Underlayment - A Pond "Do"

When you consider that a pond liner will have tens of thousands of pounds of pressure pushing it into the soil below, it makes sense to put some sort of cushion underneath it. Commercial underlayment material has been designed for this purpose, and – for a variety of reasons – we won't use anything else.

1. The dense, tightly woven synthetic matting protects the rubber liner from tears and punctures caused by tree roots, rocks and other sharp objects. The tight weave can also keep moles and other burrowing critters from tearing your liner. A torn liner can be a very messy, time-consuming and expensive repair!

2. Underlayment is fairly thin and quite flexible, so it molds easily to the shape of the pond, waterfall and stream. Excess underlayment folds easily without adding bulk, so there is no need to cut and piece it in the pond (pieces can shift and leave an area of liner unprotected).

3. Most ponds utilize rubber pond liner from Firestone, and using any other material – or none at all – will void the liner warranty.

4. Because the material is synthetic, it will not rot or disintegrate over time. We have fixed leaks in ponds that had old carpet pad, carpet remnants, canvas tarps and even newspaper under the liner. Over time these materials turned into clumps of rotted garbage and failed to protect the liner from sharp objects.

Help! I Think I Have a Leaky Pond!

WHERE DID THE WATER GO?

In any system with water, pipes, liners and rocks, leaks can – and do – develop.  Finding those leaks can be tricky, but there are some steps you can take to help narrow down the problem area.

Construction - Plan Twice, Dig Once

CONSTRUCTION
Before you begin construction, ask yourself what you want from your pond. Will it be purely decorative, or filled with plants and fish? Our Design Thoughts article can help guide you through these early steps. Once you have determined the purpose, shape, depth and location of your new pond, your installer can start digging. Well, almost…

Our Resident Red-legged Frog

This is why we will never be without a pond in our lives! We usually spot this guy resting in the vegetation around our pond, but this weekend he (she?) decided to lounge around on the deck chairs. We were out cleaning filters, trimming plants and pulling weeds, and our supervisor here just took it all in!

We're pretty sure this is a Northern Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora), as it matches all of the images and characteristics we were able to find in our research. For anyone studying the species, they seem to do quite well in a semi-rural backyard pond. We'll keep an eye out for tadpoles – let's hope the koi didn't eat all the eggs...

In the Garden - Decorative Screens

We tend to think of using screens for privacy, or to block an unattractive view, and they certainly work well for that. As we saw at Molbak's Garden & Home recently, screens can also be used to create a fantastic focal point in the garden.

Before & After: David's Pond

David had a beautiful backyard pond installed about six years ago. Early in the spring, a large section of the wall near the patio collapsed into the pond. The dirt under the exposed liner that you see on the left felt spongy, and obviously wasn't holding a shape.

Maintenance - Ponds

MAINTENANCE
Much as with household pets, our fish rely on us for a certain amount of care. It is up to us to make sure that the water is chemically safe, free of debris, and well oxygenated. For the most part, a few minutes a day can ensure the health of the pond and our continued enjoyment.

Predators - They're Hunting Your Fish

PREDATORS
We frequently say that a pond is more than a hole in the ground with water in it; it is a mini ecosystem. Unfortunately, that means there is a food chain, and your fish - no matter how pretty or how expensive – are firmly in the “prey” link of that chain. Every part of the country will have different predators, so it’s a good idea to contact your state fish & wildlife department or a local pond group to find out what critters may be visiting your pond. Almost all of us, though, will encounter herons and raccoons…

Filtration – More is Better!

The creek on the right
is excellent filtration.

FILTRATION
There are three main types of filtration that can be used singly or in combination to maintain water clarity and a healthy chemical balance in your pond. Mechanical filtration removes plant debris and leaves from the surface, biological filtration “cleans up” decaying matter, and U.V. filtration can help control algae and insect larvae. The amount of filtration needed is directly related to the fish load – more fish = more filtration needed. Let’s look at some of the options:

Design Thoughts - Before You Dig

POND DESIGN
A pond can be anything from a large pot on your deck with a few plants to an elaborate design with a waterfall, stream and wide, deep pool. There are also water features such as fountains, bubbling rocks, or vertical panels that trickle water into a small basin. For this article, we're going to talk about the “pool of water” variety.