A Backyard Pond You Can Really Dig!
Apr 16th, 2009 by Shari
As I mentioned before, using a flexible pond liner, nearly anyone can install a backyard pond. In fact, it’s a great weekend project. Just imagine – you can start on Saturday morning, and by Sunday evening, you’ll be relaxing at water’s edge, sipping cocktails in your chaise lounge, or enjoying grilled steaks at your bistro table in your own, private outdoor café!
Begin by using a rope, garden hose, or extension cord, to outline the desired shape of your pond, keeping it slightly asymmetrical and nicely curved. Then, dig the hole, install some underlayment to guard against punctures, put the liner in, and smooth it into shape. Once that’s done, fill the pond with water, then place coping stones around the edges to hide the liner and make a natural-looking border. You can also install a recirculating pump to keep the water clean and healthy for aquatic plants and livestock.
You choices for liners are PVC plastic and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), or butyl rubber. Both kinds are flexible, resistant to UV rays, and non-toxic to fish and plants. The rubber liners are a bit more expensive, but they’ll last longer, particularly in colder regions where repeated freezing and thawing will eventually cause the plastic ones to become brittle.
Both types are graded according to material composition and thickness, which, for PVC liners, will be either 20-mil or 32-mil. You can also get an enhanced PVC liner, called PVCE, which is a bit more durable than regular PVC liners of the same thickness.
Rubber liners come in 30-mil and 45-mil thicknesses. Premium ones, which are easier to install, also have a bonded backing material that makes them highly resistant to punctures and tears, and usually come with a lifetime warranty. This material is also available to be purchased separately for use as an underlayment for any kind of liner.
After you install your pond, there are countless ways in which you can embellish your creation, such as adding fish, plants, lights, fountains, waterfalls, statues, decorative stones, or anything else that strikes your fancy. The same is true for the endless choices in outdoor furniture that you’ll find at CedarStore.com when you go to decorate your gorgeous new outdoor living space. So stop in and browse our selection. Like your new pond, you’ll really dig it! (Pause for groan) I KNOW!
Yours Outdoors,
Kathy
This is a great article. I agree, garden fountains truly add to the outdoor living spaces and bring life to any garden.