Don’t be fooled by the neighbour who slapped up a pond in an afternoon using black refuse bags taped together with duct tape to line his latest garden feature. The success of your pond is not in finishing the feature in the shortest possible time but in that which will assure zero headaches down the line. When it comes to pond liners, It’s not even a case of what’s best, but more about what’s suitable for your conditions. In no particular order, let’s take a look tried and tested possibilities.

• EPDM (Ethylene Propylene – synthetic rubber, Diene Monomer- two carbon-to-carbon double bonded hydrocarbon alkene) pond liner is a superbly flexible membrane. If you have odd shapes to work with, this is your dream come true. It fits into curves and corners as if it were liquid, makes shallow ponds appear deeper, is UV resistant and is plant and fish friendly.
• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) pond liner comes as RPE (reinforced Polyethylene) which can be heat welded together and is lighter than regular PVC, making it super easy to handle. Don’t be misled, lightweight doesn’t mean fragile. PVC is a known strong, durable polyester. It is puncture and tear resistant and is great for larger ponds – able to handle up to 1 000 gallons of water. This pond liner has the additional feature of a textured finish, which promotes microbial growth and therefore a healthy, balanced ecosystem.
• Preformed pond liners are fabulous for small installations as all you have to do is sink it into the ground and hey presto – there’s your feature, neat and sweet. On the other hand, it can be an indoor installation or placed on verandas with rocks and plants around it. It is sturdy, durable and fantastic for plants and fish.
• Geotextile Underlayment pond liners add a cushion between the pond and any rocks or roots hidden below, reducing wear and tear, precluding puncturing (within reason). This is a great option if you fancy a Koi pond.

The choice in pond liners is yours. Other factors needing consideration involve how much exposure the proposed pond will have, in which case, UV capability will count. If you are wanting plants or fish in your pond then the liner must not contain arsenic obviously, so ask! Otherwise, go for it and enjoy the delights of a feature that will enhance the beauty wherever you decide to place it.