Archive by Author | Brian Holroyd

7 Things you should know about heron and fish pond designs

Fish pond and general garden pond designs have no limitations when it comes to creativity. Rubber pond liners are flexible and allow for many bespoke styles to suit both garden and the purpose for which a pond is being built. Deciding on where to site your pond, style, size and depth of pond should very much be guided by whether your pond is to home Koi fish, aquatic plants or for the purpose of providing water and a home for wild life.

So, why does the purpose of a pond dictate the design of a pond build? Wildlife needs easy access into the water and an exit route to avoid drowning, the presence of Herons could cause havoc to a fish pond so slopping sides should be avoided and aquatic plants need shelves upon which baskets can be placed and lastly, easy access to a pond for maintenance purposes also needs to be considered.

Pond designs and fish survival

Fish ponds can either be of a formal rectangular design or steep-sided creative styles with curves and plinths. If lined with a rubber pond liner, there is no real limitation as to what can be achieved. Butyl and Epalyn rubber pond liners can be fabricated into a tailored-to-fit or box-welded pond liner for steep-sided square or rectangular designs or they can be readily moulded into the contours of a more rounded kidney shaped or similar pond design. Vertically sided pond designs do, to some extent deter heron from feeding off Koi or gold fish. But this is not an absolute guarantee. Although steep sided ponds do pose a challenge to Heron, they are determined and patient creatures and are known to stand as still as a log watching and waiting for a fish to swim to the surface for an easy picking!

If herons become a persistent problem to your fish pond and you have tried alternative deterants such as netting or enclosed wire grids then turning your pond into a wildlife haven maybe the best alternative. Unless, of course you are willing to try a redesign with steep sides, greater depth and inclusive of rocks and bolders positioned in such a way as to create a place for fish to hide when they feel threatened.

What do we know about Herons and a fish pond?

They eat predominantely fish, but also love amphibians, small mammals, worms and small birds.
They fish mainly at dawn or dusk – a time when fish are also the most active. This is why their visit to a fish pond often goes unnoticed (unless of course you are up and about very early!)
They visit garden ponds for easy pickings particularly at the start of the breeding season or harsh weather conditions when their usual food supply dwindles.
A fish pond located near canels, lagoons. lakes or other water sources that are home to Heron are most vulnerable to their visits.
They are a protected species in the UK
Herons nest in tree tops
They can appear to be quite arrogant – noice and movement is not always enough to deter them away from a pond.

Steep sided raised ponds are the safer option for keeping fish. No matter what the shape there really is no limit to what can be achieved when you line with a Butyl or Epalyn pond liner. The brick work creates a very appealing finish. Geotextile protective underlay and pond liner need to be secured in place once the build is complete. This can be done by securing them in place with metal rivets hammered into the brick work, as seen in this photograph.

For more information about pond liners, tailored-to-fit pond liners or about installing a pond liner into a deep, steep-sided pond then please visit our Pond Liners website or contact us on 01526 399 033

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4 Valuable reasons ponds need aquatic plants

Planning a pond but not sure which pond liner to buy

4 Valuable reasons why ponds need aquatic plants

Aug24

Aquatic plants perform an important role in all types of ponds whether in residential or public gardens, obstacles on golf courses or those that make-up the landscape of office parks. There are four important reasons to justify why they are so important.

Importance of aquatic plants

Enhances the beauty of a pond, adds colour, gives height and bredth
Keeps pond healthy by balancing the ecosystem. Plants act as a biological filter
Pond water is kept clear and free of algae by reducing the levels of sunlight
Creates a wildlife habitat by providing a shelter for fish and other visiting creatures

The best time of the year to plant is mid spring to early summer. It is recommended that you do your research before going out to buy plants. Some aquatic plants grow vigorously and are therefore better suited to big ponds. Planted in a sm Aquatic plants including waterlilies all pond and you risk spending a lot of the summer having to cut back to allow sufficient light to your pond. Plants thrive when planted in the right conditions, so always read the labels before making a purchase. Some marginal plants have spiky, sharp roots which could damage a pond liner, even a durable puncture resistant rubber Butyl pond liner could suffer at the root of such aqautic plants. You will also need to invest in the right type of planting basket and soil (pond potting soil is free of fertiliser so that it doesn’t affect the natural balance in the water).

