Pond liner installed to a complex pond design

Feb1

Sharing this review kindly sent to us by one of our customers is testimony that we don’t just sell a pond liner or product, but also our knowledge and expertise to help and advise. We will work with you on your pond design to tailor a pond liner to fit to exact dimensions. Whether you want a flat sheet pond liner or one that is welded to a formal ornamental pond design to fit ‘like-a-glove’ without any folds or creases.

A review sent to us by a customer to whom we supplied the Geotextile underlay and 1.00mm Epalyn pond liner for his unusually shaped garden pond – “I explained my proposal for an odd-shaped liner, and the team at Liners Online came back with several options, which we refined to to a cost-effective, but still complicated shape. The order was delivered only 3 days later, as promised, and is obviously an excellent product with which I am totally satisfied. I would recommend this company to any pond-builder.”Chris Yarrow of East Sussex.

For this pond liner order we took a sheet of Epalyn rubber and cut it to the required lengths before vulcanising them together to form the finished pond liner. The flexibility of a pond liner allows the freedom to design a pond that suits individual requirements without any restrictions imposed. Just dig your pond the shape you require and contact us and we will advise you on the best size and material for your pond. All rubber pond liners come with a long-term warranty for added peace of mind.

Here are photographs Chris shared showing the underlay installed and secured in place using old bricks while they got to work to lay down the pond liner. The second photograph shows it filling with water. We have been promised a few photos of the end result once completed in a few weeks time once the edging has been laid to secure the liners in place. Work in progress and we can’t wait to see the end result!

Laying the pond liner and the early stage of filing the pond

Why a compost bin is a good investment for gardens

Jan19

Compost bins are a neat and easy way to turn waste into a nutrient rich fertilizer. Composting is a valuable process by which life is given back to the soil. Compost is decomposed material made from waste that other wise would have gone to landfill. Green leaves, fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, fresh grass clippings, tea bags, used coffee granules, cardboard egg boxes and twigs can all be thrown into a compost bin.

Advantages of investing in a compost bin

saves money on buying chemical-based fertilizers
compost will enhance the quality and texture of soil by improving its ability to hold moisture and nutrients
compost produced and fed into the ground will improve the texture of clay and sandy soil by making them more loamy and increasing the ability to hold water for longer
compost improves soil aeration and drainage
dig compost into flower beds to control weeds
reduces landfill – garden and kitchen waste sent to landfill and start to decompose in the absence of oxygen. The result is methane gas released into the environment – a by-product that contributes to global warming

The composting process can be speeded up by regularly aerating it. This is done by turning and mixing the content of the compost bin once a week. When it looks, feels and smells like rich dark soil then you know it is ready to dig into the ground.

A tumbling compost bin will make home composting easier – you won’t need to get out your gardening fork to mix and turn the compost. With all the benefits as listed above, why not invest in a product that will help simplify the home composting process?

Benefits of a tumbling compost bin

When making your own compost, it is important to remember that aeration is vital for the organic matter to break down properly. So, when comparing a standing compost bin to a tumbling compost bin, there are a few factors you need to consider. Firstly, a tumbling compost bin does exactly what its names states – it tumbles – and the rotating function is what ensures that the organic waste gets the aeration it needs to decompose and produce high quality compost. If you use a standing bin, you would need to aerate the compost yourself with a shovel or garden pick. This process is not as effective and it means more effort for you and may ultimately cause damage to the bin itself as well. The second point to consider is the strength and durability of the bin. A tumbling compost bin is made of stronger heavy-duty materials as it is designed to support the full load of the compost.

Finally, we need to consider convenience. Working with compost can be a messy and smelly job. A tumbling compost bin empties from the top and is mobile, meaning you simply have to wheel it over to where the compost is needed and tip it over to access the contents. Standing bins, which empty from the bottom, are immobile and therefore require a lot more hands-on participation.

By recycling your organic waste as compost at home, you are making a significant impact on the environment – and you will enjoy the benefits in your own garden by nourishing your plants with all the essential nutrients and minerals they need. At Liners Online, we are committed to environmentally friendly practises and sell a range of garden related products – from pond liners to solar lighting and tumbling compost bins . So contact us today and get composting!

