When you install a pond liner pond you want it to look as natural as possible. In real ponds out in nature it’s hard to see where the pond ends and the above-ground begins – in garden ponds the transition between pond and the rest of the garden can be difficult. Here we investigate some options.
First things first. Always take time to ensure all sides of a pond excavation are at the same level. This means that when the pond is full the pond water will cover nearly all of the pond liner. Once the pond liners have been installed there will nearly always been a certain amount of the foundation structure exposed to view - especially given fluctuating water fill rates. If the pond is not completely full then the pond liner will be exposed to view. This is not a fundamental problem as most modern pond liners are UV protected but oftenthere will still be a design decision to be made – how do I make the change from pond to garden as natural as possible? Often, what will be required is something to ‘soften’ the transition between pond liner and garden.
One solution is simply to continue your turf into the pond. This is fine abd looks incredibly natural though you may find cutting the grass at the pond edge a bit of a chore. Also, grass cut mechanically may spray onto the pond surface (though here a pond skimmer would help). A good idea is to cover the pond liner edge with something to reduce the pond liner transition. One simple solution is a pond liner edging mat that can be filled with pond plants and vegetation.
Another invention is the stone faced pond liner. This is a pvc pond liner impregnated on one side with gravel. This can be laid over the pond liner perimeter, or other shallow area such as a stream or bog garden. It gives the effect that the whole pond is covered in such gravel such as a natural pond. It provides a ‘softer’ more natural finish than typical black pond liner which looks far less natural. Typically this stone pond liner is available in widths of 0.4m to 1.2m. This is wide enough to cover edging or streams, This finishing pond liner isn’t cheap but it can quickly make a new pond part of the natural landscape.