Choosing a liner to fit your outdoor pond

Picking the right liner is a crucial step in pond building. Your choice will depend on the size of your outdoor pond, the shape you want it to be, and the amount you are willing to invest in your project. Most modern backyard ponds make use of either a pre-formed liner or a flexible liner.

Pre-formed pond liners

Pre-formed liners are easy to install, last many years, but are expensive. These durable plastic shells come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes which are usually enough for the average water-gardener. A pre-formed liner is the way to go if you’ve got a bit of money to spare and plan to keep your pond for decades.

Flexible pond liners

Flexible liner is ideal if you have an unusually shaped pond design in mind. Also, if your outdoor pond is very large, your best option is to use a flexible liner since you can order them in sizes larger than any pre-formed shell available.

Two of the most popular choices are the cheaper PVC plastic liner and the pricier, more durable synthetic rubber liner. These come in pre-cut sheets with sizes ranging from twenty-five to 1500 square meters.

They can also be ordered in custom sizes from certain manufacturers. Flexible liners can be cut, folded and stretched to fit any conceivable pond shape. They are durable and reusable, though great care should be taken in the pond building process since they can still be punctured by sharp rocks and stray roots.

Check the video below for the full process of installing a flexible pond liner:

Things to Remember

Check to see if the liner is free from harmful chemicals and is resistant to ultra-violet light. Depending on ground conditions, you may need to put a layer of cushioning material to protect the liner.

Depth is important if you’re getting a pre-formed liner. Make sure that the shell is deep enough for your plants and fish to live and grow. Nothing is more disappointing than watching your pond stagnate simply because you didn’t do enough research.

Repairing damaged liners can be tedious and expensive, so don’t be afraid to ask your local pond building community where you can purchase the best materials. A solid investment at the start of your project could save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Remember to take all the proper precautions, and follow instructions as closely as you can. A properly installed pond liner will last much longer, and requires less maintenance.

Additional resources:

• Landscaping-Lawn-Care.com » Blog Archive » Sealing the waterfalls … – Jun 14, 2007 … A problem that some people will run into when creating a simple waterfalls to go into their outdoor pond/waterscape is water leaking out …

• Rubber pond liners offer design flexibilty vs preformed ponds – For a lined pond, it is also wise to invest in a protective underlay, which acts as cushioning material between the pond liner and the surface of your pond excavation. Before buying your pond liner and and protective underlay make sure …
• » The Barrel Water Garden, Zen Style @ Green Gardenista – Spring and fall are great times to establish a water feature in your yard. The barrel water garden is a quick way to incorporate a water garden in a small space. A pre-formed 30 gallon pond liner (from Depot or Lowes) can be substituted in place of the Pond Armor, and should fit inside your barrel as your waterproofer.
• Pre-formed pond liners « The Garden Pond Blog – Pre-formed pond liners. By Jeremy Biggs. how can you make a decent wildlife pond from this? A preformed fibreglass pond: how can you make a decent wildlife pond from this? Here’s a classic pre-formed pond liner. …