Garden ponds and the value of submerged aquatic plants

Jan18

A survey conducted in 2015 found that an average of one in ten homes across Britain have a garden pond or water feature. This statistic is encouraging although still doesn’t quite match the lose to wildlife of natural ponds and lakes. No matter what the goal is for a pond owner, whether for fish or to encourage wildlife, they all provide a habitat for amphibians, water insects, birds and small creatures. Ponds require less maintenance than that of a garden provided there is a good balance of aquatic plants, often referred to as natures best filtration system.

Under water photo of submerged aquatic plants

Garden ponds are defined as shallow bodies of water of up to 2 meters deep. The sun is able to penetrate such depths casting it’s rays to the bottom of the pond creating the perfect environment for submerged plants to grow. Floating plants such as the commonly know water lilly, grow on the surface and have no root system. They are beneficial in providing shade and shelter to pond inhabitants, but if not managed can grow across the surface blanking out the sun and preventing photosynthesis. Covering no more than 60% of the surface will prevent algae growth while providing sufficient shelter to pond creatures.

There are four types of aquatic plants, namely floaters, submerged, marginals and oxygenators. All offer benefits to maintaining a healthy pond ecosystem so it is good to add a few of each type – how many is dependent on pond size, depth and goal of pond. A healthy pond ecology is about balancing the life in your pond with the environment within – a shallow pond with little movement of water fully exposed to the sun and rich in nutrients is the perfect environment for algae growth. Not quite what a pond owner wants to see happen! This is important to note when setting your goals for a garden pond.

Aquatic plants offer numerous benefits to garden ponds. They are important to the life of fish and wildlife because they provide cover from danger, nesting areas and food. The presence of aquatic plants really depends on the goal for a pond with wildlife ponds likely to have a greater variety of plants versus a pond housing fish. Submerged plants are important to both types of ponds. They provide protection to small fish, release oxygen into the water and absorb and provide long-term storage of nutrients (that might otherwise be used to increase the levels of algae in a pond). Ponds with submerged plants have fewer problems with algae. However, grown in abundance and they could cause problems for fish pond owners.

The advantages to aquatic plants in garden ponds

a decrease in water clarity can often be solved by adding submerged or oxygenating plants
known as natures natural filtration system
provide food and shelter to aquatic life
aesthetically pleasing to a pond giving it character and dimension

Before rushing out to buy aquatic plants for your pond, here are three important things to note: some plants thrive in moving water while others prefer still waters, buy from a reputable aquatic trader who is more likely to sell disease free plants and buy native plants.

Can you feel the days getting longer – soon we will be outdoors soaking-up the sun while enjoying the tranquil beauty of our garden ponds!

How to drain run-off away from your garden pond

Dec12

How we go about planning and building our garden pond goes a long way toward it’s ultimate success. The quality of water is a good measure of how well a pond has been built and maintained. This is evident in the health of fish and other living creatures inhabiting it. Where you site your pond and how well you maintain the surrounding landscape also contribute to the health of a pond. Ultimately you would want a low maintenance pond which sparkles with health and vitality.

Rainfall on impervious bricks causing runoff So, what is the relevance of all this? To put it simply, as our towns and cities expand so does the amount of impervious ground cover over which rain has to pass before going down a storm water drain or finding ground it can seep into. Our gardens are no different with patios and driveways having a negative impact during periods of high rainfall. Rainwater run-off is precipitation that doesn’t soak into the ground. This can be due to the ground being saturated, having a non-porous soil type or man-made surfaces preventing water being absorbed into the ground. Rainwater run-off can become a problem when it carries with it leaves and other debris. If this water should then flow into your pond it will affect the health of your pond by reducing the waters oxygen levels.

We plant and fertilize our flower beds, shrubs and lawns. But, in the process we change the environment by adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil. These can all have an unintended negative impact on the water in our garden ponds, lakes and streams. Polluting our waterways affects the health of all living creatures that inhabit it. Sudden down pours of rain can cause flash flooding which can carry silt, grass clippings and other debris that lead to murky water. Lawn fertilizers contain chemicals that can support algae growth or harm aquatic plants and fish. There are, however changes that we can make to reduce run-off in our own gardens.

Careful selection of where you site your pond is an important step to avoid pond water health problems. The ground around a pond should hold sufficient clay content to retain water. Rainfall and runoff from impervious surfaces

How to reduce rainwater run-off into your pond

minimize man-made impervious surfaces
plants absorb water so grow sufficient to cover your flower-beds
native plants have extensive root systems so include these in your garden to absorb rainwater before it becomes ‘run-off’
dig organic matter into your flower beds – plants will also grow faster and have a greater impact in reducing run-off
reduce slope of garden to restrict the risk of run-off

Man-made rainwater run-off prevention

If the above mentioned steps are not sufficient in preventing runoff, you can protect your pond by digging a slight ridge around it. The ridge doesn’t have to be very high. If the pond is on an incline, you can create a shallow channel with a slight slope to divert runoff to a flowerbed.

