Basic care guide

Building a pond with a liner:
Flexible liners can be easily shaped and sized to fit your needs and provide a natural look. Buy the heaviest liner available. We recommend Laguna Durashield liners made of fish and plant friendly, 45-mil, 2-ply, multi-grain EPDM rubber, guaranteed for 20 years.

A common mistake is to make a pond too small. If you want clear water and cool water temperatures, the pond should be at least 6 ft. x 4 ft. x 24 in. deep (1.8 m x 1.2 m x 60 cm). This is the minimum size to consider if you plan to keep fish and plants.

HOW TO CALCULATE THE REQUIRED LINER SIZE

Determine the maximum length, width and depth of your pond.

Double the depth and add it to both the length and width values.

Add an additional 2 ft. (60 cm) to both the width and length determined above to account for shelves and overlap at the pond edge.

Example:

If you want a pond that's 6 ft. X 8 ft. X 2 ft. deep (2 m x 2.5 m x 60 cm), you'll need a liner that's 12 ft. x 14 ft. (about 3.7 m x 4.3 m).

RECTANGULAR & SQUARE PONDS:
Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.5 = TOTAL GALLONS

ROUND PONDS:
0.785 x (Top x Bottom Diameter x Depth) x 7.5 = TOTAL GALLONS.

IDEAL FLOW RATE FOR POND: Pond water should circulate every 2 hours. Minimum pump flow rate capacity required is the total gallons of water in pond, divided by 2 = GPH flow rate.

Step 1

Outline the shape of the pond using pegs and string or a garden hose.
Dig out the hole using the outline as a guide.
Dig down 9 inches (23 cm) at a gently sloping angle.
If you plan to grow plants along the edges, cut out a 9 inch (23 cm) wide shelf.
Continue digging until you reach the desired depth.

TIP: Design your pond with large open curves and flowing lines. Avoid narrow channels that can block water flow.

TIP: Slope the sides inward at a 20° angle to prevent cave-ins. In the winter, a slope allows ice to expand upwards without causing damage.
This calculation gives you enough material to line the sides, shelves and to overlap the edges.
(Depth x 2) + Width + 2 = Liner Width
(Depth x 2) + Length + 2 = Liner Length

Step 2

Use a two-by-four and a level to make sure that the hole is level.
Check that there are no stones or roots to puncture the liner.
Spread a 1 inch (2.5 cm) layer of damp sand in the hole.
Cover with a layer of old carpet or matting.
Place the liner evenly across the hole.
Let the center of the liner touch the base and shelf edges.
Anchor the overlap with concrete blocks or stones.

TIP: Make sure that the rim of the pool is level across both the length and width, otherwise the pond will turn out lopsided and unattractive.

TIP: Spreading the liner out in the sunshine makes the material more flexible and easier to handle. Do not do this over the lawn, it may damage the grass.

Step 3

Fill the pond with water slowly.
The liner will stretch and adapt to the shape of the pond under the weight of the water.
Adjust the stones and tug the edges of the liner to form neat folds as it starts to crease.
Creases will hardly be visible once the pond is full.

TIP: Mix the excavated soil with topsoil to create a rock garden or the base of a waterfall feature.

TIP: Be careful not to let the liner twist or stretch too much when filling the pond. Too much stress can cause the liner to rip or puncture.

Step 4

When the pond is full, trim off any excess liner, leaving an overlap of at least 6 inches (15 cm).
Cover the overlap with rocks, turf or paving stones.

TIP: If you place slabs or stones along the edge of the pond, let them overhang the edge slightly to hide the liner.

STARTER SHOPPING LIST FOR LINER POOL
	Black Pond Liner
	Sand for backfilling
	Old carpet or commercial pond matting
	Water Prep Water Treatment
	PowerJET Pond Pump
	PowerFLO Pond Filter
	Plants
	Plant Baskets
	Aquatic Loam
	Plant Food
	Books