Once you have dug out the area for your pond you need to resist the temptation to dive right in and start filling it up with water. Beforehand, you need to use a pond liner (sometimes called a pond membrane) in order to stop all of the water from just leaking out into the soil eventually.
Thankfully, pond liners are generally simple pieces of material that are waterproof and can keep the water exactly where it needs to be. You put it into place after the hole has been dug and then simply pour the water in on top of it.
Of course, there are different types of pond liner around, which is why it is such a good idea to read some reviews and see which one is likely to be best for your needs.
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Best Pond Liners
25Yr Guaranteed 2.5 x 2.5m Pond Liner by PondKraft
This strong and flexible pond liner is ideal for smaller ponds of up 2.5m x 2.5m. It is UV stabilised and had a rot resistant coating to keep it in perfect shape for year after year.
Best of all, this PondKraft pond liner comes with a 25-year guarantee for complete peace of mind. It is also a low-cost option, although you should bear in mind that you need to use it with a pond liner underlay in order for the guarantee to have an effect.
Pros
- Low cost
- Long 25-year guarantee
- Reversible black and brown finish
Heissner TF171-00 2 x 3m PVC Pond Liner
If you plan on getting a pond that stands the test of time then a good quality pond liner like this one is definitely needed. The Heissner TF171-00 measures 2 x 3m and is both tear and root resistant.
You get a 10-year guarantee but this is boosted to 20 years when you use it together with a Heissner underlay. It is UV and cold resistant.
Pros
- Good, long guarantee
- Strong but flexible
- Safe for use with fish in the pond
Hozelock Garden Pond Liner 2.5 m
The water in your pond will stay right where it should be when you use this tough Hozelock Garden Pond Liner. You get a very decent 15-year guarantee with this product.
The dimensions are 2.5m x 2m and it is resistant to UV light, heat and cold too. The liner is made from 0.5mm thick PVC.
Pros
- Thick and durable
- Long guarantee
- Decent price
Pond Liner 3.5m x 3m 25 YEAR GUARANTEE by Polyex
At 3.5m x 3m this is a slightly bigger pond liner than the others we have looked at so far. However, it is just as strong and durable while having the high degree of flexibility necessary with bigger liners.
In this case, the guarantee runs for 25 years. It has a reversible black and brown finish and is resistant to UV light and rot.
Pros
- A good size for a slightly larger pond
- Strong material
- Long guarantee of 25 years
- Low price
Different Kinds of Pond Liner Options
The factors that vary in different pond liners include the strength and the flexibility that they offer. Naturally, the price also differs according to the quality of the construction and the size.
Some of the different kinds you can choose from are;
- Rubber pond liners. This material has traditionally been used for lining ponds. However, they can be more expensive than other materials now, meaning that their popularity been somewhat on the wane.
- PVC pond liners. There is also a good demand for PVC pond liners. These are usually good value, thin liners but they can suffer damage and get ripped if you aren’t careful.
- LDPE pond liners. These popular pond liners are made of low-density polypropylene and provide some very interesting benefits. They tend to be cheap pond liners and are also capable of giving you years of use without any problems such as tears.
- Preformed pond liners. This final option is something that only really makes sense if you have the exact size and shape of your pond clear. Also, you will want to be sure that you aren’t going to want to change the dimensions later on, as this kind of pond liner can’t be altered. We have a page all about preformed ponds here.
This guy does a great video on comparing different types of pond liners.
How Do You Fit a Pond Liner?
Once you have chosen your type of pond liner then you need to know exactly big it needs to be. This shouldn’t be too big a job but it is important that you do it carefully and avoid getting confused or mixed up as you note the figures down.
Remember that you need to note the length and 2 x times the depth in order to see how long it has to be. When it comes to the width the same theory applies, as you need to measure the full width plus 2 times the depth. Add a little bit extra to the finished measurements, so that you have some additional room for making adjustments.
It makes sense to dig out the pool before you buy the liner, to make sure that you are happy with what you see as well as making it easy to measure more accurately.
After this, getting it fitted isn’t going to be a big issue. You can lay it directly onto the soil but it is far better to use an underlay that makes sure that the liner isn’t damaged by stones or other sharp objects. Of course, you will want to remove any sharp objects that you find anyway.
When the moment comes to lay the pond liner you might want to wet it, to stop it from blowing around in the wind. You can anchor it in place by putting stones around the edges, as these will be nice decorative touches one it is finished.
You should look to smooth out and adjust the liner as it fills up, because once it is fully filled it is too late. Stop the water filling up just before it is completely full and trim the edges so that you have the finished look at this time.
