You know,
a preformed pond liner is big news in garden pond
circles!
They're easy on the wallet.
You have tons of built-in waterfall options.
And an unending variety of shapes, sizes and styles.
And installation is straight
forward, because much of the work is already done
for you. This is even truer with garden pond kits.
The Guide shows you how to
install a liner in just 4 easy steps.
Follow them sequentially or use them as a launching
pad for your own pond creations.
It's not as hard as you might think.
Just take time to dream, to
plan, to shop, and to build and landscape your pond
and you'll be on your way to a water feature
with instant impact.
Most preformed garden ponds are made of hard plastic resin or
fiberglass. They're perfect for small
garden ponds.
They're
easier to install than flexible liners and they make above ground
pond installations easier, too.
Top of
page
Step 1:
Mark The Layout
Choose a flat, open area. You may also want to
pick a location that can be seen easily through a window
from inside the house.
Once
you've picked the spot, remove all the grass and plants. Then
turn the preformed pond liner upside down on that
spot.
Using a garden hose, a rope, pegs, or lime outline the
pond liner's shape in the dirt.
I like using spray paint,
because the mark stays put.
Top of
page
Step 2: Dig
The Hole
Dig the hole
2 inches deeper and 2 inches wider than the pond liner. Remove
any roots or rocks you come across.
Use a carpenter's level to judge if the
bottom of the excavated area is flat.
From time to
time, drop the liner in the hole to test
that the hole's shape fits the pond liner's shape.
When you're through, pour 2 inches
of sand into the in the bottom of the hole, then
set the pond liner down in the hole.
Top of
page
Step 3: Fill
& Backfill
You want the lip of the pond liner flush at
ground level.
Pull the liner from the hole if you
need to make adjustments. Sometimes, rocking the pond liner
back and forth slightly can help to settle the pond liner
shape in hole.
Now slowly add water
to your pond. At the same time, use sand to back fill the
area between the pond liner and the
excavation.
When you're done back filling,
pack dirt underneath the pond liner's lip for support.
Top of
page
Step 4: Add
the Edging
Hide the preformed pond
liner lip with stones.
Place the stones so most of the
weight sits on the dirt instead of on the liner edge.
For tips and ideas on finishing
touches, check out the Guide to
Pond Landscaping.
