Quick Fire Guide for installing a large preformed or fibre glass pond liner in the ground complete with fibre glass waterfall.

Putting in a preformed liner often seems the easy option when contemplating building a water garden, but things dont are not that simple when it actually comes down to it, especially if the pool liner is a big one. Getting it precisely level can be almost a lottery and then trying to make it look natural and in keeping with the rest of the garden can then seem a hopeless task. Here we show how you can get a level and attractive feature that would be on a par with a pond created in any other way.

It has to be admitted that even a skillfull professionally installed water feature using fibreglass products is probably more suited to the urban or suburban garden, but there are distinct advantages when it comes to maintenance and keeping it clean. Fibreglass as opposed to a plastic ponds can be manufactured much larger and deeper and are therefore slightly more suitable for providing a home larger species of fish like koi, as long as the numbers are kept to a very few. A fibreglass pond is likely to last longer than a plastic pond, is slightly more robust when installed correctly and if damaged can easily be repaired.

Place the fibre glass pond liner in position and mark the shape of the outside rim on the ground.: Use a spirit level or a plumb line as a guide to the shape of the edge on the ground

This pond is being installed where there was a preformed pond before. The new shape is therefore marked where it is possible.: Remove the pond liner and excavate to a level that is just over the depth from the rim to the marginal shelves.

Once the area above the marginal shelves has been excavated, place the liner in the excavation: Then mark the outline of the base pool on the ground.

Dig out the depth of the pool from the marginal shelves to the bottom.: This can be gradual process, but it is better to take it slowly and surely.if you over dig then you only have to spend more time backfilling. So each time you try the pool back in position, mark where there needs to be further excavation.

Ensure the very base of the excavation is perfectly level: In wet conditions you may find the watertable flooding the excavation. This can be used to your advantage to a certain extent since if the water level is kept to a few millimetres, it can be used a kind of giant spirit level to indicate where the level ne

Fibreglass pond liners are also that bit more rigid than plastic ones, which makes them slightly easier to install when it comes to back filling.

A 5cm(1 inch) layer of soft sand is added to the excavation to cushion the liner.: Naturally the hole should be over-excavated by the same amount to compensate for this.

After much trial and error the liner will eventually fit its hole at the right level.: The water level can be both an aid and hindrance.Whilst the pond floated perfectly level, it was difficult getting it right down into the excavation. The access to water level from an area that was part of a previous excavation was useful for providing en

From beginning to end, constantly check levels. The final level that is the most important is the top edge of the pool.: This is the final level of the pond water.

Start to fill the liner with water at the same time as backfilling with sand or loose soil.: Make sure the water level in the pool is always above the water level or mud outside. This is to ensure that the pool liner does not float up out of the excavation during the process of backfilling.

As the water level rises, keep an eye on levels. If it goes out, start again.: You will notice that the pool liner is not flush level with the soil, but at least 5-10cm(2 to 4inches) below soil level. This is so that when the edging stone is laid round the edge, it is not proud of the surrounding soil.

Tiny adjustments (1 or 2mm) to the pond level can be achieved by compressing the backfill behind a low part of the edge. This is not really recommended.

It is not until the pool is almost full that you definitely know you have got it right. Leave it to settle over night.

Consolidate the soil/sand behind the pool edge using gentle firm pressure perhaps with the heel of a boot.

A fibre glass waterfall is is supported in position. A hose connection is made to a submersible pump.: Note the top up hose and the armoured cable for the electric supply

The fibre glass waterfall is landscaped into position working from the the bottom from the unit outwards.

That is how the unit is supported. This will all be backfilled as the rockery around it is built up.

It is very easy when constructing any sort of water garden feature to think that most of the work is behind you once the pond liner is in. In fact the more effort you make with the final landscaping details, the quicker it will blend in an become part of the scene.

Some specially devised edging stones from Blagdon Pond Products are cemented into place

Although they look a bit like God's teeth, they will soon mellow down.: They come in a unit of 5 strung together which means they are ready spaced. Just push them down into a bed of mortar.

The rockery is built up in strata, coming away at different levels from the waterfall levels.: Whilst it is being constructed, it is backfilled with soil. Then when it is finished, it is planted up with low shrubs and ground cover..

Rear view of the rockery shortly after construction.

The same pond 6 months on.