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Using a pond liner is probably the easiest way to build a water garden or fish pond. The liner option allows you to build a pond that will adapt to any shape or size that you decide to make. There are two main types Butyl Rubber and PVC. Butyl Rubber will last the longest (30 years or more) as its less likely to get damaged by frost or accidental damage. It is also more resistant to the suns ultra violet rays. It is slightly harder to bend than PVC therefore making it slightly harder to install. PVC is the choice of most people, especially beginners as its the cheapest but will still last in excess of 10 15 years.

It is more important to line the bottom and sides of the pond more thoroughly with this type of liner. The main problem with PVC is that it will eventually dry and split where it is above the water line and in contact the suns ultra violet rays. By designing a pond correctly you will limit daily access to the sun. One of the best and simplest tips is to limit the amount of liner visible above the water line by simply checking that all sides of the pond are level. If you decide to edge your pond with decorative stones you can position them to overhang the pond slightly to create some well needed shade. Flexible liners are sold by rectangular size. It is important that the liner you buy will be large enough for the size of your pond that you dig. To calculate the sizes for any type of flexible liner simply measure the length, width and proposed depth. Double the depth and add to the length and width. Now add about 30cm to both length and width.

Once you have purchased the correct liner its a good idea to install it on a sunny day. If you unfold the liner and expose it to the sun it will warm it up making it easier to fold and remove any creases when installing. Mark the shape of the pond using pegs and string or a hose and begin to excavate the pond. Depending upon the quality of your soil it is often useful to keep the top soil separate. You can re-use this to put around the pond once it is built. The depth around most of the sides should be about 30cm and made into a shelf. This is ideal size for marginal plants that will be planted in pots. Try to leave at least one side quite shallow. To stop it caving in, make a slight angle and compact the sides with a shovel removing any stones or roots. Next dig deeper to about 60 cm if you plan to keep fish. If you plan to keep many large fish you will have to make this area quit large as the fish will spend a lot of time here during extreme hot and cold spells.

Now that the pond is dug and free from any obstacles the next job is to line it to protect it against rips and cuts. There are some specialist products available but you can use old carpet or any thick material. Then line it again with at least 5cm of soft sand. When installing the liner you can line the sides with sand when you begin to fill with water. Now get your liner and unfold it to find its centre. Place the centre roughly in the middle of your pond. Around the edges place several bricks about 30cm back form the edge. You will now be about to start filling the pond with water.

During the filling of the pond you can walk around the pond lifting the bricks slightly as the weight of the water "pulls" more liner in. You also need to fold any creases in the liner and try to tuck them in neatly. Also during the filling stage you need to ensure that the sides have adequate sand behind the liner. This can be achieved by stopping the water and pushing sand between the liner and the sides of the pond. Once your pond is full of water and you are happy that the level is correct cut the liner about 15cm all the way around. Tuck this under the top soil or under any decorative stones. This completes the construction and now you should leave the water for about a week or add a water treatment typically described as a pond start.

For more information on How to build a water garden or fish pond with a pond liner please visit http://www.gardenfishpond.co.uk/building.htm For other pond information please visit http://www.gardenfishpond.co.uk