Installation of a Basic Liner Pond
What You Will Need:
- Rope or chalk
- Shovels, a flat spade
- Long nails
- Easy access to water
- Edging materials
Directions
- Mark the desired outline for your pond with a rope or chalk.
- Excavate 8 to 10 inches deep to create a narrow shelf to support a stone veneer for hiding the pond liner. This shelf should be 6 to 12 inches wide. Coping or edging will eventually rest on top of the stone veneer.
- (optional) Start digging out plant shelves. Most ponds are designed with shelves 9" to 12" below water level to hold plants.
- Dig out middle area of pond. The pond sides should slope in about 20° from the vertical. Using a flat spade, cut a ledge 2" to 3" deep around the edge of the pond for the edging material. Check the edges of the hole with a level. You can lay a 2x4 across the excavation on opposite ends of the pond. The level can be placed on the board to confirm that the perimeter is level. For ponds too large for this method, use a central stake as a leveling reference (a string can be extended to each point being checked).
- Prepare the hole for the pond liner by removing sharp stones or roots. Fabric liner underlay is recommended. This will protect your liner from punctures or tears that can be caused by roots or rocks.
- Lay out the underlay in the cavity. Underlay can be overlapped underneath the liner.
- Starting at the center of the pond, unfold the liner outward towards the sides. Wear sneakers or go barefoot when walking on the liner to protect it. The liner will likely bunch up; create a few large folds in order to eliminate most of the smaller ones. You can use double-sided liner seaming tape to seam these folds together.
- Start filling the pond with water. Smooth out wrinkles in the liner. Cut off any excess, leaving enough material to extend underneath your edging materials. Anchor the liner with long nails around the edge.
- Add edging materials to weigh down and hide the pond liner for a more natural look. Now landscape and enjoy!