The impact of Global weather changes on Great Britain has seen periods of dry spells followed by heavy and persistent downpours – it is these that can affect the health of our ponds so we hope the tips offered in this article prove helpful.

For more steps to building a healthy garden pond, visit this article on our website >> Pond planning and Construction

How long do pond liners last?

Nov29

Pond liners last many years if installed correctly. Most manufactures of rubber pond liners offer at least a 25 year guarantee provided the pond liner is installed above a protective underlay. For Butyl or Epalyn pond liners up to 100m²in diameter the guarantee offered by Liners Online is life-time. Pond liners bigger than 100m² are guaranteed for 25 years. Butyl pond liner, a 0.75mm thick synthetic rubber has been used to line ponds in the UK for over 40 years with great success and is still considered to be one of the best pond liners on the market.

Pond liners are essentially a waterproof fabric whose function it is to keep the water from seeping into the ground. Not all pond liners are made equal therefore it is advisable to check the guarantee terms and conditions before placing an order. The guarantee period is just a gauge on how long you can expect a pond liner to last. Pond liners being installed above a Geotextile protect underlay

Types of pond liners

Pond liners vary in strength, flexibility and durability depending on what material they are made from:

PVC pond liners – usually around 0,5mm thick. The liner is flexible, however it is not tear resistant so if the material is punctured, it may get worse over time. PVC pond liner will go brittle and crack if exposed to the sun over a period of time therefore correct installation and maintenance are essential. PVC can’t be easily repaired as most pond liner repair products cause the liner to go brittle around the area it is applied to leading to further cracks and leakages. Protecting it with an underlay liner is essential to help prevent leaks. PVC pond liners last around 20 years.
Rubber pond liners – These liners can be further divided into EPDM (Epalyn) and Butyl, the latter of which has for long been considered one of the best materials by pond enthusiasts. EPDM, on the other hand, is less costly and has similar, if not slightly better characteristics than Butyl. Both pond liners are known to last upwards of 30 years. Should either puncture they can readily be repaired without a costly replacement.
Preformed pond liners – they are of a predetermined size and shape that can’t be changed. Made of fibreglass or a rigid plastic with pros and cons to both types. Fibreglass is expensive but can be installed above or below ground level. Rigid plastic liners must be installed inside the ground to prevent them from flexing and cracking. A preformed pond will last upwards of 10 years. Ground movement can cause cracking with age so generally have a shorter life span than a flexible rubber pond liner.

Can a pond liner be installed directly on the ground?

Yes, you can however we don’t recommend doing so as this affects the guarantee on the liner. There is also a much higher probability the rough surface of the ground will puncture the pond liner. Liners Online supply a non-woven, mechanically bonded, needle-punched, Geotextile underlay. It offers high performance and provides a highly effective protective barrier between substrate and pond liner. We recommend that an underlay is used beneath all our pond liners, not only to help protect the pond liner from penetration by sharp stones and roots but also to reduce excessive localised stretching of the liner when ground settlement occurs over time.

In summary, a flexible PVC or rubber pond liner will last 20 years and more provided they are installed above a protective underlay, secured in place with appropriate edging material and protected from regular clawed animal visits. A well maintained and cared-for pond should give you years of pleasure.

How to dispose of autumn leaves you don’t want in your pond

Nov24

Autumn is a busy time for garden pond owners chasing golden leaves before they land up in your pond. Leaves left to sink down to the bottom of a pond will start to decompose eventually turning to sludge. Rich in micronutrients, it is the best fertiliser for algae growth. Therefore, by not maintaining your pond in autumn by keeping debris out, you increase the chance for an excess amount of pond plant growth. Leaf debris in your pond can also give the pond water a less than appealing brownish tint.

So, the best solution is to spend time regularly removing autumn leaves from your garden and surface of your pond. But what do you do with all the leaves you have racked-up? A decade ago it was common practice among many householders to bin garden refuge which accounted for around a fifth of the total weight going into landfill (depending on season and region). Whatever the exact figure is the important fact is that we need to keep green waste out of landfill. Instead rake-up fallen leaves and compost them to make nutrient rich crumbly organic matter.

