How to Install Garden Ponds with Flexible Liners
Creating and designing your own garden pond can be exciting, yet
confusing at the same time. How to install garden ponds isn’t
the only question that requires an answer.
Where should the garden pond be located? Will your pond idea be in
compliance with the building code of Canada? Is a building permit
required? If so, you’ll need a building permit application.
What works best for your yard; large or small garden ponds? And
what about garden pond design; what would best compliment the landscape?
Will you include a pond fountain or waterfall; aquatic plant life
or koi fish? What type garden pond liner will you get; molded, fiberglass,
or flexible? And what about cost and pond maintenance?
These type questions can only be satisfied after making inquiries
and thoughtful consideration. Once decisions have been made and
materials purchased, you are ready to begin your pond.
Ensuring Garden Pond Landscape Compatibility
Water garden pond design should work with and compliment the contours
of the landscape.
To ensure you’ll be happy with the location, size, and shape
you’ve selected, mark the outline of the pool using a garden
hose or rope. Leave it in place for a week or so before beginning
pond construction.
This will help insure the size and design truly fits into the landscape.
It will also let you know whether or not you’ll be happy with
the location, and how it will affect traffic patterns.
Your pond will either be lined with a fiberglass garden pond liner,
a preformed pond liner, or a flexible pond liner – rubber
or plastic.
If using a flexible liner, the guidelines below will help ensure
successful installation.
Flexible Pond Liner Installation
Garden water ponds have gained in popularity over the years. Many
larger department stores and most garden supply and landscaping centers
will have many if not all materials required for backyard ponds and
waterfall or fountain features. When making flexible liner
selection, higher end, thick mil rubber works best. It is more durable,
has a longer life span, harder to puncture, and is relatively easy
to install.
Ground Preparation
As you prepare the ground for the pond, save any turf removed
to fill bare spots in the lawn once the pond is constructed:
- Cut the sod about 4-inches in from the outline of the pond.
Remove sod inside the outline; peel back the 4-inch strip, but
leave intact. Once the liner has been installed, you can flip
the sod back into place.
- Dig to the decided depth. Ponds with one end shallow and one
deeper best meet the needs of wildlife and aquatic plants. Pools
with big fish such as Koi carp should be a minimum of 30-inches
deep on least at one end; ponds without fish between 18 to 24-inches
deep.
- If edging the pond with stones or other material, dig an outwardly
sloping shelf about 8-inches wide by 2-inches deep around the
circumference of the pond. If you prefer, dig the shelf deep enough
to allow a double layer of flagstone, brick, or other edging.
- If using a layer of damp sand as underlayment, dig 2-inches
deeper than pond depth. Angle the sides of the pound slightly
outward; about 20-degrees.
- As you dig, keep pond edges and shelves level. Otherwise, the
liner will show. Check by resting a carpenter’s level on
a straight board laid across the pond.
- If you live in cold areas and plan on having aquatic plant
life or koi fish, make a spot at least 3 to 3 ½-feet deep
at one end of the pond. This will serve as the “deep zone,”
where fish and aquatic plants can “over-winter” without
freezing. Be sure the area selected is not in the same spot you
plan to place the pump or a pond fountain.
- Create a shelf about 8 to12-inches deep on the sides to provide
a shelf for plants to frame the pond.
- Once you have finished digging your pond, check for any sharp
or protruding twigs, stones, or other objects that could puncture
the liner.
Now, lay down 1/2 to 2-inches of “underlayment;” whether
a layer of damp sand, old carpeting or one made specifically for
use with a flexible liner.
Installing the Liner
Before installation, allow the liner to warm in the sun for at
least an hour to soften before placement. Some lining materials
are easier to work when wet.
Depending upon the size of your pond, spreading the liner may take
more than one person. Do not drag or pull the liner across the yard
where it could catch on something and tear:
- Flap the liner over the pool like a sheet (up and down) to force
air under and cause it to “float” into place. Smooth
the liner out as much as possible; do not pull or stretch.
- Leave small wrinkles in the bottom of the pond. This allows
the liner to spread once the soil settles; particularly important
in earthquake prone areas.
- Tuck and fold the liner neatly to fit the contours of the pool.
Be sure and leave a lip no less than 6-inches over the outside
of the pond; 12 inches is preferred. Use bricks or stones to temporarily
hold the liner in place.
- Fill the pool with several inches of water. Readjust the liner
as needed; pleat and fold excess material neatly. Move the bricks
if required.
- Continue filling the pond to halfway; adjust the liner and bricks
again.
- Once final adjustments are made, fill the pond to just below
the edging shelf. Note: there is no way to get rid of all wrinkles
and folds. Tuck and fold excess lining material as neatly and
compactly as possible.
- Trim excess liner using heavy scissors or a utility knife,
but leave plenty to overlap and protect the edging shelf.
- Cover the exposed lip of liner with soil or concrete, if edges
around the pool must support heavy traffic or heavy edging material.
Final Steps; How to Install Garden Ponds
You can now install the edging, overhanging the pond by 2 to 3-inches;
use flagstone, brick, cut stone, or other decorative or natural
stone. Trim the liner one final time; use soil in behind the stone
to conceal visible liner.
If you dug the edging shelf deep enough to allow a double layer
of edging, lay one stone atop the lined shelf. Pull the liner forward
over the top of the stone. Trim the liner just short of the outside
edge of the stone; cover with a second stone.
Double layering the edging prevents the liner from showing, and
the pond to be filled higher with water; to the middle of the first
layer of edging. With one layer of edging, fill with water to just
below the bottom of the edging.
The rest is up to you! Install a regular or solar pond fountain
or waterfall; add exotic aquatic pond plant specimens or koi fish.
You might decide to install an underwater pond light or even a pond
bridge.
Consider Hiring a Landscape Contractor Designer
To ensure your garden pond UK is everything you dreamed it would
be, consider hiring a landscape contractor designer or garden ponds
contractor for the job. HandyCanadian.com is the right place to
start.
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