Installing a pond liner is an essential first step when building a backyard pond but exposed liner can really detract from the natural beauty of your water feature. Luckily, there are many creative and effective ways to disguise unsightly pond liners. With a little effort you can create the illusion of a seamless, integrated pond for a more organic look.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll walk through the step-by-step process for concealing pond liner edges using rocks gravel, plants and other decorative elements. We’ll also cover key planning considerations, material recommendations, maintenance tips and alternative liner coverage methods.
Follow these pond liner concealment strategies and you’ll have a gorgeous, natural-looking pond that becomes the focal point of your landscape.
Why Bother Covering Pond Liner?
Before we dive into the how-to steps, let’s first go over the key reasons you may want to cover your liner in the first place:
-
Enhances aesthetics – Exposed liner can really detract from the natural look and feel of your pond. Covering it creates a more seamless, integrated appearance.
-
Protects the liner – Proper coverage protects the liner from UV damage from sunlight. This greatly extends its lifespan.
-
Improves the ecosystem – Covering the liner enables you to incorporate more plants and natural elements around the pond. This benefits wildlife.
-
Expands design options – Concealing the liner allows you to get creative with accents like statues, driftwood, gravel, etc.
How to Cover Pond Liner Step-by-Step
Now let’s walk through the process of covering your pond liner:
Gather Supplies
First, take stock of the materials you’ll need. Helpful supplies include:
- Rocks, pebbles, gravel in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors
- Sand
- Topsoil
- Plants like iris, grasses, moss
- Landscaping materials (wood, structures, etc)
- Pond foam or underlayment
Gather a diverse mix of textures and colors for the most natural look.
Shape the Liner
Take time to mold and shape your liner to the contours you want for your finished pond. Consider the edge depth and any shelves.
Layer the Base
Add a base layer of padding like sand or pond foam underlayment along the liner edges. This protects the liner and aids shaping.
Arrange Stones and Gravel
Strategically place and blend various sizes of rocks, pebbles and gravel along the edges and shelves. Mimic the look of natural stone.
Backfill with Soil
Backfill behind the rocks/gravel with topsoil to create a gentle slope down to the water’s edge. Firmly compact the soil.
Add Plants and Accents
Incorporate plants like iris, grasses, moss and other accents like driftwood carefully along the edges. Consider statues or other decor.
Mist and Water Gently
Mist gently and water periodically to help establish edge plants.
Top Dress and Detail
Add finishing touches like fresh gravel or small pebbles to complete concealment and enhance details.
Alternative Liner Coverage Methods
In addition to the stone, gravel and plant approach, here are some other clever ways to disguise pond liner:
-
Wood – Use planks, logs or timber to create a raised edge.
-
Wire mesh – Affix stainless steel wire under the edge to attach plants.
-
Burlap – Layer burlap over the liner to allow plants to root before transplanting.
-
Pavers – Line the circumference with pavers or bricks for a tidy, finished look.
Maintenance Tips for Covered Liner
Once your liner is concealed, be sure to:
- Inspect regularly for punctures or tears
- Prune back vegetation as needed
- Remove accumulated debris
- Add fresh gravel if erosion occurs
- Repair any exposed or damaged sections
Achieving a Natural Pond Look
Covering your pond liner takes some effort upfront, but the reward is huge in terms of aesthetics. With the right materials and placements, you can completely mask the liner for a seamless, natural pond design.
Rather than settling for exposed liner detracting from your pond’s beauty, take the time to properly conceal it. Get creative with accents that complement your yard. Then relax and enjoy your beautiful backyard paradise once the liner is out of sight!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to cover pond liner?
Some of the most popular and effective ways to cover liner include using rocks, gravel, soil and plants around the edges. You can also use wood planks, paver stones or other decorative accents. The key is blending and layering materials for a seamless look.
What can I use under the pond liner for padding?
Sand, pond foam and thick garden underlayment all work well under liner for padding. They prevent punctures and help shape the contours.
How do I hide liner around a kidney shaped pond?
Use larger rocks around the curved edges to hold the liner in place. Backfill behind the rocks with soil, grading it down gently. Plant grasses and moss along the rock edges to completely mask the liner.
Should I cover liner with soil and gravel or plantings?
For the most natural look, use a combination of gravel, soil and plants. The gravel and soil provide structure and shaping, while plants blend the water’s edge and add greenery.
How often should I inspect and maintain covered liner?
Inspect concealed liner at least twice per year. Top dress with fresh gravel if erosion occurs. Repair any punctures and prune back vegetation as needed.
Covering your pond liner properly takes a bit of work, but the difference it makes in your pond’s beauty and longevity is huge. Follow this comprehensive guide for a gorgeously natural look that gets your pond noticed for all the right reasons. Soon you’ll have a peaceful backyard oasis where exposed liner is a distant memory.
How to build a level pond?
Position a length of straight timber across from the stake to the side. Using a spirit level, work your way around the pond removing or building up the edge, creating a perfect level all the way around.
To achieve this, position a stake into the centre of the pond excavation as shown above. This time, the top of the stake should be at the finished level of the footing, which will be 10/15cms deep.
Using your straight timber and spirit level, tap some 30cm pegs to the same level around the edge every 50 to 100cms. (For ease, you can position one peg then use a spirit level off the top of that peg to continue around the pond. Be sure to double-check a few from the centre).
Once completed, ensuring all the pegs are at least 10-15cm proud of the soil, lay the footings to the top of the peg achieving a perfect level footing. (Note: If using more than one edging technique around the pond, levels may need to be varied accordingly)
How can I finish the edge of my pond?
Very easy to do. However, your pond liner will be visible. The liner can be partly hidden by overlapping the edging stone a few cms over the ponds edge. Be sure your pond edge is level to avoid variations in the exposed liner.
Another easy edging method. With the added benefit, your pond liner will not be visible. Rockery stone can be bedded on cement to secure. Additionally, underlay can be placed under the rocks to protect the pond liner from any sharp edges.
Looks great and hides the pond liner. A decent footing is needed for both the paving slabs and brick or stonework. Before laying any bricks or slabs, fill the pond up for a few days to allow the liner to settle in, plus leave a little slack to avoid the liner over-stretching due to settlement.
A neat way of building a raised pond whether all or part of the pond. On this example we have brought the liner into the cavity to look good and partly hide the liner . Remember before laying the top rocks or capping to fill the pond up for a few days to allow the liner to settle in, plus leave a little slack to avoid the liner over-stretching due to settlement.
Building a raised brick pond? For a neat finish to hide the liner, it is possible to bring it into the cavity for the last few courses. TIP: Use a quality rubber liner for flexibility, be careful that any fold does not fall lower than the water level.
Design a wide shallow marginal planting shelf. Edge the pond side with rocks or hardwood logs. Line the planting area with some underlay to stop aquatic soil/gravel from spilling into the pond. Plant with marginal pond plants.
Wildlife ponds like large shallow areas for amphibians and other natives to enter the pond or hide in the undergrowth. Shape this area during excavation, fill with a suitable aquatic substrate and plant as desired. Remember: Account for the extra liner requirements in your measurements.
An easy cheap way to create a bog garden area, again using the pond excavation to shape. You will need to allow extra pond liner when using this method.
NOTE: The above examples with flexible liners do not show an underlay although use of one is highly recommended.
Enjoy looking directing into your pond from a deck extending over the edge of the pond.
A deck extending over a pond may need extra footings under the pond liner to take the weight of any supportive structure above the liner. Remember to put protective underlay on top of the liner before building any supports.