Freshly fallen leaves added to a composter contain twice the mineral content than manure, which can be contaminated with chemicals from pesticides depending on where it has been collected. Making leaf compost will greatly enrich the nutrients in the soil of your flower beds for healthier plant growth. Leaf compost also helps maintain moisture levels in the soil.

Nutritional benefits of autumn leaves

improves drainage and aeration of soil
provide nutrients to beneficial microbes in the soil
rich in the trace elements soil needs
60% of all nutrients extracted from the ground by the roots of trees ends-up in the leaves
composted leaves will transfer these nutrients into the soil (nutrient levels decline the longer the leaves are left lying on the ground

It is easier to collect-up leaves on a dry wind-free day using a rake, leaf boards or leaf blower. Place the leaves into a bin liner. Pierce holes into the liner and loosely tie the top of the bag. Put the bags in a hidden corner of the garden for two years after which time you can turn out the mulched leaf mould and dig it into your flower beds.

If you prefer an easier method of storing fallen autumn leaves, use chicken wire and garden stakes to build a square or round frame leaf-mould bin in a sheltered area of your garden. Avoid placing the frame in an area of garden where it risks being infected by weeds. You will need to moisten periodically during dry spells to aid the decaying process which takes about two years to become a well rotted leaf mould. You may also want to turn your pile regularly over this period to aerate the leaves and speed up the process of breakdown. Autumn leaves collected to make leaf compost

Leaf mould can be used as seed-sowing compost, used as a mulch or soil improver. Once fully decomposed into a rich hummus it is very beneficial to the soil.

The piles of nutrient-rich organic matter should be considered as autumns gift to your garden and not cursed for their presence scattered across your lawn, pond and flower beds. Our advice for those planning a garden pond build is to site it away from deciduous trees and to raise it slightly above the level of the surrounding landscape to prevent fallen being blow into your pond.

Happy leaf collecting and compositing for a brighter Spring!

How to attract wildlife to your garden pond

Nov17

Urbanisation and farming methods have resulted in many of England’s natural wetlands disappearing. You and I can help wildlife by building ponds in our back gardens. Advantages to building a pond for wildlife benefit you and I too by way of very effective pest control. Yes, frogs, toads, dragonflies, bats and birds attracted to water thrive on the nutritional value of pests!

Over the past decade there has been an increase in the popularity of garden ponds. The way we build ponds today using pond liners or prefabricated materials is very different to how they were constructed in the days of the ornamental Greek and Roman ponds. But our motivation is still the same as our ancestors who sort a piece of paradise where they could go to relax and watch the graceful movements of fish through the water.

There is one additional motivation today that people of the past weren’t mindful of (because the world was in a very different state then) and that is to create a safe environment for small creatures. Wildlife is now constantly threatened by the development of concrete structures to cope with the ever growing human population. As humans etch their way further and further into places that wildlife once called ‘home’, we need to supplement the lose of natural homes with man-made ones. Of all the habitats you can create to help wildlife, a pond is one of the most effective. Ponds with a range of different features and habitats tend to attract a greater variety of wildlife.

Features added above pond liner that attract wildlife

gently sloping sides and ‘beaches’
muddy marginal area
marginal plants
shallow water
sunlight – or dabbled sunlight

Marginal plants such as reeds, bull rushes, yellow iris and water mint that are found to grow at the edge of ponds provide shelter for frogs, tadpoles and newts.
Dragonflies and damselflies thrive in open, sunny ponds.
Floating leaved plants such as water lily and submerged plants such as hornwort provide food and water for water snails.

Designing your wildlife pond

Make your pond as big as possible to create many and varied habitats. The Wildlife Trust suggests a pond 1m wide by 2m long to be an ideal size.
Ensure some edges are shallow and sloping to allow animals easy access (as shown in the photo image).
Add native plants from other garden ponds or garden centres. Never take plants from the wild.

When you have finished building your pond don’t be tempted to transfer creatures such as frogs and newts from other ponds or take spawn from the wild, which can spread disease. Insects, amphibians and invertebrates will find your pond surprisingly quickly on their own.

Pond liners are an easy way of containing water for wildlife ponds particularly where the ground is porous. The pond liner does not need to detract from the natural look of your pond. Cover it with smooth surfaced pebbles as shown in the attached photograph. Rubber pond liners such as Epalyn (EPDM) or Butyl are non-toxic to wildlife and don’t leach chemicals into the water. The liner material is thick, flexible and resistant to UV rays so will stand up to sunny conditions and the presence of wildlife for more than 25 years.

