in calculating the right size for your pond liner and underlay to avoid over or under ordering.