Garden Pond Installation

There are three ways to create a pool for your water garden.

Flexible Plastic Liners (PVC or Butyl) are lightweight and inexpensive and can be cut to any shape. However, installation is slightly more time consuming than for moulded pools but a lot easier.

Prefabricated Fibreglass/Plastic Pools are considerably more expensive, but more durable. Generally, prefab pools are better on sloping grounds or fresh fill.

A Concrete Pool (properly installed) lasts the longest. Since inadequate mixing or reinforcement can cause immediate cracking, a professional installation is recommended for concrete.

The installing of a pool using a liner or ready made pool are similar.

First, decide on the size of the pond and if using a liner, work out the size you will require. This is done by taking the width measurement and adding TWICE the depth of the pond plus at least 15 inches for an overlap at each end. Do the same calculation for the length. Confused? Lets see if I can simplify it.

You intend to build a pond 8 feet long x 4 feet wide x 3 feet at the deepest point.

Work out the length - 8 feet (the length) + 6 feet (twice the depth) + 2.5 feet ( 2 lots of 15 inch overlap) - therefore 8 + 6 + 2.5 = 16.5 feet

Work out the width - 4 feet (width) + 6 feet (twice the depth) + 2.5 feet ( 2 lots of 15 inch overlap) - therefore 4 + 6 + 2.5 = 12.5 feet

You would therefore purchase a liner 16.5 feet x 12.5 feet or the nearest size made above this size.

Mark out the shape of the pond with a rope or hosepipe, staking it at intervals. If installing a ready made pool, place the pool on the ground and outline as above, but make it 2 inches wider in every direction than the actual pool.

Levelling of the top edge is of utmost importance, there is nothing looks worse than a pond that is full on one side and showing a few inches of liner on the other side.

Next, dig the hole the exact shape of the pool, adding 2 inches to the depth to accommodate a layer of sand. A depth of 3 feet is required at the deepest point if fish are to placed in the pond and left over winter. When digging for a liner pool, a shallow, "boggy" area for plants can be incorporated if required by digging a 9- to 12-inch-wide shelf along the perimeter. When digging for a ready made pool, follow the contours of the shell, including any built-in shelves. Clear the hole of rocks, smooth the soil.

Line the excavation with about 2 inches of damp sand to prevent punctures, and smooth it down. (Proprietary liner underlay or old carpet can be used instead of sand).

Centre the liner over the hole, and push it outward into the corners. Fold the liner into pleats where it bunches at curves and corners, and anchor it around the edge with stones or bricks.

As the pool fills with water, smooth out folds and wrinkles. Shut off the water when it covers the liner evenly to the top on all sides.

Ready made ponds may have to be lowered into the hole and then removed several times to get the edges of the hole even and level. Once the shell is in place, fill the pond slowly. Backfill around the shell with soil as the water level rises to ensure the walls are adequately supported by soil. Hide the edges of the shell with flagstones or tiles that overlap the edge by 1 or 2 inches.

Trim away the surplus liner, leaving about 6 inches around the edge. Cover this flap with stones, bricks, tiles, turf or other materials.