Types of aquatic plants

Aquatic plants fall into four sub-categories depending on where in the pond they should be planted.

Bog plants – suited to damp areas to the outer ground of a pond
Floating plants such as waterlilies give cover to spawning fish and aquatic insects.
Marginal plants are planted on shelves around the outer periphery of a pond. They are perfect for natural or wildlife ponds providing much needed cover. Popular choices include the Arum Lily, Iris, Lobella and Cyperus (Paper Reed Papyrus). For some marginal aquatic plants the depth of water they are grown in is very important, so read labels and check the requirements before buying.
Oxygenating plants are planted in the deeper waters of a pond

Plant aquatic plants that are easy to grow and maintain. Try to have a mix as well as variety of floating and submerged plants that suit your pond size. When positioning aquatic plants in your pond it is best not to use a garden fork or stick to aid your planting as you may inadvertantly touch the bottom of your pond and damage the pond liner. A further tip is the take any off cuts of rubber pond liner or geotextile protective underlay to place under your plant basket or boulders used to position your aquatic plants. Protecting the pond liner from damage should always be considered when placing plants in your pond.

One further tip is to ensure the plants you buy are healthy and free of pests or disease. It is advisable to rinse them off under clean water before adding to your pond.

How to install a Geotextile protective underlay liner

Aug17

Geotextile protective underlay is a tough, permeable material that is used to separate, reinforce and protect the primary pond liner from being punctured by rocks or other sharp objects. Geotextile is made from high quality mechanically bonded polyproplene and available in different grades of thickness for different application types. Geotextile, as sold by Liners Online is needle punched in the manufacturing process to add ‘air’ to the fabric to give it highly effective cushioning properties.

A lot of effort (and money!) goes into building a pond so it is worth the extra spend installing a pond liner protective underlay. The integrity of a pond liner is compromised when installed directly onto the ground because the force exerted by the weight of the water onto the pond liner will push it down onto any rough points in the ground creating straining points that may puncture over time. Water weighs one tonne per square meter, so that is a lot of force pushing down on the pond liner of an average size pond. Installing geotextile protective underlay

Geotextile underlay also acts as an escape route for any gasses that may build up under a pond liner. For garden pond designs that include the placement of soil, gravel, rocks or concrete features above the pond liner, then it is highly recommended to install Geotextile both above and below the pond liner for added protection.

Geotextile protective underlay installation

Dig the hole for your pond to the desired size and shape. Use a spirit level to ensure the ground around the periphery of your pond dug-out is level.
Prepare the top most layer of soil by removing as many stones, rocks and roots as possible. Use a granular fill if you find any weak soil pockets. Smooth the ground as much as possible.
Take accurate measurements of your pond to order the exact size Geotextile protective underlay.
For large ponds wider than the role of underlay, ensure a sufficient overlap (by 12 to 18 inches) so that any ground movement won’t expose the pond liner to any rough, stony ground risking a puncture.
For garden pond builds it is important to lay a protective underlay first. Geotextile is permeable and has the ability to reinforce and protect all types of pond liner.
When laying over the ground, secure it is place using ground pegs or boulders so it doesn’t slide out of place when installing the pond liner.

Why install a protective overlay liner?

There are a few situations where protective underlay liner is used on top of the pond liner such as around the edge of a pond before the stones or slabs, that will form the border of the pond, are put in place. Similarly, if your pond features an underwater shelf or platform for shallow water plants, those areas too should use a protective overlay. The presence of an overlay can also provide some protection against the sharp claws of pet dogs or cats – and even the stab of a heron’s beak!

Another area that can benefit from a protective pond liner overlay is underneath objects such as stone features or plant containers that you add to your pond. Or, when creating an attractive pebbled pond floor. As well as protecting the pond liner, the textured surface of the fabric will discourage pebbles and other features sliding about.

You might find our previous Blog article ‘How to get your pond liner size just right’ helpful in calculating the right size for your pond liner and underlay to avoid over or under ordering.