Installing a Flexible Liner

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Rich Binsacca

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Waterproof liners underlay nearly all garden water features. They enclose and retain the water in a feature, keep soil and other debris from worming their way in from below and help maintain water quality. In short: A healthy water garden relies on strong liner.

The nice thing about flexible liners is that they come in sheets that conform to any water garden’s size, shape or depth. They fold or crease to accommodate curves, marginal shelves and other contours. They’re ideal for large, asymmetrical garden ponds and pools, and are especially well-suited for streams and watercourses.

Installing a flexible pond liner is simple once the excavation is completed. You’ll need helpers to hold the edges of the liner while you position and anchor it. The following pictures and captions describe the steps to take for properly installing a flexible liner.

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Step 1: Fill the bottom of your dug hole with a layer of sand, then stretch underlayment fabric (a porous, nonwoven cloth that prevents roots and burrowing animals from penetrating the liner) over the entire hole. Overlap any seams by at least 18 inches. Smooth all folds and wrinkles as best you can.

Facts

The best flexible liners are made of EPDM, a rubber material similar to that used for inner tubes. PVC liners are also available. They’re inexpensive, but they’re easy to puncture and often require replacement sooner than EPDM types. Thinner PVC and polyethylene liners are unsuitable for streams and watercourses.
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Dark liners help create an illusion of depth and enhance reflection.

Tips

Choose liners that will span your feature’s length and width, after adding double its maximum depth to each measurement. Avoid joining two liners, if possible, because such points are prone to leaks.

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Articles

Streams of Thought (and How to Line Them)
Streams and watercourses create stunning focal points that add extra beauty and sound to the water garden. Whether starting from scratch or expanding an existing feature, learn the points to ponder when adding a stream to your site, including the proper way to line a watercourse.
Creating Cascades and Waterfalls
Creating a cascade or waterfall adds soothing movement and sound to any garden pond or water feature, as well as can help boost property value (if done right). Learn what building a garden waterfall requires, as well as the steps to installing one.
Repairing Liner Leaks
A healthy water garden relies on strong liner. But even the thickest forms can suffer from puncture wounds or tears after a few years of service. Learn the steps to repairing minor liner leaks in your aquatic garden.

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