How to Edge a Pond and Secure Your Pond Liner

Choosing the right pond edging is about much more than making your pond look attractive. A well-designed pond edge helps to secure the pond liner and protective underlay, conceal the liner and protect it from sunlight and accidental damage.

Whether you are building a formal garden pond with paving slabs or a natural-looking wildlife pond surrounded by rocks and planting, the edge needs to be considered before you start digging.

With a little planning, your pond edging can become an integral part of the design rather than something added as an afterthought.

Why is pond edging important?

A flexible pond liner needs to extend beyond the water's edge. This extra material allows the liner to be secured firmly in place and prevents the edge from pulling back into the pond as it is filled.

The edging material is then used to hold the liner and underlay securely around the perimeter.

A properly finished pond edge also:

• Helps prevent the liner from becoming exposed
• Protects the liner from sunlight and UV exposure
• Reduces the risk of mechanical damage
• Conceals the liner and creates a neat finish
• Creates a transition between the pond and surrounding garden
• Can provide a safe entry and exit point for wildlife

The pond edge should therefore be considered part of the pond's construction, rather than simply a decorative finishing touch.

Plan your pond edging before you dig

One of the most common mistakes when building a pond is to decide on the edging after the excavation has been completed.

The type of edging you choose can influence the shape, depth and construction of the pond. For example, paving slabs require a firm, level edge, while a natural wildlife pond may use boulders, gravel, planting or a gently sloping "beach" area.

Think about the finished appearance of your pond before you start digging.

Will it be:

• A formal pond edged with paving slabs or brick?
• A natural pond surrounded by rocks and planting?
• A wildlife pond with a gently sloping gravel beach?
• A raised pond edged with timber or sleepers?

Planning the edge at this stage will make installing the liner much easier.

How does pond edging secure a pond liner?

When installing a flexible pond liner, both the protective underlay and liner should extend beyond the edge of the excavation.

The liner should not be trimmed flush with the water's edge. Instead, leave enough material to extend over the surrounding edge and allow the chosen edging material to hold it securely in position.

Once the pond has been filled and the liner has settled into the contours of the pond, the excess material can be carefully folded and secured beneath the edging.

The weight of paving slabs, stones, rocks or other suitable edging materials helps to hold the liner in place.

Where possible, allowing the edging to slightly overhang the water's edge also helps to hide and protect the liner.

Don't forget the protective underlay

The pond liner should be installed over a suitable protective geotextile underlay. The underlay provides an important protective barrier between the ground and the liner, helping to protect against stones, roots and other sharp objects that could otherwise damage the liner.

It is also useful around the pond's edge, particularly where stones, gravel or other materials will be placed over the liner.

The underlay and liner should be installed together with sufficient overlap around the perimeter so that both can be properly secured by the finished edging.

Pond edging ideas

There are many different ways to finish the edge of a pond. The best option will depend on the style of your garden and the type of pond you are creating.

Natural stone and boulders

Large stones and boulders are ideal for creating a natural-looking pond edge. Position them carefully around the perimeter, ensuring that they are stable and cannot move or roll into the pond.

Where rocks are being placed directly on or near the liner, use protective underlay to provide an additional layer between the stone and liner.

For a particularly natural appearance, allow some of the rocks to extend slightly over the water.

Paving slabs

Paving slabs are a popular choice for formal and contemporary ponds. They create a clean, defined edge and can provide a strong visual connection between the pond and patio or surrounding paving.

A firm and level foundation is essential. The pond should be constructed so that the top edge is level before the slabs are installed.

Leave sufficient pond liner around the perimeter for the slabs to secure it firmly in place. Ideally, the paving should overhang the pond edge slightly. This helps conceal the liner while providing additional protection.

Bricks

Bricks can be used to create a neat, formal pond edge and work particularly well with square, rectangular or geometric ponds.

As with paving, the pond must be carefully planned and excavated so that the finished edge is level and the bricks have a stable foundation.

Timber and sleepers

Timber can be used to edge a pond or, in the case of a raised pond, can form part of the pond's structure.

Properly treated timber can create an attractive, natural-looking border, although care should be taken to ensure that the timber is suitable for use around water.

Gravel and pebbles

Gravel and small pebbles are particularly effective for informal and wildlife ponds.

They can be used to create a gently sloping "beach" that allows wildlife to enter and leave the water more easily.

A layer of protective underlay between the pond liner and gravel is recommended to reduce the risk of puncturing or damaging the liner.

How to hide the pond liner

One of the most common questions when finishing a pond is: How do I stop the pond liner from showing?

The easiest solution is to plan for the liner to be covered by the edging.

For example, when using rocks or paving slabs, position them so that they extend slightly over the water. This disguises the liner and creates a much more natural transition between the water and garden.

If you are creating a wildlife pond, a shallow shelf can be incorporated around part of the pond. This can then be covered with gravel, pebbles or suitable planting to create a natural-looking edge.

Avoid simply cutting the liner level with the pond edge. This can leave the liner exposed and make it difficult to secure properly.

Creating a wildlife-friendly pond edge

If your aim is to attract wildlife, the pond edge is particularly important.

A completely vertical pond with no shallow areas can make it difficult for wildlife to escape if they fall into the water.

Consider creating a gently sloping area at one side of the pond. A gravel or pebble "beach" provides an easy route into and out of the water for frogs, toads, newts, insects and other visitors.

The pond edge can also be softened with marginal plants, rocks and native planting to create shelter and habitat around the water.

How much extra liner do you need?

Remember to allow sufficient liner around the entire perimeter when calculating the size of your pond liner.

The exact amount required will depend on the pond design and the type of edging you intend to use, but never order a liner that only reaches the water's edge.

The additional liner is needed to allow the liner to extend over the pond edge and be secured underneath the edging material. It is much easier to conceal excess liner than it is to discover that the liner is too small after the pond has been excavated.

Our pond liner calculator can help you calculate the approximate liner dimensions required for your pond.

Take your time with the finishing touches

The edging is one of the most visible parts of a pond, so it is worth taking time to get it right.

A beautifully installed pond liner can be let down by an unstable or poorly planned edge. Conversely, carefully positioned stones, paving, gravel or planting can transform a simple lined pond into an attractive and natural-looking garden feature.

The key is to think about the edging before you start digging, allow plenty of liner around the perimeter, protect the liner with suitable underlay and make sure the finished edging is stable.

Find the right pond liner and underlay

At Pond Liners Online, we supply flexible pond liners and protective geotextile underlay for garden ponds and water features.

Flexible rubber liners such as Epalyn and Butyl are particularly useful for irregular pond designs because they can be shaped to follow the contours of the excavation.

Our range includes pond liners, protective underlay and tailored-to-fit liners for projects where a standard sheet is not suitable.

If you are planning a new pond, don't leave the edging until the end. Plan the pond, liner, underlay and edging as one complete design, and you will have a much better chance of achieving a secure, watertight and attractive finish.