Creating your own garden pond using pond liner from EPDM or other pond liner

Have you decided to go for an unusual shape or larger pond ... then EPDM pond liner is your perfect choice. Find the right place, measure the right size and the rest is easy. Depth of pond can be important and do not forget shelves for the garden pond plants and water lilies

Pond Liners ... Don't Forget Pond Shelves for Aquatic Plants Whatever type of pond you install ensure that you create a couple of shelves at different levels to accommodate later planting of aquatic plants. Some plants prefer a deeper planting than others. Water lilies for example do best in deeper water say 40 cm. Others prefer to be just submerged, and bog plants like to have their feet wet most of the time.

pond plant shelves

How to measure liner size

pond liner sizes

EPDM rubber is probably the best

Measuring pond liner size .....

  • You need to know the width of the final pond at its widest point and add at the very least 60 cm for edging.

  • You must then also add the depth and the depth again. For example if you want a pond 2 metres wide and 1 metre deep the width of liner will be 2+1+1+0.6 (for edging) = 4.6 metres.

  • For the length repeat this process. For example if you want the above pond to be 3 metres long then the length of the liner must be 3+1+1+0.6 (for edging) = 5.6 metres.

  • The complete specification for the liner must be 5.6 metres by 4.6 metres. Do not forget to allow for the edging.

While on the subject of water lilies these plants do not like water that moves too much - they will not tolerate splashing for example and therefore should not be close to a waterfall or running water. The sketch below indicates what I mean by shelves showing positions for different types of plants.

 Select Your Pond Site Carefully

Try to avoid putting your pond in a fully shaded area. Once plants are established these will provide shade for the fish. Few aquatic plants will grow well in shade.

Do not put the pond close to deciduous trees if you can avoid it because of falling leaves in autumn. Avoid the hassles but if you really have to put your pond close to deciduous trees then you can always buy a lightweight net to overcome the problem of leaves falling into the water.

The final choice is simple put your pond where you can enjoy it most.

But dont put it outside the bedroom window unless you like the sound of running water to get you to sleep. For the same reason give consideration to your neighbours needs also.

Your pond needs running water 24 hours a day and the gurgling and splashing sound from a waterfall might just annoy you as you lie in your bed. You might just be tempted to switch the pump off and this could be bad for your fish.

Dont despair if you really do want your pond outside the bedroom window. The answer that will still allow you to get a good nights sleep is revealed in the pump module of the Pondsolver series it involves using 2 pumps instead of a single one.

Believe it or nor 2 pumps can be considerably cheaper and better than one.

In terms of being more specific the ideal location for a northern hemisphere pond would be an area in the garden facing towards the South and West somewhat. In the Southern hemisphere an area facing North and West would be a preferred location. In both cases an area exposed to sun for about 5 or 6 hours would be ideal.

This web page is an extract from Tony Roocroft's "The Complete Pond Solver" ... you can read more about it at http://www.really-useful-books.com

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