Creating a pond for wildlife will bring you heaps of enjoyment.

“Of all the habitats you can create to help wildlife, a pond is probably the most effective.” as quoted by the RSPB

3 steps to essential winter pond care

Nov3

Pond care tips for all pond owners to keep your fish happy and algae from going into full bloom at the start of spring.

Infographic list steps to essential garden pond care

Winter care

Remove fallen leaves and any other debris from pond surface
Dead-head plants (remove dead or spent flowers before it sets seed) to encourage new growth and allow for bigger and brighter blooms of flowers. By removing spent flowers, the plant will have energy to continue to make new flowers instead of producing seeds. If a plant is left to set seed, its life cycle is complete and it will die.
Remove dead leaves from pond plants and move hardy plants such as lilies towards the deepest part of the pond to prevent their tubers being frozen.
Fish slow down as the temperatures drop. Feed them easy to digest foods at the start of winter. When temperature drops below 10 degrees C (50F) stop feeding them, as they become increasingly less active and stop digesting food. Plants that would normally remove waste are also in a dormant state. Increased levels of fish faeces would affect the water quality due to ammonia and nitrate build-up . Koi don’t have stomachs so what they eat and their bodies don’t need will be excreted. What they eat is for the purpose of growth, colour and energy. Koi are cold-blooded so metabolism is dependent on water temperature.
Keep pond from freezing over for any length of time. If you leave the surface frozen-over gases will build-up, oxygen levels will drop affecting the health of your fish.

Ideas to consider with bespoke pond liner orders

Oct21

Bespoke pond liner orders for vertical sided ponds of all shapes and designs for that formal classic look.

Formal ponds take inspiration from classic architecture. They are built to a symmetrical design where perfectly straight or arched lines are used to create the shape. Designs typically include square, rectangular and circular sides – or a combination of these to create an ornate design. Hexagonal formal ponds are less common but lends itself to a uniquely designed garden feature. Whether a formal pond is built at ground-level or raised above and supported by a retaining wall, the symmetrical shape is made water-tight by lining it with a protective underlay and pond liner.

To achieve the perfect formal look a bespoke pond liner is fabricated to fit perfectly to the shape of the pond. Vulcanised from either Butyl or Epalyn (EPDM) rubber pond liner to the exact size and shape of the pond so that when installed it ‘fits like a glove’ with no folds or creases to distract from the formal, precise shape of the design.

The edges of a formal pond are clearly defined using materials such as brick. flagstone or tiled. Edging material also serves to secure the box-welded pond liner in place.

Siting and building a formal garden pond

A formal pond needs to be sited where it is going to create the greatest visual impact and where it is going to complement the surrounding landscape. Ideally this should be in a position where it will become the focal point of the surrounding landscape. A common place is at the end of a patio or the centre of the garden. Sited so that it reflects the dramatic changes of the sky above or that of the surrounding landscape. They suit more traditional European style gardens but work equally well in modern home designs.

Formal ponds can either be set in the ground, partially or completely raised above ground level. Partially raised is a better option if keeping fish because water is more likely to be kept at a stable temperature particularly during the winter months. Raised ponds are inhospitable to amphibians so ideal if you want to keep fish or unique aquatic plants.

When building a raised pond ensure the walls will support the volume of water. Use concrete blocks for the inner wall and planting shelves.

Many regular shaped ponds include a fountain or a statue. To include a heavy stone fountain, it may be necessary to build a concrete footing in the base of the excavation to support the weight of the fountain before installing the pond liner. Planting too many aquatic plants should be avoided because this will distract from the formal design. The beauty of a formal pond creates interest through the reflection off the water so over-planting will take that feature away.

When ordering a bespoke pond liner – also known as a box-welded pond liner, ensure that exact measurements are taken of your perfectly geometric shaped pond. The pond liner is generally fabricated from Butyl or Epalyn for the following reasons:

Moulds readily to the pond contours
Premium quality pond liner
Withstands extreme weather conditions without any compromise to the integrity of the pond liner
Safe for all fish and aquatic plant life
Factory seamed to create a box-welded pond liner without creases and folds

Feeling inspired? if you are, contact Liners Online to order a bespoke pond liner and for any additional advise you may be searching for with regards to the build and installation.

Where to find box-welded pond liners with free underlay

Oct12

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: